<h4>Chapter 288: Forming an Alliance</h4>


    Mason coldly brushed Leah’s hand away. "Why did you keep thest part hidden?"


    Though he had agreed to work with Leah, their n was only to create tension between Chloe and E—nothing about Sean framing E like what had just happened.


    Leah raised an eyebrow. "That idea came from my grandfather, so I had no right to tell you."


    Mason’s eyes darkened with anger, and without warning, he pped Leah hard, sending her sprawling onto the sofa.


    Her face stung with a fiery pain, her ears rang, and her vision blurred from the impact. The force of Mason’s p was enough to make her taste blood on her lips.


    Leah looked up, tears welling in her eyes as she red at him with hatred. "How dare you hit me? Mason! Don’t you also want E to suffer? Why treat me like this?"


    "I told you to hire someone to put on a show, but you brought Aaron into this!" Mason sneered. "Do you even realize what could have happened if he lost control and fired his gun? Do you know what consequences that would have?"


    Leah burst into hystericalughter, her features contorting in a twisted mix of spite and sarcasm. "Of course I know! If he had fired, E would be dead, and that would suit me just fine!"


    Yes, if E died, Leah might not get the Carter Group shares in her possession. But since E had married Eric, any misfortune that befell her would mean Eric would never hand those shares over to the Carter Group anyway.


    Mason’s eyes burned with fury, though he couldn’t quite understand why he was so angry. He pped Leah again, even harder than before.


    The blow left her dazed, unable to gather her thoughts. If anything serious had happened to E, Mason wouldn’t be happy. Even though he had gone to great lengths to oppose her, he didn’t want her dead.


    When Aaron had held a gun to E, Mason had been filled with panic. That deep, genuine fear and regret made him realize how much he actually cared about her.


    But so what?


    There was no way they could ever be together. His goal was to break E and Eric apart and make her fall in love with him instead...


    After that, endless torment would follow. Mason was confident he could seed because, in his mind, he was no worse than Eric.


    "If anything happens to her, I’ll make sure you die with her," Mason threatened with a cruel smile, gripping Leah’s chin tightly. Her face was now swollen, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, giving her a terrifying appearance.


    Leah’s eyes were unfocused, still reeling from the power of the second p.


    "If you didn’t hear me, Leah, let me remind you—I have no problem showing you more of what I’m capable of! I’ve never hit women before, but for someone as vile and treacherous as you, I’ll dly make an exception."


    Leah barely managed to regain herposure, inhaling deeply as she met Mason’s icy gaze. "I... I understand!" she stammered, but even speaking made her cheeks throb with intense pain, and tears rolled down her face uncontrobly.


    Why was it always E? Why were Eric, Mason, and even Henry all focused on her?


    Leah bit her lip in frustration. Mason patted her swollen face, causing her to wince in pain.


    "Don’t look at me with that hatred in your eyes. Are you tired of living? Hmm? Do you know why I haven’t returned to Country S in the past year to manage my business? It’s because my family is locked in a power struggle, three sons fighting for the Scott family inheritance."


    Mason let out a cruelugh, the gentlemanly facade reced by a bloodthirsty monster. "My methods are far more ruthless than theirs. So don’t push me, Leah, or I won’t hesitate to make sure you... are left in pieces."


    Leah stared at him in terror, as if seeing a demon cloaked in madness and cruelty.


    "I understand... I understand! Please, just let me go, please!" Leah, though filled with resentment, knew better than to keep defying Mason.


    Mason smirked, pleased, and released her. He gracefully picked up a tissue from the table, casually wiping away the bloodstains on his hands.


    Leah, trembling, red at Mason’s back with hatred, but as soon as he turned around, she quickly concealed her emotions, putting on a pitiful expression.


    "Mason, why don’t you like me? Why? You, your cousin—neither of you... what’s wrong with me? What did I do wrong?" Leah finally broke down, the dams of her frustration and sorrow giving way. Every man she had desired either abandoned her or despised her.


    She had always wondered why she wasn’t as good as E. Why did every man she liked end up falling for her instead?


    Mason raised an eyebrow, a sneer of disgust curling his lips. "Don’t cry in front of me. My heart won’t soften just because of a few tears."


    "You’ll never be worth even a single strand of her hair," he said coldly. Mason then tossed the tissue into the trash and, with elegantposure, turned to leave.


    As the door closed behind him, Leah burst into tears, the pain in her swollen face only making her sob harder. But despite her own suffering, she found somefort in knowing that E, too, was in trouble. After that scene, E’s life would only get worse.


    ...


    At the police station, E sat quietly, having already given her statement. Yet the officer had stepped out, and she suspected the chief had received orders from Sean to keep her there overnight.


    Ha!


    E nced at the egg-stained shoulder of her jacket, the foul smell still lingering and unpleasant.


    A man’s voice, faint but clear, filtered through the door.


    "Yes, yes, I understand... Are you sure? She’s not really Mr. Nelson’s woman?"


    "Old Mr. Carter, I know it’s a tough situation for you, given how badly injured you are..."


    E nearly choked on her anger. Badly injured? Just those minor scrapes and bruises were being called serious injuries?


    Unbelievable! Was the deputy chief out of his mind?


    It was the deputy chief on the phone, while the chief himself had already gone home for the day. The chief in question was the same officer who had worked with Eric to capture Donald not long ago.


    E felt a little annoyed. Richard hade with her, but he had slipped away at some point, showing a surprisingck of loyalty. However, something felt off. Richard was one of Eric’s closest friends and wouldn’t have just abandoned her.


    So why hadn’t hee to bail her out yet?


    She hadn’tid a finger on Sean, but she had her own ns brewing. The Carter Group had set her up this time, and she intended to pay them back in full.


    At that moment, the door creaked open, and a voice barked, "Take her inside. No bail allowed!"