Meanwhile, at Stone Manor, Duncan had arrived a long time ago. The same went for Remy. His future in-laws were about to head to Jensburg. Elisa had wanted to follow them, but Audrey did not allow it. She said Elisa would not be of help even if she went to Jensburg and that her showy personality would make things worse. In truth, Audrey was afraid that they all would die if anything were to happen. Therefore, Elisa and Anthony were prohibited from going to Jensburg, let alone Alice with her young baby. Duncan kept reminding Audrey about things to look out for. He seemed depressed. Audrey knew what he was thinking. She consoled him, saying, “Liberty knows how you feel. She won’t blame you. If you stay home, she won’t have to worry about a thing and can focus on what she has to do.“You can wait for her return in Wiltspoon. Didn’t she say she’d head to the city hall to get a marriage license with you if it wasn’t closed when she’s back? Although you two won’t have a wedding
Lilian said, “Who was the one who started hibernating whenever winter came around? You wouldn’t even leave the house and only eat hot soup every day.“We were the ones who cleared the snow in your garden.”Patrick said, “You should continue eating your nuts in silence.”Lilian chuckled. Audrey said, “Okay. Let’s depart now.”She told Anthony, Elisa, and Remy, “Look after the house when Clive and I are away. Take care of Alice and her baby too.“I’m counting on you, Remy.”Audrey felt Remy had an important role. Having her future son-in-law at home made her feel at ease as she would be away with Darrell and Clive.Remy lived right beside them. Since he lived next door, he could come over with just a call from the courtyard if anything happened. Indeed, Remy was a dependable son-in-law.Remy said, “Don’t worry. Anthony, Elisa, and I will be home. We’ll look after Alice and her baby too.”“It’s reassuring to know that you’ll be here.”Audrey told Duncan, “Prepare your di
It was convenient for Tiara’s in-laws to visit Fisher Manor if they lived in the villa. After Belinda killed them, she buried them in the cemetery next to the Fishers to keep up appearances. She also made an excuse, saying that it would be more convenient for her nieces to pay their respects if they happened to be found in the future. Audrey did not allow anyone to fetch them from the airport. Once she and the rest landed, they got into a few cars and notified the drivers to head to the Fishers’ cemetery by navigation.Initially, the drivers hesitated to drive them when they heard the destination. Although it was in the afternoon, it was gloomy as the sun rarely shone during winter. It felt eerie to go to the cemetery. Ultimately, the drivers only agreed to drive them after they paid double the original price.Two hours later, once the cars were parked at the Fisher family’s cemetery, Audrey told the drivers, “Can you gentlemen wait for us here for a moment? We’re just goin
There was security on duty at the Fisher family’s cemetery. When they saw Audrey’s group, the security shouted, “Who are you? What are you doing here? This is a private cemetery. Not just anyone can… Ms. Audrey?”When they noticed it was Audrey, they were stunned. The head of security said sheepishly, “We didn’t know it was you, Ms. Audrey. We thought someone was trespassing.”Audrey had visited her parents’ graves before. The security knew her. She said gently, “I found Uncle True and brought him here, Uncle Ricky. He said he wanted to visit Mom.”The cemetery’s head of security was Audrey’s distant uncle. Since he was older and she had not been in Jensburg for long, she addressed him politely. “Uncle True?”The security guards in charge of the cemetery were in their forties. They did not recognize Patrick at all. They looked toward Patrick, who was supported by Darrell and Audrey. Uncle Ricky asked, “Who’s this Uncle True, Ms. Audrey? We’ve never seen him before. How’s he r
Ms. Audrey’s identity would have been noble if Madam Tiara had been alive since she was Tiara’s eldest daughter. Unfortunately, Madam Tiara was already dead for decades. Ms. Audrey had also been missing all this while and only appeared a few months ago. So what if Madam Fisher confirmed she was the previous matriarch’s daughter?The one sitting in that position was Madam Fisher. Employees were changed whenever a new matriarch took over. Madam Fisher had been the matriarch for four or five decades. The employees did not think Ms. Audrey could replace Madam Fisher as the matriarch. Things looked hopeless for Ms. Liberty too. How long had she been in Jensburg?She could never surpass the influence Madam Fisher and Ms. Caroline had built over the years. Ms. Caroline would be the next matriarch unless Madam Fisher willingly returned the position to Ms. Audrey’s family line. Therefore, the cemetery’s security suggested Audrey and the rest not head up the hill while Belinda wa
Patrick could knock the cemetery’s guards out when he was young. Now that he was old, he had lost the strength to do so, even if he had been an expert at it in the past. “I want to meet Madam Tiara as soon as possible.”He had not been back for decades.“This has been the only thing keeping me going all these years.”Patrick started panting as he walked. Darrell and Audrey were worried that he would tire himself out. They suggested stopping and taking a break. However, Patrick refused to rest. He said, “It’s just a few more steps away. I can see Belinda’s bodyguards from here. We’ll arrive in a few minutes.”Although he was tired, he did not want to stop. Stopping would make him feel more exhausted and reluctant to move. Audrey looked forward and indeed they could spot Belinda’s bodyguards. Belinda had brought ten bodyguards with her. Two of them had followed her to Tiara’s grave to protect her. Two of the remaining eight were standing guard by the road, while the o
