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Chapter 359
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The Guardian's Return Chapter 360
Stephen had already been deceived by the mayor several times. "Hahaha!" The recording ended with Brandon and Shawn's unrestrained laughter, echoing for at least ten seconds before finally stopping. The recording finally ended, and the man took out the gift from the box. It was nothing but a mask, a ridiculous clown mask! Everyone finally understood why Brandon and Shawn were chuckling so loudly. They were mocking Stephen as a clown! "How bold!" Stephen's friend was the first to get angry. He snatched the mask and slammed it to the ground, then stomped it to pieces. Then, he grabbed the man's collar, "Are you here to mock us?" The man trembled in fear as he explained, "I'm just doing my job." Stephen's expression darkened. It was his wedding day, but his enemies sent him a gift. What was with this situation? Moreover, they gifted him a clown mask. This was nothing but public humiliation! Stephen swore in his heart that he must capture Brandon and Shawn. Not only did he h
The Guardian's Return Chapter 361
They had always wanted to expand their companies into Aqua City but were consistently stopped by Ethan. However, when Stephen took over, he welcomed them all without hesitation. Now, Aqua City's economy had become entirely dependent on them, and for that, Oliver and his associates were genuinely grateful to Stephen.Unfortunately, one of Stephen's friends quickly snatched the gift box and threw it violently to the ground. An exquisite blue and white porcelain piece fell out and shattered instantly.Stephen's friend froze when he saw it was not a phone or a recording device. It was a genuine gift!They immediately realized their mistake. They had smashed the wrong thing!An elderly man rushed over and picked up the porcelain fragments to examine them. As he looked, he became even more aghast."This porcelain is over 500 years old! It’s a true one-of-a-kind antique! How could this happen?"He was devastated. The blue and white porcelain was not just valuable—its collectible and his
The Guardian's Return Chapter 362
Under everyone's gaze, Stephen slowly opened the box. When he saw what was inside, his eyes widened in shock.His hand trembled, and the box fell to the ground, its contents rolling out. Inside the box was not a ring symbolizing friendship but a blood-stained bullet!The moment everyone saw the bullet, their hearts skipped a beat.The South Regent had sent Stephen a bullet on his wedding day? What did it mean? Was he suggesting Stephen should kill himself or that he should kill someone else?Whatever the meaning, they all knew it was not a blessing from the South Regent, nor was it a peace offering.The gift bearers explained, "Three years ago, the Grand Marshal's mentee forced one of the South Regent's most capable commanders to commit suicide, and this bullet was extracted from his body.""The South Regent sends this bullet now to signal that he will seek revenge against the Grand Marshal's mentee!"Stephen's head snapped up, and he looked nervously at those men.The Grand Ma
The Guardian's Return Chapter 363
Everyone now knew that Stephen had been mocked by all his enemies at his wedding. The South Regent had even sent him a blood-stained bullet, signaling his intent for revenge.In spite of such a massive show of disrespect, Stephen did not dare to say a word. All he did was call the police after the aggressors had fled, making him look pathetic."He's destroyed the Quinn family's reputation.""Is he really the Grand Marshal's mentee? He's such a coward.""If he were truly the Grand Marshal's mentee, would the South Regent act so brazenly?""If he can't handle it, maybe we should bring back the person who used to manage Riveria."Reading the online comments almost made Stephen throw his phone in rage.Rachel, who had just showered and changed into casual clothes, glanced at Stephen and said, "Don't come near me until you figure out what you did wrong."Then, she went upstairs to her room, and the door slammed shut.Stephen hung his head low. Sitting on the sofa, he could not unde
The Guardian's Return Chapter 364
Back in Metropolis, Andy quickly sought out his mentee, Marcus West, a true military expert."Sir, I was bullied! Please help me get revenge!" Andy immediately asked for help upon seeing Marcus.Marcus frowned. "Who would dare to bully you?"Andy was the young scion of the White family in Metropolis. Having been trained since childhood, his skills were unmatched among his peers. Given his noble status and exceptional abilities, no one in Metropolis dared provoke him."This guy in Riveria. I couldn't beat him, and worst of all, he was disrespectful to you too. He actually told you to go to him for training!""Oh?" Marcus's expression shifted slightly.He had retired from serving Riveria.Three years ago, after Ethan pacified Riveria, he had told them to leave. Now, Marcus was married with children and had been tasked with training Andy by the Whites. Life was good.Occasionally, he still thought about Ethan. Before the Grand Marshal passed away, he had tasked them with taking ca
The Guardian's Return Chapter 365
Having once served alongside Ethan, Marcus knew just how terrifying Ethan could be.…Three years ago, there were nine fighters from beyond the border whose combat abilities matched or exceeded those of military experts like himself. Some had even crawled their way up from battlefields of corpses, their abilities surpassing Marcus and his peers. They were known as the nine deadliest assassins beyond the border. Among them, Number Three was the strongest as he could face any three opponents simultaneously without losing ground. Marcus believed that even in one-on-one combat, he would not be a match for Number Three. It was during that time that the South Regent offered 300 million dollars to the nine fighters to eliminate Ethan. The Grand Marshal had only recently passed away back then, and the military experts were concerned about Ethan's safety. If anything happened to Ethan, the consequences would be disastrous. Marcus, in particular, wanted to give Ethan full-time protection
