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Chapter 16
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
The Guardian's Return Chapter 17
Stephen had asked why, yet the answers he received seemed completely unrelated. However, every response answered his question perfectly. Why did Ethan treat those women so well? It was because they were the widows of the fallen heroes. Their husbands had sacrificed their lives for Riveria, and Riveria’s prosperity was built on the sacrifice of those men. Did their families not deserve such luxurious homes? They did; they more than deserved it.“What…” Stephen suddenly felt his throat go dry.The officials behind were stunned, not to mention George and the other governors watching the livestream.Zane sighed softly. He knew Ethan would not have any mistresses, but now that the truth was out, he could not help but feel a deep respect for Ethan. The man had taken on the burden of the entire province’s well-being all by himself. “No wonder Riveria is thriving. With someone like him around, Riveria will only get better!”Liam gulped hard, finally understanding why Ethan was so ca
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Guardian's Return Chapter 18
“This is all part of Ethan’s scheme. You don’t understand him, but we do. I swear to God that he’s not a good person.”Seeing how confident he was, the other governors began to feel uncertain. Could there really be an issue with Ethan Rivers? Were they all being deceived?Amidst everyone’s silence, George said, “Search the place!”Stephen smirked as he ordered, “Follow me inside and search!”“No!” Liam shouted, stepping in front and blocking their path.Stephen raised his brows and asked, “What is the meaning of this? Are you trying to defend Ethan?”“Of course not!” Ethan said, “This isn’t about defending Ethan. These women’s husbands sacrificed their lives for the country, yet not only have you ignored their welfare, but you’ve also accused them of being someone else’s women. And now you’re planning to barge into their homes with a group of men to ransack the place?“Is this how you live up to those heroes’ sacrifices? How will their souls rest in peace? Also, if you do this,
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Guardian's Return Chapter 19
To be honest, George was not entirely confident either because he had not discovered that those women were the widows of the fallen heroes. However, considering they had come so far, there was no turning back. There were so many officials and other governors watching. If it ended there, they would become laughingstocks. Since the arrow was already nocked, it had to be fired!Hearing that, Stephen calmed down slightly. In any case, George was his future father-in-law. Surely, his future father-in-law would not set him up, would he?“Okay, I agree,” Stephen agreed. Believing that George must have his best interest at heart, he wrote a guarantee and led a group inside to search the apartments. Once inside, they were shocked to find that the million-dollar apartments were furnished simply. It was just the bare basics. The cost of a single table in George’s home could have furnished half of one of those apartments. Seeing it made George’s heart sink.Stephen ordered the search, but
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Guardian's Return Chapter 20
Stephen had thought that would be his opportunity to bring down Ethan, but in the end, he was the one who had to swallow his pride.He clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and muttered, “Sorry.”“This is unbearable!”The women, far from appeased, started to cry louder.“Not only did he barge and search our homes, but there’s no sincerity in his apology at all! We can’t live like this. I’m going to end it right here, right now!”In the conference room, George panicked when he saw a woman about to run into the wall. If someone died, the situation would spiral out of control.“Don’t do anything rash! Calm down!” George shouted, “Stephen! Apologize to them now!”Stephen paled. He did not expect the situation to escalate to the point where the women were threatening suicide. However, at that point, he could not waste time figuring out if they were serious. He had to follow George’s orders to keep his job.George had ordered the operation, yet now he was yelling at Stephen and dema
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Guardian's Return Chapter 21
Following George's order to retreat, Stephen left sheepishly with his men. As Stephen walked away, he overheard whispered discussions behind him."Ethan is a good person, yet he’s been arrested?""Yeah, who else cares so much about these widows besides him?""Arresting such a good person is really disheartening."Everyone knew deep down that nobody wanted to take care of those people. If someone were to manage the situation, how much money would they have to spend each year? They would have to misappropriate funds from other areas, like meal allowances or somethingLiam stepped forward and said to Stephen, "Since Mr. Rivers isn’t keeping any women, shouldn't we release him?"Stephen was fuming inside. "Release him? Just because he’s clean here doesn't mean he’s clean."He did not want to hear the discussions behind him anymore, so he quickened his pace and left promptly, leaving the other officials looking at each other in bewilderment."He’s the one who called us here, and now
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Guardian's Return Chapter 22
Brandon picked up his coffee mug, intending to take a sip to calm his anger. "I'm not deaf. What's the good news?"The young man, Sky North, caught his breath and said, "Ethan Rivers has been arrested."The mug fell and shattered on the ground with a crash, coffee spilling everywhere. However, Brandon seemed not to notice. He stared at Sky wide-eyed and enunciated each word, "Ethan Rivers has been arrested?"Sky nodded, saying excitedly, "Yes, I heard it downtown. The charges are embezzlement and bribery.""What?"Brandon thought he must have misheard. Embezzlement and bribery? Who? Ethan Rivers?That was an absolute joke. Did they not know who Ethan was? The man did not need to resort to such despicable means to make money. If Ethan really wanted money, all he needed to do was say the word, and they would all willingly hand it over to him, just begging for him to spare their livelihoods."It must be false information," Brandon said. "Could Ethan have released this to test u
