The fact that Ned offered to take payment after building the mansion already disproved Luna’s insistence that it was a scam. If anything, asking for a single full payment after the acceptance was a gesture of faith—that they really were not eager for their money.
If anything, Luna was obviously trying to harass Frank, as she was taking out on him the disdain Cato showed him.
Though Frank was the one who saved her from that conman, she somehow considered Frank the reason her love life went up in smoke.
She wanted Frank to suffer because she did!
“In that case…”
Frank was just about to take up Ned’s invitation to visit Janko Gardens and disappoint Luna when Helen’s phone rang.
“Sorry, I have to take this.” Helen smiled apologetically at Ned as she hurried away.
At the same time, Luna was still rambling on. “Hah! Just look at you pigs… I can tell you’re all involved in this scam, refusing to show proof… I’ll call Mommy! I’ll tell her that you ruined my love life and harassed me—”
“What?!”
That was when Helen exclaimed in shock and disbelief.
“What’s wrong, Helen?” Frank got up, asking in concern.
“I-It’s my mom.” Helen turned toward him, her cheeks turning pale in panic. “She’s been kidnapped… and the ransom is three billion dollars.”
“What?”
Frank was sunned—Gina Zonda, kidnapped!
“Hahaha! That’s what you villains deserve!” Luna laughed gleefully just then, leaving everyone frowning.
Frank turned toward Ned solemnly just then and apologized. “I don’t think I’ll be visiting your family estate for today. As you can see, we’re having a little trouble.”
“It’s no issue. Should I look into this and find out who’s ransoming Ms. Lane’s mother?”
Ned asked, perfectly patient. “For all I know, the major players around the city wouldn’t sink that low as to ransoming. I just have to send out my people, and we’ll find out who they are soon enough.”
“Then I’ll be counting on you.”
“It’s really nothing.” Ned smiled and whipped out his phone to make a call. “Yeah, it’s me. Someone’s been kidnapped, so ask around… Look into the outskirts of South Morhen, to be specific… Alright. I’ll be waiting.”
After giving those instructions, Ned hung up and smiled at Frank and Helen. “Don’t worry—us Jankos have some influence. My people will have something soon enough, and a word from me might be enough to ask for Mrs. Lane’s release.”
“Thank you so much, Mr. Janko.” Helen nodded gratefully.
“Thank you so much, Mr. Janko.” Luna mimicked her sarcastically. “Still keeping up the act? Don’t you ever get sick of it?”
Nonetheless, Ned’s phone rang after they waited with bated breath for five minutes.
He quickly answered. “Yeah. Did you get anything?”
“No, sir, nothing.”
The man on the other end sighed exasperatedly. “None of the boys heard anything about kidnappings, though there’s been word about some Talnamese folks prowling around the abandoned factory district. That’s the only oddity.”
“Talnamese?” Ned did a double take. “What are they doing here in Draconia? Are they suicidal, barging into our country in broad daylight?”
