William had no choice but to look at Aston pleadingly and beg, “Hey, I’ll definitely pay the money back! Please give me a few days’ grace. Once I get money from my wife, I will repay you immediately, okay?”

William remembered the chest of betrothal gifts that the Sawyers had sent them. Although the Sawyers later said that it was a mistake and that they weren’t betrothal gifts but a thank-you gift for his loser son-in-law, Karen had never returned it to Lucas but instead secretly hid it somewhere.

When I go back, I have to force Karen to tell me where the money is hidden. Then I’ll just siphon half of the cash to repay Aston Brooke.

“No, you must return it to me now. You’ve already stated on the IOU that you have to return the money by midnight today!” Aston insisted vehemently.

What a joke. I didn’t lend him the money for charity. This was the moment that Aston had been waiting for. The fact that William couldn’t return the money was the very reason he could make William trade his daughter to repay the debt so that he could get what he wanted.

William was extremely anxious, but at this moment, a decent-looking man wearing the special uniform of the manager of the Opulence led several burly men over and said to William, “William Carter, you still owe us four hundred and fifty grand. It’s time to pay it back!”

When William heard these words, he immediately yelled in exasperation and horror, “What?! Since when did I owe you four hundred and fifty grand? I only borrowed seventy-six!”

The decent-looking manager of the Opulence said, “It’s true that you borrowed seventy-six thousand dollars at first, but the interest rate is stated on the IOU. If you deny and refuse to pay the money, don’t think of leaving the club alive!”

The club manager waved his hand, and a burly man stood out immediately and kicked William in the thigh.

William screamed as he immediately collapsed to the ground. He clutched his thigh and wailed hysterically.

The people around him took a few steps back, but there was no fear on their faces. Instead, they all looked as though they were used to seeing people like this and gloating.

In this gambling den, it was common practice for people to be beaten up for failing to pay their massive debts.

Watching this scene from the side, Aston frowned.

These people suddenly coming out to collect their debt was probably going to disrupt his plan.

William was now utterly horrified. When he borrowed money previously, he knew that the interest rate was very high. But he thought that he would soon be able to repay it, so he hadn’t taken it seriously. However, he was now terrified because debt collectors came.

However, he would never be able to repay 450,000 dollars!

William kneeled on the ground and hugged the club manager’s thigh. “Sir, please just give me a few more days. I promise I’ll go to my mother-in-law immediately after I get home and repay you as soon as I get the money!”

“You’re asking for a few days’ grace? Do you take us for a charity?”

The club manager lifted his foot and kicked William with all his might. Although he looked civilized, he was actually extremely ruthless. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have become the manager of this club.

He bent down, grabbed William’s hair, and said with a menacing expression, “If you don’t pay the money today, I’ll chop both your hands off. If you don’t pay tomorrow, your feet will be gone too. Do you understand?”

William was so frightened that he shuddered incessantly and almost peed his pants!

However, he also knew that this was a rare opportunity. He nodded frantically. “Yes! Yes! I’ll definitely pay you back today! I promise! I’ll call my daughter right now and get her to bring the money!”

At this moment, Cheyenne was teaching Amelia to draw at home while Lucas watched the both of them with a tender gaze and a smile on his lips.

Cheyenne’s phone began ringing, breaking the silence in the room.

When she saw that the caller was her father, she was a bit surprised. As soon as she answered, she heard his horrified and impatient voice. “Cheyenne! Hurry and bring money here to save me! Or else, I’m going to get my hands and feet chopped off!”

Cheyenne’s face changed drastically, and she stood up abruptly. The first thought in her mind was that her father had been kidnapped!

Cheyenne hurriedly asked, “Dad, where are you? What’s going on?”

William’s phone was in the hands of another person, and an unfamiliar voice sounded from the other end. “You’re William Carter’s daughter, right? You have an hour to prepare. If you don’t come with the money in an hour, his hands and feet will be severed. Don’t blame me then!” Then the man hung up before Cheyenne could even say anything.

Holding the phone, Cheyenne froze on the spot, her face paling and her body turning cold.

Seeing that Cheyenne didn’t seem well, Lucas hurriedly held her shoulders and asked, “What happened?”

Cheyenne held onto Lucas’s wrist as if she had found a pillar of support. Her eyes turned red, and she was on the verge of tears. “Lucas, my father is in trouble! That person just said that my father owes the Opulence club a few hundred thousand. If we don’t return the money in an hour, they will… chop off his…”

Considering the fact that Amelia was still present and she was afraid of scaring her, Cheyenne gritted her teeth and fell silent. However, Lucas immediately figured out what she meant.

Such clubs were entertainment joints in name, but in fact, they were more like sordid places. If they said that they were going to chop off someone’s limbs or kill them, they would definitely do it.

“But how can my father suddenly owe so much money? He just goes out to drink and play poker. How can he owe so much money? Lucas, do you think my father got kidnapped?” Cheyenne asked anxiously and distractedly.

Lucas patted Cheyenne’s back to comfort her and said gently, “Don’t worry. Since they’re asking you to bring money to the club to get him out, it shouldn’t be an abduction.”

Actually, Lucas had already made some guesses. Recently, William had been going out early and returning home late in a drunken stupor every day. Sometimes, he wouldn’t come home at all. Something must have happened outside. He didn’t know if William had been lured there or gone there out of his own accord. But in any case, the debt definitely wasn’t simple.

“Um, my father…” Cheyenne was extremely anxious.

Lucas comforted her. “Don’t panic. Stay at home with Amelia. I’ll go take a look.”