Belinda’s bodyguards blocked Audrey and her group’s path. Audrey got furious and scolded, “Don’t you know who I am? How dare you block my way when I’m here to visit my mother? Get lost.”The bodyguards felt guilty. Audrey was the previous matriarch’s daughter. If Tiara had not passed away, the current matriarch would have been the noble-looking middle-aged woman before them. Although she was close to sixty years old, she had maintained her appearance well and looked like she was only in her forties. Besides, she used to manage Stone Group and had a commanding presence in the business world. The bodyguards thought Audrey was more fearful than Belinda. Nevertheless, they remembered Belinda’s orders and said, “We apologize, Ms. Audrey. Madam Fisher is paying her respects to her sister now. She told us not to let anyone disturb her without her permission.”“I don’t wish to hurt you. Do you all prefer leaving yourselves or me knocking you all out?” Audrey said coldly. She wa
Lilian rushed forward. The rest of the bodyguards saw their comrades defeated by a young woman. They had also been watching earlier. However, everything happened in a flash, and they next saw their comrades lying on the ground. Was that woman a master in martial arts?When they saw Lilian charging at them, they approached her as a group without hesitation. However, before they could even get near her, they fell to the ground after feeling a tinge of pain and numbness in a few areas of their body. Just like the earlier two, their bodies convulsed. The only ones left were Belinda and her two personal bodyguards. Lilian did not hold back. When the remaining bodyguards charged at her, she unleashed her poisoned needles. Even Belinda crumpled to the ground and started twitching. It seemed like Lilian had used her poisoned needles on Belinda as well. She had used up all the needles she had brought. Later, she would have to collect the needles back and lace them with poison
Despite this, lying in bed and enduring the pain, Caroline could not help but start to cry, feeling deeply wronged.When Darren came in and saw her crying, he walked over, sat on the edge of the bed, and gently wiped her tears with a tissue.“They’re not worth your tears,” he said, his heart aching for her.Caroline sat up and buried herself in his arms. “Darren, you’re all I have now.”Darren held her tightly, his voice filled with tenderness. “I’ll always be by your side, no matter what happens, Ms. Caroline. Even if the sky falls, I’ll hold it up for you.“If you’re really hurting and need to cry, then cry. Let it all out.”It would also help her sever ties with the past and the family bonds that had caused her so much pain.Caroline did cry—a long, cathartic cry. It would be the last time. From now on, she and the Clarks would go their separate ways.Meanwhile, Hunter went to Justin’s house and called Jason’s wife, Ellie, over. He said to his two daughters-in-law, “By no
After a moment of silence, Hunter repeated the same line. “But you didn’t die, did you? You only got a little hurt, and it’s not even serious.”Caroline almost laughed in anger at this.Sure, she had not died. She had only been injured. Did that erase the fact that her brothers had tried to kill her, though?She retorted, “Dad, if I had tried to kill your three sons, but they didn’t die and only got a little hurt, would you say the same thing to them? Would you tell them it’s just a family dispute, ask them to forgive me, not to sue me, and not to send me to jail?”Hunter instinctively replied, "If you had the intent to kill, how could I let you continue down that path? Of course, I’d have to let you serve a few years in prison…“Carol, I’m old, really old. I only have the boys to rely on in my old age. Are you trying to leave me with no one to depend on in my later years?”Caroline said coldly, “I’ll provide for your living expenses. I’ll make sure you don’t starve. You can even
Darren did not let go even after being struck.Seeing Darren get hit, Caroline’s expression darkened. She coldly said to her father, “Dad, if you really want to kneel, go kneel at the hospital entrance and shout at the top of your lungs that your daughter is unfilial.“Tell everyone that your sons tried to kill your daughter, and your daughter refuses to forgive them, so you’re kneeling there to force her to forgive your sons.“Let’s see if I give in.”Hunter stopped struggling. After slapping Darren, he felt a pang of fear. He was afraid Caroline might retaliate by slapping him to avenge Darren. Fortunately, while Caroline was furious, she did not lay a hand on him.He began to cry. “Carol…” He wept bitterly.Darren released him, and Hunter sat on the sofa, sobbing, “Carol, I’m old. I have no income, my parents are long gone, and your mother is no longer here. I only have your three brothers to rely on.“If you send all three of them to prison, what will happen to me? Who w
