"What? The least of those gifts is worth more than the total amount in question. How could I give you something so expensive?" Matilda immediately snorted at the person.The man who had raised the thought of Matilda planning to run away with their money quickly stepped forward and scoffed loudly."Hmph! I told you guys she plans to run away with our money. She could easily sell one of those gifts and refund us our money, but for some reason, she has refused to do so.""Th-those gifts are betrothal gifts from Charles Wilkins to my daughter. It shouldn't even cross my mind to sell one of the gifts without their approval. Stop talking nonsense!" Matilda glared hard at the man."What are you being so strange about? Isn't Charles Wilkins your future son-in-law and your daughter the soon-to-be daughter-in-law of the Wilkins family? I'm sure they'd understand that you had to sell one of the gifts to clear your debt!"His suggestion made a little sense to Matilda. The Wilkins family had given
She stopped in front of Chloe and raised her hand to slap her when someone suddenly held her arm midair."You piece of rubbish, let go of me!" The woman rasped angrily when she saw the person holding her arm was Ethan.Ethan stared down at her coldly before flinging her hand away. It appeared as if he tossed it away leisurely, but he had applied a little bit of force that sent the sturdy woman stumbling into the arms of the people behind her.The woman's face heated up in anger as she was helped to her feet.She then turned towards Matilda and waved her arm around furiously."What is this, Matilda? Will you stand aside and watch your pathetic excuse for a son-in-law treat us like this simply because we came to get back our money?"Recalling that Ethan was physically strong, having been in the army for five years, Matilda's confidence returned, and she walked forward with shoulders raised high."Hmph! I said I'll give you back your money. What happened to me was a bad investment, which
"Is this a joke to you? What can someone like you do to find the money-doubling man when the police have made it clear to us it's impossible to find him?"As expected, the woman whom Ethan prevented from touching Chloe by shoving her away immediately shot him a stern look as soon as the words left his mouth."Is this a new tactic to gain our trust so you can run off with our money when we least suspect? If it is, you shouldn't put any hope in it working!" The man whom Ethan had locked eyes with snorted in disdain.Claire, who had lowered her eyes to the ground the whole time, quickly raised it in relief when she heard Ethan's promise.Ethan knew Charles Wilkins and Josiah Haworth. She chose to believe it wouldn't be hard for him to find the money-doubling man if he had both influential men searching for him.Fearing that he'd change his mind about finding the money-doubling man after being insulted by these people, she shouted back at the man and woman defensively."If my brother-in-l
In the warehouse belonging to the Reese family:After Killian Reese, Hermes Reese, and Jethro Reese's father were informed of the people who had been caught lurking outside the warehouse, he had every member of the Reese family assemble inside.Everyone assembled inside the warehouse, but ten minutes went by with no sight of Killian Reese."Andy, did father tell you anything? He said to be here ten minutes ago. Did we get it wrong, or is he really running late?" Jethro Reese inched closer to his cousin and inquired.Andy didn't answer immediately, but when he did, he didn't bother to look at him."Your brother woke up. Everyone knows already. Your father will be coming with him. And I'm sure there's a reason they are both running late."Jethro's brows knitted together into a tight frown. "Hermes woke up? And everyone knew, but I didn't?"Sensing his frown, Andy turned to look at him, the corner of his mouth curling up in disdain as he sneered, "Why do you look so surprised? You're no
The door remained in midair for some seconds before it fell in the middle of the room.From where everyone stood, they could see the shape of a foot on the door.A door which took six men twenty seconds to push open was easily sent flying and even had the shape of a leg on it."G-goodness! That's him. That's Ethan Black!" Gauche Stokes said in a trembling voice as soon as the dust settled, and Ethan's cold face came into view.Ethan's icy gaze swept across the room full of people for a moment before he stepped in."I thought you'd take the hint and stay in your place after what happened the last time. However, you came for my wife using the William family.""I forgave you for that. After all, you're just a family trying to make your voice heard in Springdale like every other family does.""This money-doubling scheme of yours would've been none of my business if my mother-in-law hadn't fallen for it. And because she fell for it, she took the money my wife kept for her inhaler.""She al
Ethan began walking towards them as soon as he finished, and the group of people in front of him scampered in different directions in fear."I'll give you back the money we took from the people. And I'm very sorry about what happened to your wife because of us. Let's end our feud here." Hermes immediately wheeled himself forward to meet him and apologized.Ethan stopped moving and looked down at him."The first day I returned to Springdale after being gone for six years, my daughter was abducted by someone with the name Gauche Stokes.""I thought my enmity was only with the Lauthner family until I discovered the Reese family makes it possible for the kidnapped children to be trafficked out of Springdale.""Children forcibly taken from their parents and shipped to a foreign country where horrible things are done to them by those foreigners. If I hadn't returned when I did, my five-year-old daughter would've been one of them.""I stayed in the army for six years and watched both people
