Mr. CEO, You Look Strangely Familiar

”You... Are you really going to be this ruthless?” Nora Ainsworth asked, looking at Toby Dalton.

”Of course. Some people won’t get anxious unless I get rough.” He waved his hand. ”Get everything ready!”

Instantly, a variety of tools were laid out.

Faye Sinclair was forced upright by two men, and only then did Nora Ainsworth get a clear look at her face. Her eyes were hollow, and her face was gaunt and sallow from long-term malnutrition. Even her lips were chapped and cracked.

But even so, Nora could still see a resemblance between them. She couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was, but she just felt that this was her mother.

Most telling were the feet visible below her tattered capri jeans—they were real.

This definitely wasn’t Claire Sinclair in disguise.

”Tie her up,” Toby Dalton said flatly.

Faye Sinclair was forcibly bound to a small cart, her arms and legs tied down.

It was one of the most horrifying forms of torture for a living person: branding by fire.

The branding iron SIZZLED as it heated in the flames. Nora Ainsworth’s heart ached beyond measure. Seeing her mother lying there, completely at their mercy... ’What kind of life must she have endured to make even the thought of resistance seem futile?’

’She must have finally lost all hope. After all, it’s been so many years.’

”I’ve never met a woman as unfazed as you. But you’re not made of iron. In a moment, when this branding iron sears your skin like barbecued meat, the feeling won’t be pleasant at all.”

Hearing this, Nora Ainsworth was filled with the urge to kick Toby Dalton to death.

But she knew she couldn’t.

’Even if I somehow managed to kill Toby, I still wouldn’t be able to get out of here, and I couldn’t save Mom either. I need a detailed, comprehensive rescue plan. How can I get us out of here with minimal harm?’

Seeing wisps of scorching steam rising from the branding iron, she suddenly spoke up. ”Who is she?”

”Quentin Grant’s mother-in-law.”

”And you captured his mother-in-law just to lure him here for a rescue, so you could spring a trap and take them all out at once?”

Toby Dalton looked surprised. ”How did you know?”

”It’s obvious. Why not just have her call Quentin Grant? Why go through all this extra trouble?”

Toby Dalton sneered. ”As you can see, the woman won’t say a single word. I sent a recording of her to Quentin Grant last time, but there was still no reaction. I’ve been waiting for so long, I’m getting tired of it.”

Nora Ainsworth spoke up. ”I have a way to make her talk, and to make Quentin Grant walk right into your trap.”

Toby Dalton’s eyes lit up. ”Really?”

”Of course,” Nora Ainsworth answered confidently. ”Now, all of you get out. Let me have a few words with her alone.”

Toby Dalton studied her for a moment, then finally waved his hand. ”Get out.”

Soon, the shuffling figures of the men departed. The iron door clanged shut, leaving only Nora Ainsworth and Faye Sinclair, who was still bound to the cart.

Nora Ainsworth hurried forward and began to untie her.

Then, she helped her off the cart.

After a moment’s hesitation, she spoke, her voice barely a whisper. ”Mom.”

Faye Sinclair’s head snapped up. She stared at Nora, her lips parting and closing without a sound.

”Mom, it’s me, Nora Ainsworth. I’m in disguise. I’m here to rescue you. You have to hold on and wait for me to get you out of here. That way, you’ll be able to see Dad and Sierra again...”

Faye Sinclair suddenly became agitated. She grabbed Nora’s hand and shoved her to the ground. Nora flinched, thinking her mother was about to strike her. But Faye only lifted the back of Nora’s shirt, her eyes searching. As soon as she saw the red birthmark on Nora’s back, she hauled her back to her feet and pulled her into a fierce hug.

”Nina... my Nina...”

Hearing her childhood name brought Nora Ainsworth to the brink of tears, but she remembered where she was.

She pulled away from Faye Sinclair and told her softly, ”Mom, I will find a way to get you out. When he tells you to call Quentin, just do it. I’ll handle everything.”

Faye finally nodded, her voice extremely hoarse. ”Okay.”

Nora Ainsworth stood up, turned, and walked out the door.

”What did you say to her?”

A sly smile touched her lips. ”A magician never reveals her secrets. Just have her call Quentin Grant. But you must make sure Nora Ainsworth is the one who answers the phone. After all, Quentin listens to Nora, and this is her biological mother we’re talking about. If even that doesn’t work, then it can only mean one thing: Nora Ainsworth feels no affection for her own mother. I can’t think of any other explanation.”

Toby Dalton nodded. ”Let’s go upstairs.”

Nora Ainsworth nodded and followed him out of the dungeon.

Back in bed, her heart was much calmer. ’At least now I know Toby hasn’t placed all his bets on my mother. His main goal is to deal with Quentin Grant. Using Catherine Callahan to infiltrate the Ainsworth Family only serves one purpose: to partner up with Nicholas Ainsworth.’

’He’s retaliating like this just because Quentin disrupted his grand plan to get rid of Lillian Bancroft. The darkness in his heart runs deep.’