LOGINShare
Chapter 104
Related chapters
The Guardian's Return Chapter 105
“In that case, it’s decided.” The next day, Simon gave Stephen a call. “Stephen, visit Ethan. We have to speak to him directly.” The people who had proposed seeking Ethan’s help during yesterday’s meeting gathered once more, waiting for a chance to speak with him. Stephen quickly drove to Drakthorn Ridge Mansion. As soon as he got out of the car, the doors were opened, and he strode inside to see Ethan reading a book on the couch. He frowned. Ethan looked extremely calm, as if he had been anticipating Stephen’s arrival. “Ethan Rivers!” Stephen strode over, saying, “The federal government demands a meeting with him!” Ethan put down his book while Stephen set up the video call. Several men appeared on the screen, all of them looking intimidating and stern. No ordinary man could look them in the eyes without flinching, yet Ethan looked at all of them, unfazed. He asked, “What is this about?” It was the first time the men in the meeting room had seen Ethan in person. Th
The Guardian's Return Chapter 106
Everyone in the meeting room fell silent. It was Stephen who released Howard and provided the man with money and firearms, and the folks in the meeting room supported his decision. Hence, technically, Stephen was the culprit, and they were his accomplices. Stephen’s face burned with embarrassment. He had not said a word, but every word he heard was like a knife to his heart. “Ethan, I know you’re unhappy, but this concerns the city. You can’t just make a decision because you’re upset. You will regret this,” he said with clenched teeth. Ethan almost burst out laughing.He said, “Because of your decision, Shawn Hill, Eric Morningstar, Brandon North, and Danny Brooks ruined North Hill City. Because of your decision, again, Seaside City is facing a crisis. And now you want to teach me how to make the right decision?” Then, he looked straight into Stephen’s eyes as he continued, “You destroyed the economy of North Hill City and caused the mess in Seaside City. Are you really tell
The Guardian's Return Chapter 107
“Those are just your excuses! You’re just taking your frustration out on innocent people!” Simon bellowed, You’re such a coward! We asked you for help because we thought you were still redeemable, but you’re beyond saving!”Ethan smiled. “To be honest, you’re just afraid of being laughed at when the others learn the truth.” “Ha! You have quite a sharp tongue, but what good is that? You abandoned Seaside City and let Howard roam free!” Simon argued. Ethan closed his eyes. Seeing that, Simon grinned. He believed he had won. With Ethan speechless, it seemed he had no other option but to restore balance in Seaside City! The others also shared the same thought until Ethan suddenly opened his eyes. “Yeah. You’re right, but you people are shouldering the responsibility this time. You released Howard, lost Dennis, and destroyed Seaside City. Just wait and see what the history books will remember you.” Ethan’s comment shocked everyone in the meeting room. The meaning of his words
The Guardian's Return Chapter 108
Howard went from a hero to a traitor overnight. With money and firearms, he fled the city, which exacerbated the mess in Seaside City. The one who caused the mess, Dennis, the mayor of Crestwood, also fled with the money he scammed from the people, evading capture and leaving no trace behind. However, the one who released Howard back to Seaside City was not Stephen but someone else. When the news hit the internet, everyone online was left in shock. Many rubbed their eyes and pinched their faces, struggling to believe what they saw. Howard was labeled a traitor and had taken off with money and firearms? The one who caused the mess, Dennis, was also roaming free?“What on earth is happening? Howard Green is a bad guy now?” “I thought he guarded Seaside City for three years. Why did he flee with money and firearms?” “What happened?” In just two days, Howard had gone from a bad guy to a hero and ultimately a traitor. The rapid shift in his identity was too much for people to h
The Guardian's Return Chapter 109
However, there was nothing George could not say. Stephen’s status trumped him. Even if he had complaints, he had to stomach it. If he somehow upset Stephen, the Quinns would surely sanction him, and he would lose more than he bargained for. George sighed. He felt like he was digging his own grave. “Stephen may be blind, but what about the others in the federal government? Shawn Hill, Eric Morningstar, Brandon North, and now Howard Green? All of them were publicly praised, and now look, they all turned out to have issues! “Even if the main problem this time isn’t with Stephen and the federal government, they should share some of the responsibility!” Even though Simon came up with a solution of finding a scapegoat, the public was not buying it. At the federal government’s office, everyone remained silent. Even with a scapegoat in place, they were still blamed for it. They dared not imagine what the reaction would be if the public knew the truth. Maybe it would turn out exac
The Guardian's Return Chapter 110
“Riveria’s GDP has dropped from its previous 15 trillion to 13.2 trillion.” More than a million people had lost their jobs, countless businesses had gone bankrupt, public welfare in cities had taken a hit, and people were losing their homes. “If Riveria’s GDP continues to plummet, we will lose the title of the most developed province and stray further away from our target of 20 trillion!” Simon was rendered speechless. He knew Riveria was in a mess because of Stephen. He and George had conspired to frame Ethan, intending to claim the fruits of success Ethan had planted long ago. By stealing all the credit and hard work from Ethan, he aimed to get a position in the cabinet and ensure his name would go down in history. Yet now, instead of reaching 20 trillion, they should be relieved it had not plummeted faster than it already had. “Is Stephen really up to this? Should we replace him?” someone asked, looking at Simon. “No! This is not entirely his fault,” Simon argued. “Our
