<b>Chapter </b><b>550 </b>
“Dad<b>! </b><b>Byron’s </b>on the hook for attempted <b>murder</b>! <b>He </b><b>hired </b><b>a </b>hitman<b>! </b>And Aaron <b>caught </b><b>him </b><b>red</b><b>–</b>handed<b>. </b>Even <b>if </b>I brought <b>in </b><b>the </b>bestwyers from around <b>the </b>globe<b>, </b>they <b>couldn’t </b>save him!”
<b>Matthew </b>bet his dad wouldn’t dare <by a </b><b>finger </b>on <b>him</b>. After <b>all</b>, <b>he </b>had a strong following <b>within </b><b>the </b>corporation and was clutching a major project <b>deal </b><b>he’d </b>snagged from <b>Cassius</b>. <b>So </b>he put on a <b>defiant </b>air, <b>“</b><b>If </b>you’ve got a problem <b>with </b>me, <b>just </b><b>say </b><b>it</b><b>! </b>Why drag Avery <b>into </b><b>this </b><b>to </b>rub my <b>nose </b><b>in </b><b>it</b><b>? </b>Who’s been the dutiful son <b>all </b><b>these </b>years? Who’s been sweating blood for the <bpany</b><b>? </b>Haven’t I worked my <b>fingers </b><b>to </b><b>the </b>bone<b>? </b><b>Besides</b><b>, </b><b>it’s </b><b>Byron </b>who’s messed up, not me. If he could <b>keep </b><b>it </b><b>in his </b><b>pants</b>, we wouldn’t be <b>in </b>this <b>mess</b>! If we <b>keep </b>cleaning up his disasters, we’re all going down <b>with </b>him<b>!</b><b>” </b>
His words <b>were </b><b>harsh </b>but true.
Although Byron <b>was </b><b>Jeff’s </b>golden <b>boy</b><b>, </b><b>Jeff </b>was <b>at </b>his <b>wit’s </b><b>end</b>, running out of patience for <b>his </b><b>disappointing </b><b>son</b><b>. </b>
<b>“</b>Dad<b>, </b>cool down<b>. </b><b>I </b>think Matthew’s right on <b>the </b>money<i>,</i>” Avery chimed <b>in</b><b>, </b>speaking slowly and deliberately<b>. </b>“As <b>cold </b>as it may <b>sound</b>, <b>for </b>the sake of the <b>Chambers </b>Group, you have to make the tough <b>call</b>. <b>No </b>matter how much it hurts <b>to </b>let Byron go, we’ve got <b>to </b><b>cut </b>our losses. No matter how things got this bad, the guy who got nabbed is Byron’s guy. Someone’s gotta take the <b>fall</b>.” Jeff’s l*ps <b>were </b><b>pressed </b>into <b>a </b>thin line, <b>his </bplexion darkened with <b>anger</b>.
“<b>Avery’s </b>got <b>a </b>point! <b>Dad</b>! We <b>keep </b>protecting Byron, and we’re ying with fire!” Matthew, for once<b>, </b>agreed <b>with </b>his usual adversary.
<b>“</b><b>If </b>that’s <b>the </b>case, Matthew, you handle this mess,” Jeff said bitterly, his voice husky with the pain of <b>a </b>father about <b>to </b><b>disown </b><b>his </b>
<b>son</b><b>. </b>
After their father <b>left</b>, the boardroom held just the two brothers <b>or </b>rather, thest two survivors of a brutal game.
“Matthew, looks like <b>it’ll </b>just be you and me <b>left </b>to run the show. I’ll be counting on your support.”
Avery rose gracefully, <b>a </b>cold smirk on his l*ps, “When you see Byron, try to keep it gentle, will ya? He’s a notorious crybaby. If he realizes he’s never walking <b>out </b>of prison, he might just lose it and tear you to shreds.”
“You just lucked out, don’t get cocky,” Matthew spat through clenched teeth, knowing just how to get under his skin. “Bertha and Byron’s downfall has nothing to do with you. It’s Evadne and Thaddeus, that power couple, who have the guts <b>to </b>stand up to the Chambers Group.”
The mention of the couple was a knife in Avery’s side.
His eyes zed with fury, as if a wild beast was rampaging through his chest.
In three strides, Avery was in Matthew’s face, fists clenched so tight his knuckles cracked.
“Avery, you’re not thinking of getting physical here, are you?” Matthew taunted, pointing up at the security cameras. “<b>Go </b>on, it’ll just ruin that nice–guy act you’ve got going.”
Avery, struggling to contain himself<b>, </b>slowly straightened Matthew’s tie, “Matthew, that self–righteous look on your face is just pitifully hrious.”
“What did you say, urk!”