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Guardian's Return Chapter 23
"What's wrong?"Stephen noticed George's unusual reaction, so he curiously took the document for a quick look.Instantly, he too was dumbfounded. They were bank transaction records showing Ethan's payments to the widows and the widows' spending habits!Every month, Ethan had been transferring between 80 to 100 thousand dollars to each family, plus the annual tuition of 200 thousand dollars, without fail!In other words, Ethan gave each family nearly 1.5 million dollars yearly, which was just for one family. There were seventy to eighty families there, meaning the total amount added to at least 105 million dollars!"105 million!”"105 million dollars every year!"For a moment, George could barely breathe as he was overwhelmed by that astronomical figure.Stephen's jaw dropped, and for a moment, he was lost for words. His earlier comment on how much Ethan could afford to give now felt like a boomerang that had circled back to smack him right in the face. The embarrassment stung b
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Guardian's Return Chapter 24
If Ethan were to vie for George’s position as governor, that would be unacceptable Luckily, George had discovered Ethan’s intentions quickly and acted even faster. He had nipped Ethan’s aspirations in the bud!"I’ve really underestimated him. Who would have thought he had such a strong ability to win people over?"George sat on the sofa and took a sip of his coffee, which calmed him down a little."What does Ethan Rivers have to do with Riveria's success? It's all thanks to my wise leadership. Without me, Riveria would have fallen into chaos."Not long after, Stephen returned, bringing some important news he had uncovered."I've made some big discoveries," he told George. "I found out that Ethan owns more than ten properties in Horizon Heights, among which are eight villas.""Oh?" George perked up immediately.More than ten properties, among which were eight villas, was no small number. Although Horizon Heights was not the most luxurious community in Riveria, it was by no mean
Last Updated : 2024-10-29
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The Guardian's Return Chapter 524
“No!” Charles’ face paled. He pulled his phone out to call for help, but then his mother, Jessica, said, “You don’t need to call for help.” She had been fighting her illness for years and should have died a long time ago. It was Ethan’s subsidy and health insurance that helped her to stay alive, and after what happened, she believed she was the reason her son became twisted. She felt guilty, not just toward Ethan, but also toward her husband and their son. Years of pain and the burden she placed on her family had worn her down. She could not go on any longer. Maybe, just maybe, her death could help Charles find his way back.“I know what’s going on with my body,” she said, her voice strained and labored. “Son, I’ve hurt you enough. I’m so sorry. I will no longer be your burden. If you can, turn yourself in. You’re on your own now. We will always love you.” Charles teared up, his body shaking. He did not understand. He had worked so hard and taken so many risks, all to make s
The Guardian's Return Chapter 523
Was Ethan more important than their own son? Stephen said, “I understand. Please get up. Ethan Rivers has been accused of bribery, and it puts me in a tough spot.” Xavier argued, “He’s not capable of that! He has been fixing roads, as well as repairing hospitals and schools. He even used his own money to send other people’s children to school! Why would he take bribes?” Riveria used to be in chaos, and education was scarce. The adults in the family would rather keep their children at home to work than send them to school for education. Ethan then used his personal money to send every child to school, paying the families a stipend of 500 dollars a month. The children could also enjoy free lunches at schools, which drastically improved both attendance rates and nutrition levels in the region.Stephen said with gritted teeth, “It’s bribery! I don’t need you to tell me what he did!” He dared not look them in the eyes, so he quickly called security to send them off. After they
The Guardian's Return Chapter 522
A while later, Charles, who was enjoying his spa and massage with several other business owners, got a call from the hospital that his parents had discharged themselves. The delight on his face disappeared. Why would his parents leave the hospital? He quickly called his father but could not get through. The same happened with his mother. Anxious, Charles called the hospital, demanding an explanation. How could the hospital release his parents without informing him first? The nurse explained, “They said there were not enough beds in the hospital because of the current situation and believed other people needed the treatment more than them, so they insisted on leaving. We tried to convince them to stay, but they were adamant.” Charles was stunned. Not enough beds in the hospital? What kind of excuse was that? He had the money to pay for their medical bills! He had more than a million at hand, and if he kept working hard, the money he was making would be enough to last him a l
The Guardian's Return Chapter 521
Ganter and Austin witnessed the chaos that unfolded in Hill City over the past two weeks. The hospitals were overloaded, and more patients were being admitted. Even they, a psychologist, were asked to help. Ganter shook his head helplessly. He was a doctor in psychology, so there was nothing he could do for those people. All he could do was watch them leave, disheartened and desperate. When he went out on the street, he noticed the people walking around were fewer than before. Every day, he could hear robberies happening and gunshots in the air. The street where his clinic was located used to be a bustling area with merchants selling their goods, but they were all gone. His clinic was the only establishment left in the street. Austin looked worried. “Ganter, we should also think about leaving. Hill City is not safe anymore.” News of robberies, shootings, and outbreaks of sickness were so frequent that the growing fear among the people was palpable. Even Austin was scared too.
