However, Belinda was chanting in her heart, ‘Quick, Gordon. Pour the gasoline and light the fire. Burn them all.’Unfortunately, nothing happened despite her strong wish. Did Mr. Gordon think the time was not right yet? Or were there other reasons?Belinda thought the best time to start the fire was when everyone was distracted by the evidence. In truth, Mr. Gordon did want to put the plan into action. However, while he was ordering everyone to douse the manor with gasoline, they realized that the tanks of gasoline they had prepared had been switched to water at some point.When they opened the tanks, there was no smell of gasoline. Mr. Gordon asked them to empty one tank and try setting it aflame, but it failed. It was certain that their gasoline was swapped. Mr. Gordon broke into a cold sweat.Since he and Madam Fisher were the ones who thought of the plan, no one other than his most trusted subordinates, who were carrying out the plan with him, knew about it.Even the s
“Are you trying to let Mr. Fletcher kill your daughter? Since you’re suspicious that we assistants will harm our masters, your assigning Mr. Fletcher to Ms. Caroline is equivalent to handing her a death sentence.”Belinda was speechless.Patrick’s words were still as sharp as ever. He used to have a lot of patience with her. Looking back, it had probably been because of Tiara.Patrick looked at the audience gathered around them. He said, “That year, Madam Tiara got into an accident. Her entire family passed away, save for her two daughters, who were unscathed because they were in school.“There was a mechanic who would always check Madam Tiara’s car daily before she headed out. After she returned, the mechanic would inspect the car again to ensure nothing was amiss.“However, on the day of the accident, the mechanic suddenly had an upset stomach. He was severely dehydrated from diarrhea and had no energy to inspect Madam Tiara’s car. She headed out after a simple check conducted
“No matter how strong I am by myself, I couldn’t handle group after group of assassins coming after my life. No, they didn’t just want to kill me. They also wanted to destroy the little evidence I had painstakingly gathered.“There was once I got severely injured after many rounds of attacks. When I thought I was about to die, the heavens blessed me. Someone rescued me. I believe the heavens must’ve thought Madam Tiara and her family’s deaths were unjust and sent someone to save me to seek justice for Madam Tiara.“Not only did my savior rescue me, but he also spent lots of precious medicine to heal me. Although I was brought back from the brink of death, some side effects remained. I could never recover from them. I stayed alive for decades with my broken body solely for the sake of avenging Madam Tiara.“Later, I secretly returned to Jensburg to retrieve Madam Tiara’s daughters, Audrey and Lisa. However, I only discovered they had gone missing after arriving in Jensburg. At that t
Patrick looked around again. He said, “Belinda said I had escaped and she refused to admit she wanted to kill me. She even accused me of killing Madam Tiara. But I have witnesses. They can prove that I was being hunted down. “They can also verify that the assassins sent after me were by Belinda. The people who rescued me that year are here with me tonight. They’ll be my witnesses.”Patrick turned around. Silver and the other legendary masters stood behind him. “They’re my saviors. If it weren’t for them lending a hand, I would’ve been six feet under now.”Belinda suddenly laughed out loud. She then said sarcastically, “You said they’re your saviors, Patrick. Can their words be trusted? What if Audrey had paid them to act as your saviors?“You kept saying that I killed Tiara and Alivia. You can ask them to confront me directly and see if I was the one who killed them. If the victims don’t sue me, then there’s no truth in your words.”Everyone looked toward Belinda with a weird
Belinda sneered. “Can you prove that they are the elders of the Imperial Force, Mr. York? Who here knows these old-timers of the Imperial Force and can verify their identities?”Zachary was rendered speechless.Aside from their group, no one had met the legendary masters before. Not only that, they had just recently met the masters in the flesh. Their families’ elders would be able to confirm the masters’ identities. However, they only had Audrey with them. Even if they could vouch for the masters, it would not be convincing enough. “I’ve met them before. I can verify their identities.”An old voice came from the direction of the manor’s gates.The place was silent. Therefore, the old voice could be heard clearly. Everyone looked toward the source of the voice. It belonged to an elderly man in his nineties. He was in good health. Although he had a cane in one hand, he did not need support from anyone else. It seemed he had spoken right after getting out of a car and was
Roy then shook hands with Silver, Dan, and the other two masters. He said, “I never thought I’d be able to see you lot again. I could never forget the days when you fellas deceived me. Even if you turn to ashes, I’ll still be able to recognize you.”Silver said, “We didn’t deceive you. You wanted us to do something but refused to pay. Were you trying to mooch off us?“You’ve always been a people-pleaser, Roy. How could you do something like that?”Roy laughed. “Leaving money aside, there were still many instances where you all tricked me and put me in a difficult spot.”After a short reunion, Roy said resoundingly, “I can prove that these old men here are the masterminds of the Imperial Force. However, they retired decades ago. The leaders of the Imperial Force are now their disciples.“I never thought I’d be able to see these people again in my life.”Roy looked toward Zachary and said, “You have the aura of your grandfather, Mr. York. However, how you do things resembles your g
