?<strong>Chapter 979:</strong>


    Joelle sidestepped the question. “What does that have to do with the current situation?”


    Hooper threatened, “If you don’t agree, I’m afraid you’ll never see your two daughters again.”


    Joelle’s eyes narrowed, her defiance zing. “Are you threatening me now?”


    “I just want to invite you for a conversation.”


    Joelle asked, “Do you dare to exchange my life for Rnd’s?”


    She stood her ground like a lioness defending her cubs, her fiery re boring into Hooper.


    Hooper hesitated briefly, unnerved by the sheer force of her maternal protectiveness. The night wind carried a chill, and his sweat-soaked uniform clung to his back, forcing him to take a breath and steady himself. He held her gaze without flinching, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a yellowed photograph.


    “I had a family too, but they’re gone now, all of them.” The photo was a family portrait of him, his wife, and daughter.


    Joelle’s throat tightened as emotions bubbled to the surface. The little girl looked only six or seven years old. The edges of the photo were worn, and its faded colors told the story of a loss long endured.


    “Mrs. Miller, I have no choice. I’d sacrifice Rnd if it meant saving countless others.”


    Before Joelle could respond, Hooper nodded towards his men. They gripped her arms and dragged her towards the waiting car.


    Before Hooper could even contact Adrian, Adrian had already noticed Joelle’s disappearance and found out her location.


    When he stormed into the police station, his fury was palpable. Without hesitation, Adrian threw the door to Hooper’s office open and grabbed him by the cor, yanking him out of his chair.


    “Are you out of your mind?”


    “Miller, please calm down. Mrs. Miller is perfectly safe here.”


    “Safe?” Adrian’s fist mmed down on the desk, his veins bulging with restrained fury. “How about I take you out of your bed in the middle of the night and see how ‘safe’ you feel?”


    Hooper remained unfazed. “If you’d agreed to cooperate when I asked nicely, none of this would’ve been necessary.”


    “Spare me the excuses. That’s your problem. Return my wife to me now.”


    “Exchange Rnd for your wife. Do you agree?” Hooper’s eyes narrowed, a dangerous gleam in them.


    Adrian froze for a moment before letting out a mockingugh. He released Hooper and took a deliberate step back, his eyes scanning the room with contempt. “You really think he’ll just obediently lead you up the mountain?”


    Of course, Hooper knew Rnd might not cooperate. But he didn’t want to consider that possibility. This country had been buffeted by upheavals for too long. He wanted to grasp any hope he could find.


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