Killian Reese immediately raised both hands in surrender. He knew it was unlikely for Hermes to point the pistol at him instead of Ethan, so the he quickly concluded Hermes must've made a mistake."It's me, your father. The bastard Ethan Black is right beside you." Instead of moving the pistol away like was expected of him, Hermes pulled the trigger.The bullet flew out of the muzzle at the speed of light towards Killian's head. It grazed the left side of his ear before lodging itself on the wall behind him.When the loud bang went off, everyone fell to the floor in fright and remained down, trembling in fear."Hermes...you shot me. Why would you shoot your own father instead of the enemy?" Killian stuttered in disbelief after seeing the blood pouring out from his left ear.Hermes eyes suddenly became glossy. He sniffled and laughed dryly. Then turned the wheelchair around to face Ethan fully."The Commander is right. The Reese family has done so much bad and have illegally obtained
Ethan was resting on the Koenigsegg Jesko outside the school's building, patiently waiting for the teacher to walk out with his daughter, like she had always done.The 6'4 tall, handsome and lanky man resting on his midnight black sportcar was a sight many of the female teachers who walked ogled out, but couldn't approach him thanks to the signature frown on his face. However, his brows knitted into a tight frown when he saw his daughter walking out of the school's building with a boy her age.Coming out of the building with a boy her age wasn't what irked him, but the fact that he was carrying her schoolbag behind him and holding her hand.When they were just some seconds away, Ethan strolled up to them and picked up the boy with one arm. Then he raised his brows and asked threateningly, "Who are you supposed to be?"The boy, scared by the ferocious look on Ethan's face and the scary tone of his voice, stiffened immediately."I-i-i am Honey's classmate." The little boy stuttered fea
Wexford That evening, Declan Wellington felt cooped up at home, so he left the house to spend the day golfing with a close friend of the Wellingtons who owned a golf course. They golfed together for three hours before they got tired and drove to his house to rest. Marvin Phelps poured him a drink before asking politely, “This may be out of place for me to ask, Mr. Wellington, but you seemed out of it throughout today. Is anything the matter?” “What?” An absent-minded Declan didn’t know when he blurted out, glancing at him. Marvin Phelps sat up, now fully convinced there was something on Declan’s mind. With a serious look on his face, he cautiously continued, “What is the problem? Is anyone troubling you? Say the word and I’ll have that person’s legs crushed to bits and forcefully drag them here!” Declan raised his eyes to look at him. Even if he said nothing, his eyes lit up a little when he recalled who Marvin was. The Phelps family was headed by this man despit
Scott William was instantly taken aback. Then he gritted his teeth in rage and resisted the urge to grab her by the collar as he yelled at her angrily. “What do you think you’re doing? He’s your son-in-law, how could you think of doing something so despicable to him!”“I know you’ve been looking for ways to get rid of him, but he’s having a psychotic breakdown? Matilda Brown, are you out of your mind?!” However, the woman ignored him and reached into her bag for a file. She placed it on the counter and continued speaking to the officer with a straight face. “Here. This is the result of the psych evaluation. You can check with the hospital he took it at just to be sure.” Scott closed the distance between them and grabbed her arm firmly, “If you have nothing better to do, then turn around and go back home.” “I know you’re scared of this affecting our family, but you don’t have anything to worry about because I’ll take care of this!” “Ethan didn’t do what they’re accusing him of
The sergeant and the other officers were slightly taken aback by his sudden compliance. Given that Charles and Kane were questioning their every word, they assumed they would have to use force to get him out of here. However, not only was he complying, but he was even flashing them a faint, non-aggressive smile. It was as though he had the situation under control which caused them to wonder why. They were yet to be reached by anyone from the higherups, so what was this guy doing. Since Ethan was coming with them willingly, there was no need to cuff him at all. So the sergeant nodded and led him to the station. The reception was decvoid of people, but those who were in their rooms before a few minutes ago, were all standing beside their windows watching who was getting arrested. Ethan walked to the passenger side of the car and glanced around him with an unbothered smile before proceeding to get in. In Wexford County, in the Wellington family residence, Declan Wellington was w
