"Don't dare to bargain with me," Helga refused with an icy tone.

Inhaling deeply, Lilah asked, "So, how can I be sure you're not lying to me? What if my son isn't with you, huh?"

She tossed that out with intent, aiming to provoke Helga.

And it played out just as Lilah intended. Helga gave in, saying, “Alright, I'll let the kid talk to you. But don't you dare try any tricks."

Helga believed that as long as she had Lilah's kid in her clutches, Lilah would do whatever she asked.

Once she rescued Adaline and secured the cash, she planned to run away with her daughter.

Helga was certain they would surely make a comeback in the future.

When that day arrived, she promised to free herself from the humiliation she had endured.

Lilah held her breath, her heart pounding with fear.

Then Helga's sharp voice cut through the quiet. "Come on, kid, say something."

But there was dead silence on the other end of the phone.

“Hey kid, you want to get a smack? Speak up!" Helga mercilessly pinched Jerrold's arm, her nails digging sharply into his skin.

Yet, the other end of the phone stayed eerily quiet.

With a trembling voice, Lilah gently spoke. "Jerrold, are you there?

It's Mommy."

A spark lit up Jerrold's eyes when he heard Lilah's voice, but he clenched his teeth, holding back the pain, and remained silent.

Lilah didn't hear Jerrold's voice on the phone at all.

Meanwhile, Helga's voice grew fiercer. "Brat, you're pushing it. Stay quiet, and I won't be nice about it. Speak up. Say something!"

With force, she landed a solid punch on Jerrold's belly.

Jerrold finally cried out in pain, and a slightly sobbing voice came out. “Mommy!"

Lilah's heart clenched as she heard her son sobbing.

“Jerrold, my boy, I'm on my way to save you." Lilah tried to calm her son down, and then declared with fury, “Helga, if anything happens to my son, you won't get away with it!"

Just thinking about her young son facing a beating sent waves of distress through Lilah's heart.

Helga scoffed, “He deserves it. Listen up, Lilah. If you talk to me like that again, I might have to take it out on that kid to release my anger."