Avery yanked the tie tight, cutting off Matthew’s breath. Gasping for air, Matthew tried to pry away the strangling grip, “I was just provoking you, and you’re already itching to deal with those witnesses. No brains, no cunning, how can you evenpete with me<b>?</b><b>” </b>
Realizing the trap he was in, Matthew’s eyes widened with humiliation.
“You’re not that stupid, at least. Using others to do your d*rty work. I thought I’d catch you all <b>in </b>one swoop. Looks like I’ll have to wait for another chance.”
H
With that, Avery released his grip and strolled away,ughing heartily, leaving Matthew in the empty boardroom, gasping for breath and soaked in cold sweat.
Meanwhile<b>, </b>at the police station.
Evadne and Thaddeus, though not making an appearance, were there in spirit, watching over Beverly and the other victim from
the shadows.
Legal eagles Jason and Gordon were there every step of the way, assisting the victims‘ families with paperwork, patiently answering questions, and providing support.
“Mr. Gordon<b>, </b>thank you. And you, young man, you’re <b>a </b>friend of Ms. Evadne, aren’t you?” Mrs. Higgins said tearfully, bowing gratefully to Jason. “Thank you for doing everything you can to help us!”
08:34
Chapter <b>550 </b>
<b>“</b>Ma’am<b>, </b>please, no <b>need </b>for such formalities<b>, </b>Jason said<b>, </b><b>moving </b><b>to </b><b>support </b><b>her</b><b>, </b><b>his voice </b><b>thick </b><b>with </b><b>emotion</b>. <b>“</b><b>I’m </b><b>helping </b><b>not </b>just for you <b>or </b>Ms. <b>Evadne</b><b>, </b>but also for myself<b>. </b>
“<b>For </b>yourself?” Mrs. Higgins asked, <b>puzzled</b>.
<b>“</b><b>The </b>girl who <b>stood </b><b>up </b><b>to Byron </b>on <b>the </b>live <b>stream</b><b>, </b><b>that’s </b><b>my </b><b>girlfriend</b>,<b>” </b><b>Jason </b><b>replied </b><b>with </b>pride swelling <b>in </b>his chest<b>. </b>
<b>“</b><b>Oh</b><b>, </b><b>I </b>see<b>. </b>Not <b>only </b><b>are </b><b>both </b><b>of </b><b>you </b>kind<b>–</b><b>hearted</b><b>, </b><b>but </b><b>you </b>also make <b>a </b>handsome <b>couple </b><b>– </b><b>truly </b>a perfect <b>match</b>. My <b>heartfelt </b><b>thanks </b><b>to </b><b>Miss </b>Nydia <b>and </b><b>to </b><b>both </b><b>of </b>you for <b>your </b><b>noble </b><b>assistance</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>
<b>Jason </b>was over the <b>moon</b><b>, </b><b>his </b><b>grin </b><b>wider </b><b>than a </b><b>kid </b><b>on </b><b>Christmas morning </b><b>with </b><b>a </b>brand new bike <b>under </b><b>the </b>tree.
<b>Beverly </b><b>stepped </b><b>out </b><b>of </b>the interrogation room and dashed into the restroom<b>, </b>desperate for <b>a </b>moment <b>alone </b><b>to </b><b>collect </b><b>herself</b>. She <b>couldn’t </b><b>bear </b><b>the </b><b>thought </b>of her mother <b>seeing </b>her <b>so </b>vulnerable<b>, </b>let alone Gordon.
<b>But </b><b>Gordon</b><b>, </b><b>with </b><b>a </b><b>heart </b>too <b>big </b><b>to </b>leave her side<b>, </b>followed suit and stood outside the restroom <b>like </b>a loyal guard dog, a mix of <b>patience and </b><b>concern </b>etched <b>on </b><b>his face</b><b>. </b>
<b>The </b>passing <b>female </b>officers shot him curious nces, but Gordon, typically conscious <b>of </b>appearances, seemed <b>impervious </b><b>to </b><b>their </b><b>stares </b><b>today</b>.
<b>Eventually</b>, Beverly emerged<b>, </b>her eyes puffy from tears, shuffling with small, hesitant steps.
Before she <b>could </b>even look up<b>, </b><b>a </b>clean blue checkered handkerchief appeared in front of her.
“Ms. Higgins, dry <b>your </b>eyes,” <b>Gordon </b>said, a warm smile reaching his eyes. “You’ve got the smudged mascara <b>of a </b><b>rockstar </b>after a concert, but <b>I </b><b>bet </b><b>letting </b>it <b>all </b><b>out </b>made you feel a bit better, huh?<b>” </b>
Beverly took the spotless.handkerchief, reluctant to stain <b>it </b>with her tears. She gently dabbed her cheeks and pretended that was enough.
<b>“</b>Much better, thank you, Mr. Gordon. I’ll wash it and return it to you soon.”
Gordon watched her with an intense gaze, his heart pounding uncontrobly as her vulnerable beauty and flutteringshes seemed to y a melody on his soul.