Ethan’s eyes darkened instantly. Almost immediately, he felt a call come into his phone and checked the caller to see it was Declan calling. He was silent for a few seconds before assured her calmly, “I’ll bring them back. Chloe and Honey, I’ll make sure they come back without a scratch.” “For now, focus on getting better. Neither of them would like it if return to see you in such a terrible state.” Then he ended the call without waiting for her response and answered Declan’s. As soon as the call connected, Declan’s bubbly voice sounded in his ears, “Your little bastard is a little too pretty. Truly her mother’s daughter.” “Your genes almost lost the fight, but her eyes saved you. Hopefully, if your other bastard lives, it would put up a fight to look exactly like you.” Ethan tightened his grip around his phone, but said nothing. He remained expressionless, but his eyes beamed furious. Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything in really. Declan had truly blinded him from
Ethan didn’t react immediately. He was silent for several seconds before he responded. “You’re the highly esteemed head of the Welllington family. Why resort to threatening your enemy with somsone close to them when you can face them head on yourself?”Declan yawned boredly from the other end. “What nonsense are you talking about? My enemy? You? You really think I think of you as my enemy?” “In what world did you think a bastard like you is worthy of becoming an enemy of Declan Wellington?” “We may share the same father, but to me, you’re nothing more than a confused rat. Sure, you’ve spent a few years in the army and earned yourself a few lackeys, but vagrant like you should know their place.”“Simply talking to me is a privilege you should never have. Whatever I’ll make you go through is a privilege you don’t deserve. Even if I kill you, you should be grateful I let you die by my hands!”Ethan chuckled calmly and went on to reply. “I was told you sent one of the best men your
Meanwhile, Charles Wilkins was looking into the people who crashed into Claire’s car and took Chloe. He tracked them down to their base in a nightclub. The club had lax security. Hence, he wasn’t stopped by the hefty men standing the door as he walked into the club. It was a few minutes past 7 in the evening and the club was getting filled by people. He stood in the middle of the room and glanced around before he spotted the VIP section and strutted straight to it. It didn’t take him long to find the room of the club’s own given that there were six hefty bodyguards in front of the door. Inside the room, a short and fat man was sitting on the couch with two of his colleagues while watching three unclad ladies dancing on a strip poles. Because the music in the room was so loud, he didn’t hear the tussle outside and only realized something was wrong when an unfamiliar man walked into the room wiping his hands seemingly clean hands clean. Charles didn’t look at anyone as he
As soon as Lewis William ended the call, he stood over an unconscious Chloe with a lewd look in his eyes. Ever since he knew right from wrong, he was always told of her lucky he was to have such beautiful cousins. Had Chloe not fallen out of grace with the William family and most people in Springdale, he had no doubt his life would still be filled with words of how lucky he was to have Chloe and Claire as his cousins. He never saw the beauty everyone saw, but now that he was alone with her and could see her up close, he finally saw it. Was she not his cousin, he would’ve slept with her first before handing her over to this gallery director. As he walked out of the house, he received a call from somsone. “What do you think you’re doing? I clearly told you the person I am after is Claire William!” Vivian Martell yelled from the other end as soon as the call connected. Lewis sucked in a deep breath to keep himself from screaming back at her and retorted calmly, “There’s no need to
A minute later, Charles turned to Ethan and reported solemnly, “Mrs. Black wasn’t taken by Declan Wellington. She was taken by the William family.” In the William family residence. Adam William paced to and fro in the living room, his hands clasped behind his back and brows knitted together in worry. “Grandfather, after today, I will make sure our William family will no longer be looked down on by other families!” Those were the words Lewis said to him this morning before he left the house. Ever since Astoria Corporation pulled away their investment, other companies followed suit. They were not only knee-deep in debt, but every valuable thing in their house had been taken by the bank and everyone they were owing. They took everything ranging from jewelries, electronics and furnitures. Even the expensive looking lights were not left out. Adam had run to those whom he had helped when the William family were at its peak a few months ago, but they all hung up on him the moment th
He called her three times and each time, the phone wasn’t answered. There was no denying it now. Soenthing had really happened. His brows knitted into a tight frown as he switched to calling Claire. But just like Chloe, Claire didn’t answer her phone either. As soon as the third call ended, the screen of his phone lit up with a call from Claire and he eagerly answered it. “Where are you? I’ve been calling Chloe. Did something…” He was suddenly cut off by a voice that didn’t belong to Claire. “Hello, this phone belongs to a woman involved in a car accident. Seeing that your contact is saved with ‘Brother-in-law’ I thought it was wise to return your call.” His pupils instantly dilated and he strutted quickly to the window, away from Honey’s earshot.. He pressed the phone against his ear rig heed and repeated in disbelief, “Accident? She was involved in an accident? What about the other woman in the car with her? Is she badly injured? In fact, tell me which hospital you are!” In