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Chapter 125
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2024-10-08 14:07:54Related chapters
The Guardian's Return Chapter 126
A quick thought later, Stephen came up with an idea. “Aqua City has beautiful aquatic scenery and an abundance of freshwater produce. If the sports games can be held there, the city will see a rise in fame and attract more tourists, local and foreign. “Companies working in the food and beverage industry, especially those specialized in freshwater produce, will seek a collaboration with the event. It will definitely benefit the city.” He was elated. The sports games’ timing was impeccable. “If we can hold some games on the water, the city’s fame will skyrocket!” He rubbed his hands excitedly, already envisioning the city’s future. “Once the city is famous, the GDP will rise!” Stephen immediately contacted the mayor of Aqua City, informing the man of his upcoming visit. The sports game was crucial to Aqua City, and he needed to oversee the plans personally. More importantly, he wanted them to build the event platform directly on the water! Stephen thought. “While the at
Last Updated : 2024-10-08The Guardian's Return Chapter 127
“Third time's the charm. I won’t fail again.” Simon nodded and agreed with his son. Besides, how could someone fail at the same job three times in a row? After the call, Stephen wrote a proposal for his plans. The next day, he took a plane to Aqua City, but this time, he came prepared. The mayor welcomed him at the airport and brought him to the hotel. On the way to the hotel, Stephen asked, “How much longer until the sports games?” “One month.” “One month? Hm, it’s short but should be enough,” Stephen muttered to himself. “This is the proposal that I’ve come up with. Have a look.” He handed the mayor the proposal. After going through the details, the mayor frowned. The proposal focused on heavily promoting tourism, building more resorts, opening more bed-and-breakfasts, and even launching some trendy spots. It also included plans to introduce more freshwater species to diversify the local aquatic life and attract more seafood companies to set up shop. Lastly, it sugg
Last Updated : 2024-10-08The Guardian's Return Chapter 128
Stephen still could not fully understand Ethan’s plan. The city’s development? They were meant to highlight the city’s beautiful aquatic sceneries and also prevent the landscape from being ruined. After all, if the environment gets destroyed, what good would hotels and resorts be if no tourists came? Limiting the types of aquatic life farmed? It was because the water in the city was only suitable for farming local species. If non-native species were introduced, it would also destroy the local ecosystem, resulting in poor quality and quantity of seafood. Due to that, Ethan also forbade people to release non-native species into the waters of Aqua City. As to limiting other companies from expanding locally? It was because he wanted to protect the forest of the city. Many companies saw the potential in the area’s hydroelectric resources and population. They wanted to set up factories there, where they could dump untreated waste into the rivers and offer jobs to the people. A lot
Last Updated : 2024-10-08The Guardian's Return Chapter 129
Stephen noticed the unusual gazes at him and knew the people in the meeting room had opinions about his previous work. Hence, he stood up and said, “I know some of you have a different opinion about me. I totally understand it. I might not be the main cause of the downfall of North Hill City and Seaside City, but I was still involved, and I admit that I didn’t do a good job. “But I ask you to trust me one more time.” The people in the meeting room were shocked. They thought the young man from Metropolis would be an arrogant one, but he spoke politely and seemed to be a rational one. He also sounded sincere, as if he truly wanted to make up for the losses. His tone and attitude made them look at him differently. Maybe Stephen was not all useless; maybe he truly wanted to serve the people and develop the city’s economy. “Alright! We’re at your service!” “I believe you will lead us to new heights!” Stephen’s lips curled into a smile as he announced, “This meeting is held to
Last Updated : 2024-10-08The Guardian's Return Chapter 130
Everyone applauded Stephen. His plans seemed perfect. If they followed Stephen’s plan, Aqua City’s GDP would surely rise. Then, someone in the room asked, “There’s still one more month left before the launch, and our construction for the venue is almost done. Are we really moving it to the beach?” Stephen stood firm on his stance. “It has to be on the beach. As for the current construction, we can just tear it down. “With destruction comes creation, right? I’m sure you’ve all heard it before. This sports game is a once-in-a-decade opportunity for us. We cannot afford to miss it. If we capitalize on this, the city’s GDP will rise to four trillion in one year!” Everyone’s eyes lit up. Four trillion was nearly twice the current GDP! If they could make it, Aqua City could be one of the megacities of the country. They could not contain their excitement, fully supporting Stephen’s decision. “Your plan is great!” “Yeah! It’s way better than Ethan’s plans!” “I can already pic
Last Updated : 2024-10-08The Guardian's Return Chapter 131
They had never met Ethan, yet he had orchestrated the deaths of eight people. Among the eight, five were forced to take their own lives, while the remaining three fled the country, severely injured. Even the CEOs lost contact with the three of them. It was as though they had vanished into thin air. No one could find them.However, just a few days later, the CEOs learned about their mysterious deaths. They were killed in another country, and their families had been wiped out. The group of bosses got so afraid that they ran, but no matter what, they could not accept their fates. With them dead, all their money and assets were transferred to a mysterious account. After that, Aqua City received huge funding to accelerate its development. That was when they knew Ethan was the person behind their mysterious and gruesome deaths. “This is Ethan Rivers. It’s best to expect the worst. One misstep and we will be joining the rest in hell.” The one who spoke was Thomas Youngman, the owne
