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Chapter 525
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The Guardian's Return Chapter 526
Stephen slumped into his chair, boneless. He was really scared out of his wits when he had a gun pointed at him at such close range. He almost died. Only then did he have time to pick up his phone and check who had tried to call him earlier. However, before he could look, Nolan’s call came in. “Stephen, Charles’ parents committed suicide. He has a gun. He injured me and then escaped.”Stephen fell silent for a while before saying, “Got it. I’ve caught Charles. You should head to the hospital and get yourself checked out. You’ve done well.”He was more assured of Nolan, someone willing to risk his life to capture Charles. It looked like he was right in his choice of mayor this time. In fact, he had made an excellent choice!After hanging up, Stephen finally saw that it was Ganter who had tried to call him just now. However, nobody picked up when he returned the call. Seeing that he could not reach Stephen, Ganter had taken to the streets, trying to find someone to send Austin t
The Guardian's Return Chapter 527
Not long after Nolan left, Stephen came with his men to interrogate Charles. “How long have you been embezzling and taking bribes?” Stephen asked bluntly as soon as he entered. “I had such high hopes for you.”Charles looked at him and said, “Half a month.”“Half a month?” Stephen did some quick mental calculations. Hill City plunged into chaos again half a month ago, which matched Charles’ timeline of corruption. “You’re such a fool!” Stephen said coldly, “Who bribed you? You’d better speak.”Charles knew that even if he did not get a death sentence, he would spend the rest of his life behind bars. He had come to terms with his fate, so he named everyone who bribed him with money. After ordering his men to record it, Stephen asked, “Why did you do it? You’ve let me down so much.”Upon hearing that, Charles laughed. “Let you down? If I let you down, then you’ve completely devastated me! You must know my parents died, right? Do you know how they died?”Stephen frowned. Did
The Guardian's Return Chapter 528
Even Ganter himself doubted that he could have endured it. Besides, Austin should not have suffered that fate. It was all his fault. If he had not insisted on saving Stephen back then, he would not have come to Hill City and encountered the armed robbers. Everything was his fault!Ganter fell to the ground helplessly, wallowing in regret. He should not have saved Stephen back then. A few minutes later, he slowly walked out of the hospital ward and booked a flight to Riveria. He wanted to meet Ethan and beg for his forgiveness. Half a day later, Ganter arrived at Ethan’s mansion. Memories of his first visit flashed across his mind. At that time, he was confident, as if victory was already in the bag. Yet now, standing before the mansion again, his face was pale, and he looked significantly older. Ganter slowly walked into the mansion and saw Ethan sitting on the couch, reading a book, just like their first meeting. “Ethan…” Ganter approached him but hesitated. He was a master
The Guardian's Return Chapter 529
Ganter was tired. He had seen through Stephen, so he held no expectations for the man. Calling Simon was also just to inform him of his departure. He said, “Alright. We need to catch our flights now.”After that, he hung up. Simon’s expression was grim. How exactly was Stephen managing Hill City? How could Stephen allow armed home robberies to happen and even leave someone permanently disabled? If the news spread, even if Stephen were his son, the federal government would reprimand him. Just as he wanted to call Stephen for an explanation, Stephen’s phone call came in. Simon answered, and Stephen immediately said, “Dad, I have something to discuss with you.”“Hold on,” Simon said seriously, “I need to ask you something. Let me get to the bottom of this.”Stephen immediately sensed trouble. He noticed that his father’s tone did not sound pleasant. “Do you know that Austin is crippled?”“What?” Stephen was stunned. “What happened?”Austin could be considered his lifesave
The Guardian's Return Chapter 530
Now that he was strapped for cash, he could use those factories to his advantage. Once Hill City’s economy improved, he could eliminate these factories. There were no problems with the process, and it would only benefit him. At that thought, Stephen immediately sprang into action, successfully gaining over 10 billion dollars from the factories. After getting the money, Stephen could finally fulfill his promises to increase the welfare in Hill City and set up a subsidy program. Although the welfare improvements were not substantial and did not cover the entire Riveria, Stephen felt that others could not simply criticize him as he had taken action. Two days later, thanks to Simon’s efforts, the federal government gave Stephen another five billion dollars, enabling him to expand his subsidy program further.Stephen gave the reporters a call. Having done so many good deeds, he had to spread his name!With the news report and videos posted, Stephen’s name once again went viral onlin
The Guardian's Return Chapter 531
Upon hearing that question, Charles looked up at Nolan beside him. The fact that he could become Stephen’s assistant meant he was not stupid. It was just a question, and with Nolan standing at the side, he knew Nolan might be trying to help him. “Because I didn’t have any money,” Charles answered honestly. “My mother was always ill. We could still manage with the subsidy and health insurance, but after losing both of them, my dad fell sick as well. We didn’t have a penny left. Out of desperation, I ended up going down the wrong path.”He looked at the camera. “Don’t be like me who has ended up with a shattered family and ruined life.”The netizens immediately burst into laughter. “Hahaha. You deserved it! Die!”“Good riddance. This is karma!”“Why did you end up with a shattered family, I wonder?”Some mocked Charles, while some made sarcastic comments. They felt Charles deserved everything he got and it was just his punishment. The reporter asked, “Why was the subsidy and
The Guardian's Return Chapter 532
Ethan living in Drakthorn Ridge would only benefit people like them. If the public hoped for Ethan’s return, it would mean the end of the world for them. “Because Stephen coveted his achievements and wanted to replace him, the Quinns imprisoned him and stole the fruits of his labor.”Here was another shocking revelation!The audience’s mind went blank, and they struggled to process everything. In just over ten minutes, Stephen’s image was changing in their minds. At first, Stephen was a good man by starting subsidy programs in Hill City and increasing welfare. Then, he turned out to be evil, resorting to unscrupulous means for money and even working with unethical factories. However, the subsidy programs and welfare improvements he established were real. Yet now? Stephen was unforgivable for stealing someone else’s achievement and using his family's influence to lock them up. The other person had done far better than Stephen, but Stephen had ruined everything. It was as if he
The Guardian's Return Chapter 533
The viewers suddenly felt like Charles was a much greater person, and for a moment, they even thought Charles could be called a “hero.” It was absurd to think that Stephen’s actions were so outrageous that Charles, despite his crimes and illegal actions, seemed like a hero compared to him!“Although I want to convince myself that it’s all fake, Charles is Stephen’s assistant. He definitely knows more than us. Besides, Stephen is someone who could be having a nap while his team is rescuing hostages.”“Could this be fake? Someone has proven the subsidy and medical insurance issue, and the factory owners have testified. Stephen has also made tons of foolish decisions in the past!”“It’s such a pity about Charles. If he succeeded, he might change the fates of countless people.”Most of the viewers had a massive shift in their impression of Charles. They understood that Charles became like that because Stephen forced him into a corner. Hence, the root of the problem still lay with Steph
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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
