So, that was why the Pearsons agreed to become the scapegoat.Austin was raging.The realization hit him like lightning.Dorothy not only wanted to kill him, but she was orchestrating the downfall of the entire Campbell family!That guy from the Pearsons would substitute him and deceive Austin's father. Then, with the help of Dorothy and Austin's father, he would easily defeat all the other heirs and seize control of the Campbells. The moment that guy took the helm as the family head, the Campbells would for sure fall into Dorothy's hands.That guy was nothing but a puppet that Dorothy was using.Moreover, Dorothy must have made enough promises to the Pearsons. Hence, that was why the Pearsons sacrificed themselves!Once that guy became the head of the Campbells, even if he remained a puppet, he would gain far more than what the Pearsons could give him."Is that old lady trying to usurp that guy's power?"Austin gritted his teeth. He said through gritted teeth, "I won't let you have y
After three hectic days, everyone was finally able to relax at the banquet in the evening.Cecily agreed to the plan. She thought it was right to express their gratitude to all the staff.During the banquet, she and Austin walked around the venue and expressed their thanks with raised glasses.While Austin indulged in alcohol, she stuck to drinks. With each glass of wine, Austin's spirits soared. Soon, his cheeks flushed red, and he began to feel tipsy.The same went for the photography team members.The only people who remained sober were Cecily as well as Aldus and Wolf, who were responsible for the couple's safety. As the people left the banquet, Cecily asked Aldus and Wolf to help the drunk Austin back to his room.She then returned to her own room alone.She recalled the thrilling and joyful moments of the past few days during the photoshoot.Along with the impending wedding date on the 15th of next month, Cecily found herself too excited to sleep. Knock, knock!Sud
Austin's sudden outburst caused silence to fill the air.Cecily covered her mouth with her hand. She almost shouted.Was this really Austin?Since reuniting with Austin and getting to know Aldus, Cecily had seen their relationship as more of friends than a boss and his employee.Austin even treated Aldus like his brother!He had always treated Aldus with respect and was never proud of his identity.Besides, Aldus wasn't just any servant.In the Campbell household, everyone was treated with equality, even butlers like Ezra.Yet, Austin was commanding Aldus now. It was absurd."Mr. Austin, you've had too much to drink."Aldus' voice came from outside."I did not! Get out of my way!"Austin seemed to be slurring. "You … You servant! Open the door for me. I want to sleep with Cecily tonight!"Cecily was dumbfounded."Mr. Austin, Madam Emerson taught you to respect Ms. Graham. Don't you remember?"Aldus' voice suddenly grew stern. "If you insist on causing trouble tonight, I'
In the haze of near-consciousness, Austin held on to this sole belief.He didn't even care about the ice forming between his legs at this moment.Dignity was nothing in the face of survival!Only by shamelessly clinging to life did he have a chance to turn the tide.Even if he died with dignity, he wouldn't abandon his loved ones."Cecily, Mom... I... I will come back. I promise. I will come back ..."Austin murmured with his purple lips. It sounded as if he was sleep-talking.However, he was resolute!Honk!Suddenly, a deep ship horn blared.Like a clap of thunder, it was deafening.The noise jolted Austin back to his senses.His eyelids fluttered, and the frost from his eyelashes scattered around him.Through the cracks, he saw nothing but the vast sea and sky.He wondered if they were nearing land.Had they finally arrived?Soon, footsteps sounded outside. It was urgent and brisk."Hurry up, all of you. Move faster. Don't dawdle like a bunch of children!"A famil
Swoosh…The biting cold wind pierced through Austin's bones.Hunched over, he wrapped his hands tightly around his chest and struggled to move forward.Each breath he exhaled condensed instantly into a white mist in the frigid air.With the bag of food and the jug of water, he temporarily staved off his hunger. He gained some strength to keep fighting for survival.The ice beneath his feet was slippery. One wrong step could send him crashing to the ground.Looking out, he could only see a vast expense of whiteness.Even the sunlight reflecting off the ice was blindingly bright.He couldn't feel a single bit of warmth. Only the relentless chill penetrated deep into his bones.The weather was hot in Harrington. Austin was wearing nothing but a t-shirt and a pair of shorts when he was taken away. He felt no different from being completely naked in this frozen wasteland."I must survive... I must..."Lips pale, he murmured with unwavering determination."Cecily... Mom... Aldus.