The Guardian's Return Chapter 111
“Is there something else?”Stephen thought there was something Simon had forgotten to tell him. However, when he looked at his phone, his eyes widened in shock.That number belonged to Howard, and he could not believe the man had the nerve to call him!Immediately answering the call, Stephen gritted his teeth and said “Howard Green, damn you!”“Haha!” Howard laughed.“I’ve never killed before, yet you label me a murderer. Tell me. How many people have lived happy lives in the three years I protected Seaside City? You didn’t even look into it before throwing me in prison.“I admit that I’ve done many wrong deeds in the past that deserve punishment, but… Stephen Quinn, you arrested me at will and made up false charges of me, and now look at what you’ve done to Seaside City. How many families have been destroyed because of you? Don’t you deserve to be punished too?”Stephen stood frozen and speechless.What Howard did in the past was indeed wrong, but compared to Stephen, what Ste
The Guardian's Return Chapter 112
However, he did not care.With the upcoming ‘gift’, every lie Stephen had prepared would ultimately shoot himself in the foot.Dennis handed over a memory card to Howard and said, “I know what you’re planning. There’s a video in there. It contains the whole footage of Stephen’s visit to Crestwood, including the part where he was poisoned and dumped in the trash by us.“If everyone finds out that he met me, got beaten up, and then tossed out like garbage, imagine how they’ll see him. I’m looking forward to it.”Dennis relished the drama. He had nearly 10 billion worth in assets now, and it was enough for him to squander for the rest of his life.“Thanks.” Howard took the card and walked away.Meanwhile, Stephen, who had yet to learn what Howard and Dennis were planning, felt incredibly uneasy.“Forget it. They’re not even in the country, so they can’t do anything even if they want to. They’re too busy running for their lives. Why would they waste time on me? I’m sure they’re just
Latest chapter
The Guardian's Return Chapter 920
After everything was settled, the people from HQ went to Ethan again. They apologized to him and begged for his forgiveness.“We’ve dealt with everyone involved in this matter. Are you satisfied with the outcome, Mr. Rivers?”With that, they lowered their heads to the ground nervously. Their only hope now hinged on Ethan’s response.They did not dare to ask for much. All they hoped for was that Ethan would not leave the country.Ethan glanced at them calmly and said, “Send someone to help move my stuff down the mountain.”Hearing that, everyone was first stunned, and then ecstatic.“Of course!” they replied in unison.They understood what Ethan meant. He was staying! Although it was not his complete forgiveness, he was willing to give them another chance.They were all overjoyed. As long as Ethan did not leave, there was plenty of time to slowly make amends.They took out their phones and made arrangements to help Ethan move.After the call ended, they said, “We respectfully
The Guardian's Return Chapter 919
The day of Rachel and George’s trial came.The livestream began at 10 a.m., and hundreds of thousands of viewers joined instantly.Rachel and George slowly walked into the courtroom in handcuffs.Bang! The judge’s gavel fell, and the room went silent.It was not a lawsuit. It was a trial to expose the sins of Rachel and George.The judge read out their crimes one by one, until Rachel and George’s faces paled to the point that they looked like corpses.The viewers in the livestream finally saw the full picture.“So that’s it! The Quinns and the Lowes conspired!”“They deserve to die! How could they frame Ethan like that? Are they even human?”“The death penalty! They deserve the death penalty!”They were all furious.Many people had lost their families as a result of supporting Stephen and scolding Ethan. After watching the livestream, they realized just how deeply they had been wrong.They were accomplices to the Quinns and the Lowes' crimes in framing Ethan!Their current
The Guardian's Return Chapter 918
They suppressed their disgust and returned home, only to see their parents and wives’ panicked expressions.“What did you do out there?”“So many people came today, asking for you by name.”How were they supposed to answer those questions? They could not just say that they had insulted Ethan online.If they did, their parents would beat them to death before anyone else could.“It’s nothing,” they replied stiffly. They had no choice but to hide the truth. After all, they could not say that they had insulted Ethan, or that they had lost their jobs.However, the next second, their parents received text messages. After their parents glanced at their phones, their expressions instantly changed.It was a message from the bank, stating that their child had been listed as a defaulter and urging them to repay the loan immediately.“What have you done?” Their parents’ voices trembled.Seeing that there was no way to hide it anymore, they had no choice but to confess the truth.They los
The Guardian's Return Chapter 917