Suddenly, he couldn’t resist cing his hand atop her tousled hair, stroking it softly, his voice rough with emotion.
“Remember, if you ever face trouble again<b>, </be to me. No matter when or where, I’ll be there as fast as I can.”
Beverly looked
up, locking eyes with his radiant gaze, and felt her heart skip like amb in spring.
Across the street from the police station’s back entrance.
Evadne was nestled <b>in </b>Thaddeus’s embrace, the two of them waiting in the car for what felt like ages.
“Aaron just texted, he’s had buddies on the force keeping an eye on this case. Up till now, aside from Byron’swyer, not a peep from the Chambers family. No one’s stepping up to bail him out, no stir at all.”
Evadne, snug in Thad’s arms, felt a sheen of sweat on her brow. It was the second day of her period, the cramps at their worst. Thaddeus had told her to stay home and rest, but she never was one to sit still.
Now, a dull ache throbbed in her lower abdomen, making her squirm against him, as endearing as a little eel.
“Matthew’sying low, hoping to be invisible. Why would he vouch for a lost cause like Byron? That would be like painting a target on his own back,” Thaddeus remarked.
His arm wrapped around her, his warm palm pressed against her belly, massaging gently in a clockwise motion.
“Yes, just like that, a bit harder, please,” she murmured.
His voice was husky with a mix of concern and restrained desire as he massaged her, “You never listen, do you? Now you’re paying the price. I’ll get Gordon to fetch you a hot drink.”
“No need, Gordon’s busy with Beverly’s stuff. Don’t bother him with everything; he’s your secretary, not your <b>pack </b>mule,” Evadne
defended Gordon.
Thaddeus chuckled softly.
“Matthew’s silent, and Jeff’s not making a move either. Looks like they’re ready to throw Byron to the wolves.”
Her voice was soft but herughter was cold, “It’s the only y they have left.”
“The whole country’s talking about this. The Chambers Group’s reputation has tanked, and Byron’s be the sacrificialmb to appease the public outrage. And the cops? They won’t be swayed either. Whoever takes this case has to be tough on Byron to protect their own reputation and the police’s credibility. Even without Mr. Ashbourne’s involvement, we don’t have to worry. Byron’s beyond saving now.”
<b>2/3 </b>
<b>08:34 </b>
Chapter <b>550 </b>
Thaddeus’s fingers curled slightly, teasing her <b>belly</b>, “Feeling <b>any </b>better?”
<b>“</b>Mmm, much better. you do have magic hands.”
Just then, amotion stirred at the entrance <b>of </b><b>the </b>police station.
<b>“</b>Look! Beverly <b>and </b><b>the </b><b>others </b><b>are </b><bing </b><b>out</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>
The couple <b>peered out </b>the window just in time <b>to </b>see <b>the </b><b>victims</b><b>, </b><b>fully </b><b>shielded</b><b>, </b>escorted <b>by </b><b>their parents </b><b>and </b>b*dyguards, <b>breaking </b><b>through </b>the press’s <b>barrage </b><b>to </b>reach the cars <b>they </b><b>had </b><b>arranged</b><b>. </b>
<b>Evadne’s </b><b>heart </b>clenched <b>with </b>each safe <b>entry into </b><b>a </b>car<b>, </b><b>fearing </b><b>any </b><b>mishap</b>.
Beverly was wrapped securely <b>in </b>Gordon’s arms<b>, </b><b>trailing </b>behind <b>the </b><b>group</b><b>. </b>
<b>Suddenly</b><b>, </b><b>a </b>male <b>reporter </b>broke <b>through </b><b>the </b>crowd<b>, </b><b>thrusting </b>his microphone at Beverly and bellowing<b>, </b>“Did <b>any </b><b>pressure from </b><b>the </b><b>K </b><b>Group’s </b>or <b>the Abernathy </b><b>Group </b>influence <b>your </b>decision toe <b>forward </b>against Byron?”
<b>Gordon </b>immediately <b>stepped </b><b>in </b><b>front </b>of her, his anger <b>ring</b><b>, </b>“<b>What </b>are you <b>implying</b>?<b>” </b>
“I <b>know </b><b>you</b>! You’re Mr. <b>Abernathy’s </b>chief secretary!”
The reporter pushed <b>his </b>luck, “The whole time, it’s been you and Evadne’s secretary with the victims. Was this whole usation against <b>Byron </b>orchestrated by Ms. Ashbourne and Mr. Abernathy? The Ashbourne and Chambers families go way back. Ms. Ashbourne and <b>Byron </b>were close; she even operated on him. Now that their rtionship’s out in the open, she’s desperate to distance herself. Could she be using ‘helping the victims‘ as a way to cleanse her own image? It’s a fair question, isn’t <b>it</b>?<b>” </b>