"I can't die, I have to get out of here! If I get buried in this godforsaken place, it's all over!"Austin was filled with desperation. His eyes were bloodshot.But the ground before him was already covered in darkness.Like the gaping maw of a deep abyss, it was about to swallow him whole.He knew that the swirling ice debris had already surged overhead.It was over!Austin smiled bitterly, his despair reaching its peak at this moment.Bang!Suddenly, a gunshot rang out amidst the roaring sound.It was more deafening than the roar of the ice debris."Was that a gunshot? Is someone behind me?"Austin's eyes widened in disbelief."You in front, stop right there!A furious shout suddenly echoed through a megaphone.Someone was indeed behind him!Austin felt a wave of instant relief wash over him. He was overwhelmed with joy and excitement.He turned around abruptly and faced the onslaught of ice debris.There was someone within the debris, and he no longer cared about th
Austin didn't resist.In fact, he wasn't even in the state to resist.Of course, he didn't have the intention to resist either.When a stray dog barely clinging to life wandered the streets, it wouldn't expect whether the one who might take it in was kind or evil.All Austin wanted was to stay alive!The roar of the powerful trucks filled his ears as it moved forward.Outside the window, there was a vast expanse of white snow.Yet inside the car, it was as warm as early spring.The fireplace emitted warmth.It gradually dispelled the cold from Austin's bodyMelodious music filled the air.There were at least a dozen burly men of various races. Holding glasses in their hands, they laughed and danced in the spacious area.The air was filled with the pungent scent of alcoholAlcohol could dispel the cold in a place like this.But Austin remained slumped in the corner.He didn't move or look around because he remembered the conversation these people had just had.He was a p
Austin's eye twitched uncontrollably.Brian's implications were clear to him now.He couldn't tolerate such compromisesBrian gently patted Austin's shoulder and got up to dance with his teammates.Suddenly, Austin asked, "Brian, are we really never getting out of here?""Mm-hmm," Brian replied.Unwillingly, Austin asked, "Has anyone ever successfully escaped?"It was just a simple question, but it made Brian pause in his tracks. His body trembled slightly.After a two-second pause, he suddenly lowered his voice."Ten years ago, someone did manage to escape. That's the only one I know of since I've been in charge."Then, Brian laughed."Of course, if you can escape The Grave Prison, we won't pursue you anymore. But kid, I advise you to stay put in The Grave Prison. Trying to escape is just asking for death!" Austin watched Brian's receding figure.A smile gradually formed at the corner of his lips.A determined gaze flashed across his dark eyes. He decided to live like
Austin never expected that Nancy would come back.As he returned to the Tetra Club, he remained sullen, his eyes dark with unresolved anger.Seeing Austin like this, Cecily felt a pang of sadness.She gently tried to comfort him, "It's all in the past now, isn't it? I'm here with you, and we have our baby on the way.""I can't just let it go," Austin shook his head."The best I can do is not seek revenge against them, but to truly forgive and forget—I can't do that."The actions of Nancy's family were still fresh in his memory.Austin wasn't someone who sought revenge for every slight, but he was far from the kind of person who could simply forgive and forget, moving on with a carefree "Hallelujah."Dahlia's despair as she lay in bed, the arrogance and cruelty of the Welch family…In the eyes of the Welch family, Dahlia's life wasn't worth as much as Harvey's wedding.Even when the time had passed and he was about to finally be happy with Cecily, the Welch family not only dem
After leaving this city, Nancy put in a tremendous amount of effort to "rebirth" herself.Meeting Ethan had shown her a different side of life.While he wasn't part of the uppermost echelons of wealth and power, he had enough. Most importantly, he treated her with the utmost respect.She understood Ethan's background, which made that respect all the more valuable.A man of his stature could have any woman he wanted in his bed the same night.Yet Ethan had shown her incredible patience, making her question whether the rumors about him were true.Tonight, returning to this city was her way of bidding farewell to the past and embracing the future.After all, people need to look forward, don't they?Meanwhile, Ethan was feeling more dejected than he'd ever been.Lying in his luxurious bed in Brook Villa, he couldn't sleep, tossing and turning restlessly.He had hoped to establish a connection with Austin. A figure like him would be incredibly valuable to have on his side.He tho
The river breeze was cool, and the lights reflected on the water flickered softly.The figure in front of them wore a long black coat, standing quietly by the railing. Her fair, delicate profile, partially obscured by a few strands of windblown hair, carried a hint of melancholy."Sir, Mrs. Campbell, is something wrong?" Aldus noticed the change and quickly stepped forward to inquire."Let's go home," Austin suddenly said, his previously cheerful expression now somber, with a touch of disdain.Go home? They had just arrived.Aldus was surprised and quickly followed Austin's gaze. When he saw what Austin was looking at, he immediately understood.Without a word, he turned to leave with Austin.But a soft hand gently grabbed Austin's arm."It's been so many years, aren't you going to say hello?" Cecily asked."I have no desire to greet her," Austin said, his disdain clear and unhidden.Three years of marriage, filled with nothing but pain.Even when Dahlia was gravely ill, Nan