“Have you no conscience?!” Patrick harshly reprimanded Belinda.Belinda suddenly exploded in anger and confessed, “That’s right, I don’t have one! I caused my sisters’ deaths—what can you do about it? What should I feel guilty about? My sister loved me so much that she would have agreed if I wanted her position as the matriarch. She wouldn't have blamed me, and if she hadn’t had her daughters, she would have given the position to me. Why did she have to get married and have kids, taking away my chance for power?“Why should she receive your love and affection? Just because she was the matriarch? Since being the matriarch was the only way to have you, then I wanted to be the matriarch! Patrick, I wanted power, but I also wanted you, and I wanted you to be loyal to me like you were to my sister,” Belinda roared even as her eyes reddened.Did they think she truly felt no pain at causing Tiara and Alivia’s deaths? Not long after Alivia was born, she was orphaned and only had her sisters
“Shut the door, Elaine! Shut the main doors!” Belinda suddenly shouted. Then, she dug her phone out to call Mr. Gordon. Once he picked up, she instructed, “Go ahead with what I instructed you to do.”She did not want to live anymore. She wanted to take everyone down with her. Apart from the party from Wiltspoon, her other guests were all the Fisher family members who had some capability. Everyone would be taken out in a single blow.“Mom!” Caroline shouted. “Stop deluding yourself!”Belinda turned and gave Caroline a vicious slap. “Get out, you unfilial daughter! Get out! I don’t want to see you, you unfilial daughter!”She did not just stop at a slap, but also pushed Caroline, trying to drive her out.Caroline hugged Belinda as she begged with tears in her eyes, “Mom, you have to wake up! You have to face the consequences of your actions.”Belinda shoved Caroline away, angrily questioning, “What have I done wrong? I’m not at fault! If I didn’t look out for myself, I would have b
Trenton was relieved that Dalton was indebted to Camryn. That was why Dalton had been loyal to Newman Enterprise.If Newman Enterprise did not fall into Camryn’s hands, there was no doubt that Dalton would leave the company. If that happened, the company was doomed.When his parents went to prison, he was merely 18, and Carrie only knew how to spend money. Not only that, their relatives were hungry to get a share of the Newman family’s assets. He and Carrie could not have protected their family’s wealth alone.After Camryn regained her sight, she still could not strain her eyes for long hours. Therefore, Dalton remained in charge of the company.Luckily, they had Callum as well. Even if anything were to happen, Callum would not leave Newman Enterprise to fall because many of the Newman family’s assets belonged to Camryn.He would not let Camryn lose anything.“You’ve been brainwashed by Dalton after working with him. Our dad treated him well and trusted him, yet Dalton betrayed
Camryn said, “She’s just using her lack of money as an excuse to start a fight with me.“Do you really think she has no money?”Carrie had somehow become Mrs. Longbottom yet she was still hiding her identity. Camryn had not understood the entire situation yet.Nevertheless, she was certain that Carrie did not need money.After she spoke, a familiar car arrived.It was the car Carrie had always used in the past.When she returned to the Newman family’s villa after getting out of prison, she only drove that car. She could not take other cars. The cars were still parked in the garage. “Come out, Camryn.”Carrie had gotten out of the car and started shouting for Camryn.When the York family’s bodyguards saw her, they simply glanced at her and did not stop her from entering the store. They knew Camryn had always been lenient with her younger sister.Since Camryn did not give any orders to stop Carrie from entering, the bodyguards simply kept an eye on Carrie to ensure that sh
“I want to go to Spring Blossoms as Carrie,” she told the bodyguard who was driving. “Your sister’s people are keeping an eye on your apartment. She’ll get suspicious again if you head over in your outfit. Everything Mr. Longbottom arranged will go to waste,” the bodyguard reminded her.Carrie thought it over. “Okay. Let’s head home first. I’ll change my clothes and remove my makeup before heading over.”She would also check if her stand-in had damaged any of her stuff.If she did, Carrie would tell the stand-in to compensate her.The bodyguard remained silent.Once they arrived at Longbottom Villa, Carrie took off her hyper-realistic mask and removed her makeup. After changing her clothes, she returned to being Carrie and went out with her bag.Her two bodyguards did not stop her from leaving.She could do anything as long as it would not rouse Camryn and other people’s suspicions.Besides, Carrie had just gotten scolded by their boss on the phone. Although Mr. Longbottom