Seeing that message, they immediately felt as if their world had ended.Because they had insulted Ethan, they lost their jobs, were blacklisted, and could not find work again.“How could this be?”No one expected this outcome. They thought, ‘So what if I insulted him? Are they going to punish me for it? Besides, so many people are insulting him. They can’t possibly punish every single person who did it. At most, I’ll post a public apology and promise that I’ll never do it again.’However, now they were all fired. Everyone who had insulted Ethan had been dismissed from their jobs.It seemed like there were several tens of thousands of people involved! It was hard to imagine just how many people had lost their jobs in real life.“Why are they going this far? Aren’t they afraid of causing unrest?”Of course, HQ had considered that. However, they knew what was more serious.If Ethan went abroad and cooperated with foreign countries, the consequences would not be limited to a few pe
The Guardian's Return Chapter 916
George thought that Rachel had already escaped abroad, so he was not afraid when he arrived.Now, when he saw Rachel there as well, he completely panicked.This was not what he had expected!“Where else would she be?” someone from HQ asked.George looked nervous and stammered, unable to say a word.With Rachel caught and him being brought here, it was clear that HQ already knew the truth. Coupled with his fear of Ethan and his helplessness in the face of reality, he no longer had the strength to make up any excuses.He had resigned himself to fate.“You really have some nerve." The people from HQ sneered. “You fooled us all completely.”“You’ve been hiding Ethan’s contributions all this time, haven’t you?”“You two are nothing but disasters to this country! You deserve to die a thousand times over.”George kept his head down while Rachel sobbed. “I was wrongfully accused!”“Shut up! Are you still trying to fool us at a time like this? You were wrongfully accused? By who? Sim
The Guardian's Return Chapter 915
They brought this on themselves, forcing themselves into a corner with no way out. “Ah!”Simon could not take it anymore. He suddenly ran towards the window, trying to end his life. Fortunately, the officials quickly stopped him. “Don’t be reckless! Think about Stephen. You’re all he has now!”That sentence made Simon stop. Now, Stephen and Simon were each other’s support and burden. Simon slumped on the ground weakly. Right now, they both wanted to die, but neither of them had the courage to follow through. All they could do was live on in pain. After a long silence, Simon said, “I’d like to file a report on someone.”To obtain some kind of reward and survive a little longer, Simon decided to turn in George and Rachel. When the officials heard him, they were stunned. They did not expect Rachel to be involved in framing Ethan. “Shit!” Someone exclaimed. “I heard Rachel bought a flight ticket overseas. Could she have fled?”The room was filled with dread. If Rachel ra
The Guardian's Return Chapter 914
Seeing that Stephen was awake, the others rushed to get the doctor. The doctor was astonished as well. Stephen’s sudden awakening was nothing short of a miracle. However, after examining him, the doctor’s expression darkened. Stephen had regained consciousness, but the prognosis was far from hopeful.“He can’t move,” the doctor said. “As of now, he’s paralyzed.”Stephen could open his eyes, but the rest of his body was unresponsive. He could not move his limbs or his neck and mouth. The only part he could move freely was his eye. Even his breathing was dependent entirely on medical equipment. “He might never be able to leave the bed again.”Upon hearing that, Stephen closed his eyes in despair, tears continuously rolling down his cheeks. He had fought so hard to wake up, only to realize he had missed his final chance to meet Snow and Lily. Worse yet, he also lost the ability to move. From now on, he would be confined to the bed and hooked up to machines just to stay alive.
The Guardian's Return Chapter 913
His father died a miserable death, his son was in a coma, and the Quinn family was shattered, leaving only Simon behind to finally realize all his mistakes. However, it was too late. Harrison could not come back to life, the Quinn family could not be whole again, and Stephen could not recover. Simon would forever be haunted by pain, despair, and regret for the rest of his life. At that moment, in complete darkness, Stephen heard Simon’s voice. He was conscious but failed to open his eyes or speak; he could not move a muscle. He wanted so badly to sit up and tell Simon that it was not solely his fault. They were all wrong, and this was their retribution!Just then, two women walked into the ward. When the officials saw them, their eyes widened in shock. For a second, no one even breathed. They were Snow and Lily!The officials thought they were seeing ghosts. Those women were supposed to be dead. Why were they there? Snow and Lily noticed their shocked gazes and offered them
The Guardian's Return Chapter 912
Due to Harrison’s previous incident, the officials reacted quickly by sending Stephen straight to the hospital.After an emergency rescue, Stephen’s life was saved. However, he paid a heavy price. When the doctor walked out of the emergency room, the officials asked, “How is he?”“The situation isn’t looking good,” the doctor said grimly. “His body is in a bad state, and due to long-term emotional distress, he suffered a brain hemorrhage from the emotional shock.“He’s still in a coma, and we can’t say for sure when he’ll wake up again. It depends on his will to live.”The officials drew a sharp breath. “Do you mean he might end up in a coma forever?”The doctor nodded. No one saw coming that Stephen would fall into a coma, with little chance of ever waking up again. However, it also meant he did not have to die anymore. He would be alive but confined to a bed. Suddenly, they thought of Harrison’s desperate pleas to Ethan back in his villa. “I’m willing to trade my life fo