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“It shouldn't be a problem. He’s not Ethan Rivers, after all.” As long as Ethan was not their opponent, they were not afraid. Meanwhile, Stephen had just concluded the mapping out for the city. “Let’s call it a day. I’ll visit the marked sites tomorrow.” The next day, he and the mayor visited the sites. Along the way, he was captivated by Aqua City’s stunning scenery, and it made him emotional. “This place is beautiful.” The mayor replied with a smile, “It will only become more beautiful under your leadership.” Pleased with the response, Stephen let out a hearty laugh. Soon, they arrived at the first site—a residential area with a river flowing in the center. After surveying the place, Stephen said, “This is the perfect place for some farms and bed-and-breakfasts. And if we build more hotels by the side, I bet they’d be fully booked in no time.” The mayor’s assistant wrote down every detail Stephen mentioned. After another round of inspection, they wrapped up the
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“Don’t worry, I’m not Ellen. She must’ve developed feelings for her target. That was why Ethan Rivers used her. I won’t make such a stupid mistake,” Snow said. Oliver was happy with the reply. He did not want one of his women to die on an assignment either. “I will arrange for your next meeting with Stephen. Now, you can satisfy me first.” With that, the Mercedes drove off. Stephen and the mayor, on the other hand, went around the city and completed his mapping for future developments. The mayor then handed him a set of documents. “These are the selected locations for the sports games. You can pick one out, and we will move the venue there.” Stephen went through the list and chose a spacious location, one where multiple rivers intersected so that it could fit a massive stadium. The mayor took the document back and said, “Very well. I’ll tell the men to start working on it.” The reconstruction of the new stadium must be carried out immediately as the event was only a m
Last Updated : 2024-10-08
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The Guardian's Return Chapter 654
Stephen couldn't believe what he just heard. He asked in disbelief, "Dad, what did you just say?"Simon spoke gravely, "Lily Ford is dead. She poisoned herself.”Clatter.Stephen’s phone fell to the floor. At that moment, he felt all his strength drain away.Just a short while ago, Lily had called him, wanting to see him one last time. Now the next news he heard of her was that she had taken her own life!"No! It's impossible! She wouldn't do something so foolish. You're lying, you're all lying!" He clutched his head, his whole body shaking."What's wrong?" Rachel was startled by Stephen's reaction and quickly got up to ask.Stephen came to his senses. Ignoring Rachel, he quickly picked up his phone. "Where is she? Where is she now?"Simon answered, "In the capital. She seems to have been on Drakthorn Ridge."Whoosh.Stephen immediately got out of bed, hastily put on his clothes, and rushed out of the room."Where are you going?" Rachel shouted. However, she got no response.
The Guardian's Return Chapter 653
Lily smiled and reached out her hand, gently stroking Jason's face. "It's nice here, but there's somewhere else I want to go now."Jason grabbed her hand. "Lily, don't go. I promise you won't have to marry Sebastian. I won't agree with anyone! Please don't go. Stay with me, please!"Lily smiled brightly at these words. She still thought Stephen was speaking to her.The bodyguards nearby were also getting teary-eyed.Lily held Jason's hand. "When you're old, will you dream of me? I won't wait for you. By then, I'll surely be reborn into a good family. But if I have the chance, I'll definitely come find you. When that time comes, make sure you manage Riveria well and become a well-known figure, so I can find you more easily."It's getting a bit cold. Stephen, hold me tight... I'm a little scared."Only then did Jason realize she was mistaking him for Stephen, but he still held her tightly. He sobbed, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. I’m here!"Lily's gaze seemed to look past him
The Guardian's Return Chapter 652
Meanwhile…Rachel had pulled Stephen into their room.Unable to find any trace of Lily at the foot of the mountain, Jason felt that something was amiss. After asking around, he learned that no one was seen driving down. At this point, alarm bells started ringing in his head.He quickly led his men up to the summit where he found Lily."Lily!" Seeing her standing at the cliff's edge, his heart lurched, and he cried out, "Calm down! Get away from there!"Lily turned to look at him, her face already streaked with tears. She had wanted to see Stephen one last time but was unable to. Instead, it was Jason, her brother who wanted to drag her back, who found her."We can talk about the marriage. Just come here first.” Jason inched forward carefully. "Come to me. I'll make things right."Lily shook her head, knowing these were just lies to trick her. Once they got her back to the Fords, these words would mean nothing."Brother, don't lie to me," she responded. "I know that you’re only
The Guardian's Return Chapter 651