The Guardian's Return Chapter 366
He was confident that he could fight three at once while maintaining the odds, but he could not see Ethan’s movements. Had Ethan harbored murderous intent against him, he would not even have time to react. With such power, Ethan could easily fight nine men at once. Number Three could not understand why Ethan would rely on strategy when he clearly had the strength to dominate through sheer force. Ethan tossed the gun to Marcus and then said to Number Three, “Fighting is too inefficient. Besides, you’re not even worth me stepping outside to deal with.” Number Three stood there, dumbfounded. The nine of them were known assassins, mentors of not just close combat but also firearms and poison. They prided themselves on being unbeatable, no matter the target, and yet, here was Ethan, telling them they were not even worthy of his time. He did not take them seriously at all! Number Three’s confidence shattered. The nine of them had accepted the mission with utmost confidence, only to
The Guardian's Return Chapter 367
Andy’s mind was filled with questions. He could not understand why his mentor would sit down when his foe invited them to. It was humiliating! Ethan calmly said, “There’s tea in the pot. If you want some, help yourself.”Marcus picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for Ethan and himself. Holding the hot tea cup in his hands gave him a small sense of comfort. “Your tea is as good as ever.” Ethan smiled. “How’s life been over the past three years?” “Not bad.” “I heard you got married.” “Yeah. I have a daughter now, and she’s two this year. If I knew I was meeting you today, I would have brought her along.” Ethan’s smile widened as he said, “Congratulations.” Marcus simply smiled and nodded. Ethan then asked, “It’s been three years. I suppose you’re still sharp?” Marcus immediately tensed up, a nervous smile appearing on his face. “I guess so.” Ethan could tell Marcus had grown complacent over the years. “Don’t worry. The blood you shed for Riveria is enoug
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The Guardian's Return Chapter 664
Stephen pushed his hand away. "You don't understand.""No, I understand perfectly." The man's weathered face showed no emotion, but his words stopped Stephen in his tracks."I lost my wife in a car accident, and my child to a terminal illness. Yet here I am, year after year, each difficult, but still getting by."After that, he turned and left, leaving Stephen staring at his back.While Stephen was still lost in thought, the funeral began.Everyone gathered in the cemetery to watch as "Lily's ashes" were lowered into the ground. Many people began crying softly. Stephen stood at the front, holding a white rose. Though silent, his eyes were red, tears threatening to fall.After the ground was filled in and people began laying down roses, Stephen spotted a familiar face in the crowd. It was Ethan!Stephen stopped in his steps, wondering why Ethan was there. After all, the man had no connection to the Fords.After Ethan laid down his rose, Stephen quickly caught up to him as he was
The Guardian's Return Chapter 663
Seeing him silent with his head bowed, no one else approached to speak with him.Meanwhile, in a distant room, Ethan took a sip from his teacup, sampling the supposedly premium tea from an elite family. Finding it rather ordinary, he set down the cup and asked softly, "You don't want to see him?"Beside him, Lily gently shook her head."No."After experiencing death, she gained clarity about many things. The current situation could not be changed by her wishes alone.Stephen was not the head of the Quinn family, just as Jason was not yet the head of the Fords. They all had to mind their families' opinions and follow their orders.That was why meeting Stephen now would not change anything; it would only create more problems. Besides… "I have more important things to do now."She glanced sideways at a young woman standing nearby. It was Snow.Ethan had brought Snow there to show Lily another world. Born into the Ford family, Lily had grown up wealthy and privileged, thinking
The Guardian's Return Chapter 662
The next day, Stephen, Simon, and Rachel went to the Fords’ residence for the funeral.The Fords’ mansion was packed that day, with representatives from various families. Many business executives and celebrities were in attendance too. Some of them had red, swollen eyes, clearly devastated by Lily's death. However, the moment Stephen appeared, all eyes turned to him.Everyone present was influential and knew about Stephen's relationship with Lily. They had grown up as childhood friends, and everyone remembered Lily always saying she wanted to marry Stephen one day.When they saw Stephen's graying hair, everyone was stunned, and a shiver ran down their spines.Just six months ago, Stephen had jet-black hair and was an air of confidence. He was the epitome of a young business prodigy, admired by every up-and-coming member of elite families and companies. Now, however, his hair was gray, his energy completely drained, and he walked with a slight stoop. He hardly looked like the youn
The Guardian's Return Chapter 661