After a busy day, just as Austin was about to finish up, a new invitation appeared on his desk."Who delivered this?" Austin asked."Ethan," Wolf replied.Austin chuckled, didn't bother opening the invitation, and instead tossed it directly into the trash."I've got to get home to Cecily."When he returned to the Bamboo Parlor at Tetra Club, Raquel had already prepared a delicious dinner.The dishes were beautifully presented, with vibrant colors and enticing aromas.After dinner, Austin and Ezra stepped out into the courtyard."Mr. Lockwood, any news from the Campbells about my dad?" Austin asked, the text message from Walter still weighing heavily on his mind.Considering the Campbells' efforts to find Walter, and given their intelligence resources, they should have been some leads by now.But Ezra shook his head. "Nothing, Not a trace.""The Campbells' intelligence network has never been this weak, has it?" Austin frowned, speaking in a low tone.Ezra gave a wry smile. "
"Childhood?"Austin stopped his workout, wiped the sweat from his face, and smiled bitterly.His childhood had been bleak.Only Dahlia had brought some light into the darkness.Seeing Austin's pained smile, Aldus immediately realized his mistake.He quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Sir. I spoke without thinking. You don't need to answer that.""It's fine," Austin replied, gesturing towards a nearby bench, and inviting Aldus to sit with him.Once they were seated, Austin slowly began to speak. "There's not much to tell about my childhood. It was mostly just being called an 'illegitimate child' and living day to day, never knowing where my next meal would come from."If it weren't for my mom fighting tooth and nail to raise me, I'd probably be dead by now."With just a few simple words, he conveyed a world of suffering.Aldus felt a wave of guilt. He had only been trying to find clues from Austin's past that might explain his exceptional combat instincts and incredible physical
Austin's gaze softened as warmth flooded his heart.Who hasn't longed for a light left on just for them in a sea of lights? But in reality, how many actually have that?Cecily did that for him.Given her background, the fact that she went to such lengths truly surprised Austin.In the three years he spent in the past, he had never experienced something like this.His nose tingled with emotion as he pulled Cecily into his arms, speaking softly, "Thank you. Marrying you is the greatest fortune of my life.""Alright, alright, I asked Raquel to prepare breakfast earlier this morning. You go to the dining room, and I'll have her bring it over," Cecily said as she gently slipped out of Austin's embrace, her graceful smile lighting up her eyes."Doesn't Bamboo Parlor have a kitchen?" Austin asked, curious.Cecily gave him a playful look. "The chairs in the living room are so hard, and you spent the whole night on one—how could you have slept well? If Raquel had been clattering around
The room fell into a heavy silence."Deactivating the phone number… was Dad trying to prevent me from tracking his location?" Austin murmured with a frown.Ezra pondered for a moment, his voice low and serious. "Perhaps he was more concerned about someone else tracking him."Austin's eyes widened in realization.Of course—if Walter could send him a message to let him know he was safe, he wouldn't be worried about Austin tracking himDeactivating the phone was likely to prevent others from tracing his location."But who is he trying to avoid?"Ezra shook his head, remaining silent.Having followed Walter for many years, he knew the man's temperament and habits. But this time, he was truly baffled.He couldn't even begin to piece together a clue.Taking a deep breath, Ezra forced a bitter smile. "I'm afraid I'm at a loss this time, sir. There's no sign of anything unusual from the Campbells either."This statement only deepened Austin's confusion.If there were anyone who cou
Austin knocked softly on the door.Almost immediately, he heard the sound of shuffling from inside.Ezra opened the door, his face full of curiosity. "Sir, what's going on?"Austin quickly made a shushing gesture, worried about disturbing Cecily.Then he gently pushed Ezra back into the room."Sorry to bother you so late, Mr. Lockwood," Austin said.Ezra smiled. "It's no trouble at all. The older you get, the less you need. I was just reading."Austin glanced at the book on Ezra's bedside table and couldn't help but feel a bit exasperated.This old rascal!Ezra blushed and quickly shoved the book under his pillow.Austin sat on the bed and pulled up the text message from Walter, showing it to Ezra."I just received this message."When Ezra read the text, his eyes lit up with a sharp gleam, and he was overjoyed. "This is from Mr. Walter!"Austin nodded, his expression serious. "But I've sent several messages back, and there's been no reply. I called twice—once it was immedi
"The underground king of Eastbrook bows down."This news swept through Eastbrook like a storm.Ethan knew that by doing this, he would become the laughingstock of the entire city. But he also knew he had no choice—he had to do it!Even if he became a joke, he would remain the underground king. But if he refused to lower his head, he would end up a dead man.He understood the situation perfectly.In fact, that very night, a message was released from Brook Villa.No one is to compete for the land!This is a clear warning to all real estate companies in Eastbrook. It was also a gesture of goodwill toward Austin.But Austin didn't pay it much mind.If not for Derrick's involvement, he had no idea how Ethan would have responded—but Austin knew his response would have been much tougher.A mere city's underground king? He didn't even compare to the richest man in Basin City or the capital—he wasn't even worthy of carrying their shoes!After leaving Brook Villa, Austin didn't linger