Caroline hummed. “I do plan to visit Wiltspoon to see her sometime soon. I just don’t know if I’ll be kicked out when I get there.”“And I should visit Mr. Foster too. How is he, by the way?" Patrick was the longest-living person she had ever met. Back when she lived with her adoptive family in the countryside, the oldest people in town usually lived into their eighties, and few made it to ninety. Patrick was nearly a hundred years old. What was more, he could walk without support and even travel long distances with his old friends.Liberty replied, “He’s doing quite well. Aunt Audrey accompanies him on walks every day. When they don’t go out, he sits by the cradle and watches baby Elias for hours on end.”The bond between generations was strong. When Patrick looked at Clive’s son, Elias, he felt like he was looking at his great-grandson. As Tiara’s great-grandson, Elias was naturally like his own great-grandson, too.“Dr. Carden comes by periodically to check on him and adjus
Liberty had already called Audrey to inform her about what had happened and also mentioned it to Serenity.Knowing the Clark brothers had all been captured, Serenity felt thoroughly relieved and stopped worrying that her sister would run into trouble in Jensburg.She told Zachary that Caroline never let people down.Zachary did not comment.Caroline’s fever had completely subsided, but her coughing had worsened. The doctor had changed her prescription, but the effects were not immediate.When Liberty entered, Caroline was out of bed and walking around, supported by Darren.“Caroline, why are you out of bed?”Liberty scolded her, “Get back in bed and lie down. You’re injured. If you don’t rest properly and keep moving around, you’ll aggravate your wounds, and you’ll regret it.”She did not blame Darren, though. She knew Caroline always came first to him. He always followed her lead and was unable to influence her decisions.“I’ve been lying down all day. My back is sore, and I’m
The housekeeper replied, “Yes, sir.”They did not have much work in the first place, so they did not need to slack off. Once they were done with their work, they had tons of time to entertain themselves.Hunter rushed out the door with his car keys. Despite being over seventy years old, his driving skills were still quite good. Not needing to hire a driver, he drove himself straight to Jensburg.Upon arriving at the city, Hunter did not immediately go looking for Caroline. He was unaware that she had been injured.Instead, he went to meet his old friends to ask them to help him find out if anything had happened in relation to the Fisher family last night.After he finished speaking, one of his friends said, “We were about to ask you the same thing. Your three sons attacked your daughter with knives and even kidnapped her, intending to chop her up and feed her to the fish.“Luckily, that Mr. Fletcher, who works for your daughter, arrived with the police and rescued her, but she wa
The Queen family was well-educated and had few members. Sophia had heard of other families fighting over power, but Caroline’s experience shocked her the most. Maybe it was because the Queens was close to her. Sophia quite liked Caroline as well. “How could they… You’re their biological sister!”Caroline smiled bitterly. “Are you having a fever, Carol? Your face is red.”Sophia touched Caroline’s forehead. She said, “You’re burning up. Have you informed the doctor, Mr. Fletcher?”Darren replied, “The fever started at dawn. Ms. Caroline caught a cold. Her fever subsided after taking medication once, but it returned.“It’s time for her to take her medicine.”Sophia spotted the lunch boxes. She told Darren, “Go have your lunch, Mr. Fletcher. I can look after Carol.”“It’s okay, Mrs. Queen. I can eat on my own,” said Caroline embarrassedly. It was her first time feeling cared for by someone her mother’s age. Although Sophia was not part of her family, the lady treated her
Caroline looked toward Darren. She said, “In my younger days, I often caught colds and coughs when the weather was too cold. The coughing will last throughout the changing of seasons. Therefore, I’ve been looking after my health since I grew up.“My immune system strengthened a lot. I haven’t been coughing for years.“I’m not worried.”Caroline stared at Darren lovingly. “I have nothing to be worried about with you here.”Darren pinched her face lightly with affection. “I’m still sulking. I didn’t want you to risk yourself, yet I couldn’t stop you. I’ll only feel better once you recover.”He was Caroline’s assistant and had to heed her orders. Even if they were dating, he still had to follow her arrangements.“Okay. Don’t be angry. I won’t take risks like this again in the future. You’ll age quickly if you get angry frequently. If that happens, your hair might turn gray before I even grow old.“We promised to grow old together.”Under Caroline’s gentle coaxing, Darren’s expre
Darren became an orphan when he was only a few years old. After losing everything, he was collected and trained by the training center to be an all-rounder assistant. He could not remember how he lost his parents as he was too young back then. Since he had no memories, there was no pain.Nevertheless, he had seen others interacting with their parents. He knew parents should love their children. There were not many parents who would not shower their children with love. Ms. Caroline was too unlucky to have met one. “I don’t care. I don’t care about my dad at all.”Caroline asked, “Has my dad asked you to give him money? He doesn’t need money. He just wants to know about his sons’ conditions.“Having lived for so many years, he was probably aware of the consequences of his sons’ plan and had advised them not to do it. They didn’t listen to him, so he’s just hoping to get lucky and waiting for some news.”Hunter must have known that her brothers were going to murder her. Sinc