Mr. Longbottom thought he was not so inferior to men younger than him.More accurately, he was far superior. He had status, money, and power.Which of the younger men could be on par with him unless they came from a wealthy family?Many sons of wealthy families could not compete with him.“I can’t go over because I’m busy these days. But I do miss you too.“It’s more difficult because of the festive season. There are many events, and I have to accompany my family. My wife doesn't care about me, but her request is that I be with her during the holidays because we have to meet our friends and families. Do you understand?”Mr. Longbottom had a wife and children. Carrie knew about it. He had never hid that fact.Carrie did not know if he was close to his wife. Although he said they no longer had feelings for each other, Carrie dared not believe him because he had never let other women take his wife’s place.He also never allowed other women to become pregnant with his children.Mr
Carrie thought she had matured since she could figure out that much. In the past, she would not have understood a thing. Love was about accepting everything about someone. Most people could tolerate their partner’s shortcomings when they were deeply in love. However, without love, even a person’s strength would seem like a fault. Carrie smiled. “Mr. York is a workaholic. Serenity must’ve gotten the habit from him and turned into one herself. I can’t believe she’s working so hard even though she’s pregnant.”“She’s still in the early stages of pregnancy. Going to work is fine.”“Do you need anything else, Mrs. Longbottom?” Jasmine asked.“No. I shall take my leave now, Mrs. Bucham.”Jasmine was on guard and unwilling to reveal much about Serenity. Therefore, it would be better for Carrie to leave. She was not close to Serenity and her friends yet. “Bye, Mrs. Longbottom.”Jasmine saw Carrie out and watched as she got into her car.Once Carrie got far enough from the booksto
Mr. Longbottom had been surprised by her question. He told her coldly that she should refrain from asking unnecessary questions.One who knew too much would not live long. Carrie got intimidated and dared not ask another question. Although she got more curious, she did not try to gather more information for fear Mr. Longbottom would choke her again if he found out. “Nothing. I just asked because I haven’t seen her in a while.”Of course, Carrie could not reveal that she was looking for Serenity. Jasmine would get suspicious if she did. No one around Serenity was a fool. “Seren is busy with work. I rarely see her these days,” Jasmine said.Carrie knew it was a lie. She was aware that Serenity's closest friends did not trust her yet. It made her feel defeated. It had been months since Mr. Longbottom found her and asked her to approach Serenity. Despite her efforts, she still had not obtained Serenity’s trust, let alone become her friend.However, Jasmine and Serenity go
The day ended peacefully. The following day, Zachary ate breakfast and had Kevin drive him and his bodyguards to the airport. They were taking an airplane to Annenburg. Before boarding, Zachary texted Serenity to tell her he would soon arrive in Annenburg. Serenity would be returning from the Murphys’ place. On the other hand, Liberty brought Duncan to Queen Manor to visit Mr. Donald. They would soon become related to each other. Since Duncan was in the city, it was only proper that he visited the Queens. Meanwhile, in Wiltspoon, Jasmine had returned to the bookstore despite it being the winter holidays. She found it rather dull being at home all the time. At the bookstore, even when there were no customers, she could chat with the owners of the nearby stores. While some had closed their stores to celebrate the festive season, many chose to stay open. Jasmine was a month further into her pregnancy than Serenity. Her bump was huge. Luckily, it did not restrict her moveme
After half an hour, Liberty and Duncan finally arrived at the hotel. They bumped into Zachary and Kevin, who had also just returned.“You’re here, Duncan.”Zachary walked toward them. “Hi, Liberty.”Kevin walked over as well. “I told Zachary that you’d be here in no time. Being apart from your girlfriend isn’t easy, right?” Kevin teased.“You’ve experienced it yourself,” replied Duncan as he laughed. Kevin did not respond. He did miss Hayden a lot in the early stages of their relationship. “You two bought so many things.” Kevin saw the items in Duncan’s arms and on his thighs. They were all toys. “Sonny’s getting new toys again, eh?” “Yeah. We bought him some new clothes and toys. I’ve been giving him windmills all the time. It’s time to change it up.”Even Duncan found it slightly ridiculous. He thought Sonny loved windmills just because he saw Sonny playing with them once. That was why he kept getting more windmills for Sonny.Sonny used to be scared of him, but
She would wear light make-up for work to accentuate her beauty. Sometimes, she could not believe the glowing, confident woman looking back at her in the mirror was herself. She had changed a lot after her divorce two years ago. “I’m letting myself enjoy tonight because I’m with you. I won’t have late-night snacks anymore. Going on a diet is too difficult. I don’t want to do it again.”If she gained too much weight, it would be difficult to get fit again because she was happy and did not lack money. In addition, she had Duncan spoiling her. Since she no longer wanted to go on a weight loss journey, she had no choice but to control her appetite and exercise daily to maintain her figure. “I heard the others saying that you have many admirers here. Although they’ve not said anything, even a fool can tell that they’ve fallen for you just from their gazes.”The men who had a crush on Liberty knew she had a fiance who was the young master of the Lewises from Wiltspoon. While they