The Guardian's Return Chapter 520
Charles went to the hospital to take care of the medical bills and then talk to his father. He believed even without Ethan, he and his family could live a good life. “Ethan committed a crime and was jailed for it. If you want me to take him as our savior, I can’t do it. Besides, I have the money. I have 500 thousand dollars.” Xavier was astonished by the astronomical amount. He looked at Charles, but there was no happiness or excitement in the man’s eyes. As a father, he knew exactly what happened. “You took bribes.” Charles’ expression froze, but he forced a smile and said, “What? No. I’m not that kind of person. I will never bow down to money.” He was slightly stunned when the words escaped his mouth. They felt familiar. It was what Ethan had told him last night, and in less than twenty-four hours, he had done the complete opposite. It was a slap in his face.Nevertheless, he feigned a calm look and said, “The money is clean.” Xavier looked at him but said nothing. He si
The Guardian's Return Chapter 519
Charles went to visit his mother, but his mother was asleep after taking the medication. He sighed. Not wanting to disturb his mother, he left the hospital to go back to work. If he skipped work for even one day, he might not get his full salary at the end of the month. As such, he got into the car and went to pick Stephen up. When he saw Stephen, he felt a mix of feelings. They arrived at the office soon after, and Stephen called a meeting, asking everyone whether they had thought of a way to increase the benefits. Everyone shook their heads, including Nolan. Hill City’s economy was no longer thriving, and things were getting increasingly expensive. The people’s salaries, however, were getting lower or stagnant. With the people lacking the money to survive, why would they care about the benefits? Stephen sighed. The matter was more complicated than he had expected. Not even the experienced Nolan had a suggestion. “I’ll give us more time to think of a solution. Let’s end the
The Guardian's Return Chapter 518
After the doctor came out, he informed Charles about Xavier’s condition and mentioned that the medical bill would cost 30 thousand dollars. Charles went to the reception to make the necessary payment. As his mother was also in the same hospital, he dared not tell her about his father and Ethan when he visited her. With Ethan jailed, the medication subsidy discontinued, and the health insurance expired, the monthly medical expenses reverted to costing tens of thousands of dollars.Charles talked to his mother for a while before leaving. “My salary is only 8000 dollars per month. How am I going to do this?” He felt lost. Suddenly, his phone rang. Looking at the screen and seeing an unregistered number, he answered it. “Hello, we’re from the loan company…” Charles hung up immediately. For some reason, the loan company had caught wind of his situation and reached out to make him an offer. He sighed, baffled by how quickly they had obtained such accurate information. His father
The Guardian's Return Chapter 517
As the only mentee, Ethan took over governing Riveria after the Grand Marshal passed.First, he tackled the issue between Riveria and the land beyond the borders, calming all the conflicts. After that, he entered the Lowes and used George’s identity to continue governing the state. Since George never really did his job, Ethan took full control, which led to his hair growing white at a young age. However, now that he had stepped down, it only took him half a year of rest at Drakthorn Ridge to regain his health. Charles looked at Ethan blankly, not knowing how to react. He was rude a moment ago, calling Ethan a criminal and threatening to serve justice. Now, Ethan turned out to be his family’s savior. He tried to speak but lacked the courage to do so. Ethan said, “Let’s leave the past behind for now. I’m here today to tell you that I’ve been imprisoned, so everything under my name will be forced to cease operation, including the institute. The health insurance plan and the medic
The Guardian's Return Chapter 516
Justin pulled out a bank card and handed it to Ethan with both hands. “There’s one 100 thousand dollars here.” Ethan nodded and said, “Give him the card.” Justin turned around and gave Charles the card with one hand. Charles was confused. Why would the director of the Security Bureau give him 100 thousand dollars? “Are you bribing me? Is that what you can do, Ethan Rivers?” He laughed. “I’m telling you, money is not almighty! I won’t take this! I won’t take whatever you have to offer, and I will not bow to money! And most importantly, I will not bow to you! “You are a criminal! So is the director of the Security Bureau! The hammer of justice will be waiting for you!” He tapped Justin’ hand away, sending the card flying. “This is my answer! I will never compromise!” Charles looked at Ethan scornfully. Ethan glanced at the card on the floor. “The money inside the card was originally yours.” “Huh?” Charles was surprised. “What do you mean?” Then, a middle-aged man stro