Jason could not understand the conversation between Lily and Ethan, but he had not forgotten why he came here. He said to Lily, "Come back with me right now. Everyone's been looking for you since you ran away. Go home and apologize to Mom and Dad, and don't run off like this again. You're getting married in just over a month. Stay home and learn how to be a proper wife."Hearing this, Lily's heart grew heavier. She became more convinced that her gut feeling was correct."I'm not going," Lily said."Stop being ridiculous!" Jason grabbed her arm. "You're coming back with us right now. If the Katz family finds out you're running around like this, it won't be good for any of us. The Fords raised you for all these years. It's time for you to repay them."Lily's last hope died. She finally understood why the Fords were forcing her to marry into the Katz family—they had never seen her as a person. Just like in Cora and Scott's story, both she and Cora were merely bargaining chips for thei
The Guardian's Return Chapter 650
Jason’s eyes widened. “Who wiped them out?”“Ethan Rivers! This name keeps coming up.”Jason froze, taken aback. The bodyguards around him and Lily also looked terrified because the man named Ethan Rivers was right before their eyes! Just moments ago, Jason had arrogantly demanded that Ethan apologize to them.The bodyguards could not help but stumble backward.Jason’s mind raced. Those powerful forces were not much weaker than his family, yet Ethan had wiped them all out.What did that mean? It meant it would be no problem for Ethan to wipe out the entire Ford family!“You should understand now,” said Ethan, “that in my eyes, your family and all other families have no dignity or honor to speak of.”Jason turned paled, and his body trembled uncontrollably. “Who exactly are you?”He never knew that such a terrifying figure existed in Riveria.Suddenly, he understood why Stephen had changed so drastically after coming to Riveria. The place was far more terrifying than the powe
The Guardian's Return Chapter 649
"You're alone with him in his house. Just the two of you, a man and a woman. Aren't you worried about what people will say? And don't forget your place—you’re still the Katzes’ future daughter-in-law!"Lily lowered her head in despair. Only Ethan remained seated, his expression calm as he looked at Jason.“I can assure you that I don’t find Lily attractive. I can also assure you that the Katzes would not dare to say anything even if they found out she spent the night here. Also, a family that sells off their own daughter has no dignity to speak of.”Jason frowned. “Is that your justification? Do you think you can avoid apologizing with that and simply brush the matter aside?”“No,” said Ethan. “I have just one answer. Your family has a vast intelligence network and access to the largest database. Find out who caused the chaos in Riveria three years ago.”Jason did not understand what Ethan was up to. However, he was curious, especially since Stephen had encountered a series of set
The Guardian's Return Chapter 648
“Mr. Rivers.” Lily lowered her head.Ethan looked at her calmly.“I was reckless and irrational yesterday. Please forgive me, Mr. Rivers.”Then, she bowed toward him.In the span of a day, she had experienced Stephen leaving her and her own family locking her up, demanding that she cut ties with Stephen. She had thought things through and came to a realization that the only person in the world who could help her now was the person in front of her—Ethan Rivers. She also understood that she could not walk away unscathed.Her visit today had two purposes. The first was to apologize to Ethan sincerely and earn Ethan’s forgiveness. As for the second...Lily raised her head and looked at Ethan. “I have an unreasonable request. I can’t let him go. Please help me move on from him, Mr. Rivers.”She knew she had to marry Sebastian, so she wanted to move on from Stephen. That way, it would be better for both her and Stephen.Ethan said calmly, “You should go to a psychologist or neurolo
The Guardian's Return Chapter 647
Everyone was surprised. In the past, Stephen would always find excuses to avoid responsibility, but now, he was openly admitting to his mistakes.“He’s actually facing all the issues head-on.”“This doesn’t seem like Stephen’s usual style. Is this a PR tactic?”“Who cares what it is? Just criticize him as usual. None of the previous problems have been solved yet.”“That’s true. He still deserves to be criticized!”“A rotten apple will always be rotten. No matter how nice his words sound tonight, he’ll go back to his old tricks tomorrow.”The public was only slightly surprised at his behavior, but they had no doubt as to what he would do in the future—he would continue to destroy the city’s peace.Stephen was prepared for that reaction.“I’ve made too many mistakes in the past. It’s impossible for everyone to believe in me immediately. However, as long as I keep working hard, they’ll slowly change their opinions of me.”After getting everything off his chest, he felt lighter, l
The Guardian's Return Chapter 646
“You sure like joking around, Dad,” Rachel responded, trying not to show how much she actually cared about the situation.Then, she added, “It’ll happen naturally.”Simon did not expose her either and simply said, “Do as you please.”He stood and left. He still had a lot to handle, such as the companies leaving in droves and the problems with the development zone.After he was gone, Rachel immediately stood up and went upstairs to look for Stephen. She wanted to take action immediately.When she walked into the room, she saw Stephen sitting at his desk, reading through some documents.“Stop reading that.” Rachel stepped forward and tried to drag him to bed.However, Stephen was not in the mood. His mind was a chaotic mess, consumed by the proposals in front of him and the haunting image of Lily breaking into tears when he left her.“Don’t bother me.” Stephen pushed Rachel away.Rachel was stunned. Stephen had always cared deeply for her. Since their marriage, she had not even
