Chapter 228:Dead or alive.

The incessant ringing of the telephone pierced the tense silence of Samuel White's office, shattering his brooding thoughts like a pebble through glass. With a weary sigh, he snatched up the receiver, already knowing who would be on the other end of the line. "Report," he barked, dispensing with pleasantries. The voice that crackled through the speaker was hushed, tinged with apprehension. "Sir, it's Mr. Bean. I regret to inform you that our previous attempt to secure Mrs. Cindy Benson was... unsuccessful." Samuel's grip tightened around the phone, his knuckles whitening. "Explain." "Our operatives were intercepted at the city limits of Star City," Mr. Bean continued, his words tumbling out in a nervous rush. "It seems Mr. Ethan's security forces were expecting us. They were taken into custody before they could even breach the perimeter." A muscle twitched in Samuel's jaw as he ground his teeth, a wave of hot fury washing over him. "Unacceptable," he seethed. "That woman is the ke