"Don't be nervous," Ethan said. "What I need you to do is simple. All you need to do is say one sentence."Simon felt increasingly uneasy. "What is it?""Tell the Fords that the Quinns unconditionally support all of Jason Ford's decisions."Simon slammed his hands on the table with a bang. "You–"That would pit him against the Fords!Now that Lily had been rescued, Jason would certainly oppose some of the Fords’ decisions. When that happened, the family would pressure Jason. If Simon publicly stood with Jason on behalf of the Quinns, it would mean openly opposing the Fords. Although both Jason and Lily would be safe that way, the Fords would hold a grudge against the Quinns until Jason became the head of the family. Moreover, once Jason became the head of the family, his gratitude would be for Ethan, not Simon or the Quinns. After all, it was Ethan who saved Lily and sent the Quinns to help.If Stephen found out that Lily was still alive and that Simon knew yet secretly support
The Guardian's Return Chapter 660
Should he tell Stephen the truth? If he blurted it out and Stephen learned that Ethan saved Lily, he might side with Ethan just like Jason. Most importantly, Stephen was the future head of the Quinns. If Stephen really lowered his head to Ethan, it meant Ethan could control the Quinns in the future!Should he hide the truth from Stephen and use the time and opportunity to shower him with love and care?Still, he could not hide this forever. The longer he kept it from Stephen, the more intense Stephen’s reaction would be when he knew the truth. At that time, he might still choose to side with Ethan. Simon had been through many storms and made many important decisions in critical situations, but at this moment, faced with two choices, he could not choose either. To tell or not to tell—neither would work, and he was stuck in the middle. The final winner would still be Ethan. Ethan was imprisoned in the mansion on Drakthorn Ridge, but he still had everything in control!Simon as
The Guardian's Return Chapter 659
He really could not figure out Ethan’s thoughts. However, if Ethan truly wanted to turn Stephen against the Quinns, Stephen might indeed be used or manipulated after everything he had been through, especially with what happened with Lily. Compared to Scott and Cora, the contrast was enough to make him detest his family and the power struggles even more.“By the way,” Ethan said while he put his phone on the table and pushed it forward to Simon, “I want you to see something.”Simon frowned. “What?” He took the phone, not really bothered about what Ethan wanted him to see. He merely wanted to delete the recording immediately. However, the moment he picked up the phone, Simon froze on the spot, and color instantly drained from his face. Despite having weathered countless storms, he could not help but tremble uncontrollably now.He nearly dropped the phone, and his breath became rushed and erratic as if he had seen a ghost!He saw a photo that had been taken that afternoon. There w
The Guardian's Return Chapter 658
Scott and Cora were safe and sound, and their child was even old enough to walk now. But Stephen and Lily?Lily committed suicide by poisoning herself, and Stephen’s hair turned gray overnight, making him look haggard and miserable. “Ethan! Him again!”Because of his existence, Scott and Cora were able to escape danger while Stephen and Lily must be separated by life and death just because they did not receive help. Simon immediately took a car to Drakthorn Ridge. He wanted answers from Ethan. Why did Ethan not help when Lily died on Drakthorn Ridge?Soon, Simon arrived at Ethan’s mansion. “Ethan, get out here!” Simon did not see Ethan and yelled in the living room. “Just because your son is incompetent, you came here to throw a tantrum at me?” Ethan’s voice rang out behind him. Simon turned around sharply and saw Ethan slowly walking in. Sunlight shone on him, making Simon hesitate to look directly at Ethan. He immediately asked, “Did you know Lily died on Drakthorn Rid
The Guardian's Return Chapter 657
Upon hearing that Stephen’s hair had turned gray out of the blue, Simon hurriedly boarded a plane to the capital. Soon, he saw Stephen, who was lying on the hospital bed. His originally jet-black hair was now mixed with many gray strands. Simon felt distressed and quickly asked the specialists, “What happened? Is this some kind of disease?”Dr. Moore nervously asked, “Have there been similar situations in the family history?”Simon shook his head. “If it’s not a hereditary disease, the gray hair could only be due to overwhelming stress, an emotional breakdown, or heartbreak.”Heartbreak? Simon thought of Lily’s death. He knew Stephen still maintained a great relationship with Lily. They had been playmates since they were young, true childhood sweethearts, and Lily had even said she wanted to marry Stephen as a child. Now that Lily had poisoned herself to death, it must have been a huge blow to Stephen. “Give him a prescription for treatment.” Simon said, “Money is not an iss
The Guardian's Return Chapter 656
The next morning, Scott and Cora brought their child up the mountain again. They heard that someone had died on Drakthorn Ridge, so they hurriedly brought paraphernalia that could ward off evil and misfortune. Cora was cleaning the house for Ethan, saying she wanted to chase away all the filth and bad energy, while Scott walked around, spraying holy water, and vigorously scrubbed the path in front of the mansion. Just as the two were busy, Stephen walked down from the mountain, staggering and unsteady. When Scott, who was cleaning the path, saw him, he was shocked. At this moment, Stephen was pale, and his hair had turned gray, making him appear like a dying man.“Hey, are you okay?” Scott quickly went to support him. “Is everything alright?”He shouted toward the mansion, “Honey! Can you bring a glass of water? Hurry!”“What’s up?” Cora hurriedly came out with a jug of water. “Coming!”When she saw Stephen, she was also stunned. “Did you lose your way in Drakthorn Ridge? How
