Valentine was well aware that seizing Mr. Singer's arm amounted to a declaration of war, yet he remained indifferent to the consequences.
These past few days had been a torment for him; consumed by thoughts of Andrea, he found himself unable to focus on anything else. Each visit to the graveyard was a desperate hope to encounter Andrea, but fate had him cross paths with Mr. Singers instead.
In response to Valentine's aggression, Mr. Singers remained composed, fixing him with a penetrating gaze before calmly inquiring, "Do you truly deserve Andrea?"
The question landed like a hammer blow, shattering Valentine's facade of confidence and resolve.
His gaze faltered, and with a heavy heart, he released Mr. Singers's arm, a sudden realization dawning upon him - he was unworthy of Andrea's love.
Reflecting on Andrea's boundless kindness and unwavering dedication, Valentine was haunted by the cruel irony of his own actions.
He had betrayed her trust, succumbing to infidelity and abandoning her in her time of need.
As Mr. Singers turned away, leaving Valentine to ponder his own shortcomings.
Valentine observed as Mr. Singers exited the graveyard, a sudden pang of emotion gripping his heart. Acting on impulse, he hurried after him.
Emerging from the graveyard, Valentine noticed that Mr. Singers was now surrounded by his convoy, bodyguards stationed all around.
"Mr. Singers!" Valentine called out, his voice unwavering.
Startled, Mr. Singers turned to see Valentine standing before him, his eyes filled with anguish.
"You never heard my full answer to your question," Valentine began, his words weighed down by emotion, each one causing him more pain as he spoke.
Mr. Singers raised an eyebrow, intrigued by what Valentine had to say.
"You have one minute," Mr. Singers replied.
"I am unworthy of Andrea. She deserves someone far better than me. I do not merit her love or affection. I mistreated her, causing her to regret ever loving me," Valentine confessed, tears streaming down his face unabated, his sorrow on full display as he made his heartbreaking admission.
Mr. Singers gazed silently at Valentine, acknowledging the truth in his words as he awarded him a silent point for recognizing his own unworthiness of Andrea.
Valentine's sudden outburst filled the air, his fists clenched and his resolve evident on his face. "So what?" he exclaimed, his voice ringing out in determination.
"Tell me, which enduring love story was not forged through trials, errors, betrayals, and failures?" Valentine's voice boomed as he locked eyes with Mr. Singers.
A pang of guilt shot through Mr. Singers' heart as he remembered his own betrayal of Rebecca and the failure of his love trial, fleeing from Vegas and leaving Rebecca to face her struggles alone.
"Mr. Singers," Valentine's voice softened, a warning laced within his words, "Andrea is a rare gem. Treat her with the care she deserves. Should you ever cause her harm, I will not hesitate to hold you accountable, even if it means laying down my own life." With his piece said, Valentine turned to return inside the graveyard, but before he could take another step, Mr. Singers halted him with a single word, "hold on."
Mr. Singers had suspected Valentine of trying to snatch Andrea away from him, but he was taken aback when Valentine showed up not to take her, but to hand her over and offer his support.
Impressed by Valentine's bravery, Mr. Singers understood that true love sometimes means letting go when you can't provide the happiness and love someone deserves.
"You still have a chance with her. Don't let me down. If you can carve out your own path and surpass me, she will come back to you," Mr. Singers said before getting into one of the cars and driving away.
Valentine stood there, stunned by Mr. Singers' words. A new determination filled him, and he clenched his fists, his eyes reflecting a newfound resolve and fighting spirit.
Little did Mr. Singers know that his simple words would be the catalyst for Valentine Anderson to become the most successful CEO in Vegas and beyond.
While on his way to the airport, Mr. Singers powered on his phone, which he had turned off when he boarded the flight to Vegas City.
As soon as his phone came to life, it began to ring. Glancing at the caller ID, he swiftly answered the call.
"Mr. Singers, is Ma'am Andrea in the office with you?" Housekeeper Win's voice trembled with concern over the phone.
Mr. Singers' expression shifted abruptly. "Where is Andrea?" he demanded sharply.
Housekeeper Win proceeded to recount the events that had transpired, detailing Andrea's departure from the house. Mr. Singers' face darkened as he listened intently. After absorbing the information, he ended the call, his demeanor fraught with anxiety.
"Where is Agatha?" Mr. Singers inquired icily as Tony finally picked up the phone.
Silence followed on the other end.
Unbeknownst to Mr. Singers, Tony was still in bed, taken aback to discover it was already 11 a.m. He rarely slept past 4 a.m. and recalled Agatha offering him a glass of juice before he drifted off.
Realizing Agatha was no longer by his side, he finally spoke up, "She isn't with me."
"Tony, you've let me down. Agatha has taken Andrea. Lock down Sunshine City, deploy all our resources. I want Andrea back within the hour, or your life won't be enough to for the life of my daughter," Mr. Singers ordered icily, his presence exuding a chilling aura and intense intent.
Ending the call, he tapped the car seat and commanded, "Faster."
Without hesitation, the driver signaled to the other vehicles, swiftly coordinating with the city's transport management unit to clear the way.
A special pass was swiftly arranged for Mr. Singers, bypassing the usual Monday morning traffic chaos with ease.
He arrived at the airport within the next fifteen minutes and promptly boarded his private jet bound for Sunshine City.
Onboard, three hackers awaited him with their laptops, ready to report the results of their search.
"Mr. Singers, the car that transported Mrs. Singers from the mansion has been located, but the abductors have since switched to thirteen other vehicles, some of which have also been identified, resulting in a few arrests," one of the hackers reported.
"Two hundred helicopters have been deployed, and seven hundred roadblocks have been set up throughout the city. All roads exiting Sunshine City have been sealed off, and security measures have been implemented at the airport and seaport," another hacker added.
Listening to the updates, Mr. Singers furrowed his brow in displeasure.