Middle Child Syndrome - Chapter 340

Chapter 340: Ch 340: Mark, get out
Rika had no recollection of what happened during the day. She was jumping from one task to another, just waiting for things to finish so she could head out and save her friends.

As the day drew to a close, Rika found herself in a state of emotional turmoil; her actions during the day were a mystery to her. All she knew was that she had to keep moving forward, battling against the tide of her rage.

As soon as she left the building, Zhu Li’s voice stopped her.

“Rika, this way! Uncle sent me to bring you to him. I am sorry that things happened this way. I would change what happened if I could.”

Zhu Li looked sorry for Rika, but she hated that he pitied her. She did not want his pity.

“Don’t worry about me! I might be pissed off, but I won’t attack your uncle at first sight…probably! If I do end up attacking him, then protect me.”

Rika felt no shame asking Zhu Li to protect her.

She already knew that there was nothing Zhu Li could help her with. She was on her own, but that was fine with her. She did not expect things to be any different anyway.

“You know it would be a little difficult for me to interfere if uncle is serious. But I will try my best to help you out. I am indirectly responsible for what happened after all.”

Zhu Li was directly responsible for kidnapping Rika’s friends and holding them hostage. But since he had not been seen, he knew he would go charge-free if things ever came down to this.

But the responsibility he was claiming was not for this.

Zhu Li was sorry for ever introducing Rika to his uncle and dragging her into his drug case. Had he not done that, his uncle would not have been curious about Rika.

“It’s fine! There is no point in you trying to apologize to me for your uncle. I will only feel fine once I find my friends. So let’s go!”

Rika opened Zhu Li’s car door and sat down. Zhu Li opened the other side, but just as he was about to sit down, the pair heard the sound of the back door opening.

They looked behind and saw Mark opening the door and entering the car.

“Ah, ignore me! You both can pretend that I am not even here. I want to accompany you to your destination and see what you want from my sister.”

Mark made his intentions known and seemed to have no plans to return. His presence in the car made Zhu Li nervous.

The older alpha noticed this and was quick to assert his dominance.

“Do you have any problem if I come along with you? I don’t like that you were taking my sister alone somewhere. I don’t think it is safe.”

Mark’s words made Zhu Li flinch and back down. For a dominant alpha, Zhu Li gave up too quickly.

Rika was sure that Zhu Li was dominant, but she was curious to know why he never acted like a dominant.

‘Wait! I should not be curious about these things. The more I keep my distance from him, the better!’

Rika’s brain told her that, but her heart was different. It wanted Rika to get to know this alpha better and exploit his weaknesses.

Rika would be able to control Zhu Li once that happened.

Zhu Li drove around in circles for some time before stopping and giving Mark a worried look.

“Young Master Goodwill, I know you are curious about where I am raking Rika, but you must get off now. I’m not saying this for your good, but for the sake of the hostages my uncle has.”

Zhu Li did not look at Mark when he said these words, but his tone indicated what he wanted Mark to do.

The older alpha did not look phased at the comment, so he scoffed instead.

“Your uncle has hostages, and you want me to send Rika alone to him? Now, you are talking about even more absurd things. Rika, why are you listening to this bullshit! If you want your friends back, then just tell me or Mom! We will help you out.”

Mark promised while keeping an eye on Zhu Li’s moments. He was not going to allow Rika to be bullied.

Rika felt her headache and then looked at Zhu Li’s desperate expression. It did not seem he was lying about his uncle and what he would do.

“Mark, get off here. I don’t want to take you with me when I meet Ren Li. Your presence would only become a hindrance for me during this negotiation.”

The older alpha looked taken aback as he looked at Rika. His mouth opened and closed as Mark tried to catch and speak his words out loud.

But no matter how much he stuttered, he could not say what he wanted to.

Rika understood that her brother wanted to protect her because of his misguided sense of guilt toward her. But he had no right to do that so late in her life.

“Hey Rika, this is-”

“Get off here! If I need your help, I will call you or message you. For now, just stay on standby until I call you. And only come to help me if you can’t get to me for two days.”

Two days was more than sufficient for Rika to finish whatever she started.

Emily and Nick would start to move way before that, so it was the perfect time for her brother and mother to get involved.

Mark bit his lip as he considered what Rika had asked him to do. He knew that he could not disobey her after all that happened.

So, with a heavy heart, Mark looked at his sister and the man standing beside her. As he exited the car, he glared at Zhu Li.

“Fine, I will back down this time. But I will keep an eye on you all. I will come after you if I find anything unusual.”