?Chapter 1584:
Lance’s expression darkened, sorrow and anger rising in equal measure within his chest. He forced his voice to remain calm despite the emotions churning beneath. “Even now, you refuse to see reason. You’re still clinging to your delusions.”
Visible agitation seized Nina, sending her voice climbing sharply. “What delusions? I’m fighting for a better life — what’s wrong with that? Ste’s the one who drove me to this point!”
Lance’s brows drew together. Whatever sympathy he’d carried into the room had curdled into profound disappointment, and his voice rose instinctively to match her escting volume. “You chose this path yourself, Nina. Look at what you’ve be — do you bear any resemnce to a Carter family member anymore?”
His words struck her like a p. Embarrassment flickered briefly behind her eyes before vanishing. “You’re right — I’m not truly part of the Carter family. You all excluded me from the beginning, didn’t you? All any of you ever cared about was precious Ste. So why bothering here now?”
Nina’s mind twisted the truth intofortable lies. Ste couldn’tpare to her in any measure. She loved William with a depth Ste could never reach and would sacrifice anything for him — she’d even struck a deal with Arlo to preserve William’s life. And what had Ste ever aplished besides ying the perpetual victim?
Lance drew a deep breath, refusing to waste more energy debating who bore responsibility for their fractured rtionship. “I didn’te here to catalog your grievances. You’re staring down serious charges — charges that could lock you away for the rest of your life. Do youprehend that?”
Color drained from Nina’s face, her lips trembling visibly. She had spent days in this cell contemting her fate, but hearing Lance speak the words aloud magnified her terror tenfold.
Lance studied her carefully, then leaned forward, allowing the full weight of his authority as her elder cousin to settle into his posture. “You’re your parents’ only child. Do you want to abandon them to face their final years alone? Nina, if you help us create a sketch of Arlo, I’ll personally fight for a reduced sentence on your behalf.”
Nina’s pupils contracted as she instinctively recoiled, raw fear flooding her eyes. “No. I can’t. You have no concept of how powerful he is. If I talk, he’ll destroy me.”
??o??’?? ????s?? ???w ????????????е?? о?? ga????o??e???.??о??
Worse, she feared Arlo might extend his vengeance to epass the entire Carter family. Lance and the others couldn’t possibly understand his true nature — a predator who eliminated threats without hesitation or conscience.
Lance’s expression turned grimmer still. “You believe your current situation is somehow better? Kidnapping, assault with intent to harm, participation in an international criminal organization — those charges guarantee life imprisonment. Do you honestly believe Arlo will lift a finger to help you?”
.
.
.