Chapter 261 This Is Just the Beginning


    Fortunately, he had everything else sealed up tight.


    So what if Jolene had stepped in?


    Thomas was confident that his n would still seed–wlessly. No one could stop it.


    281%


    +8 Pearls


    “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stop now,” Thomas said coldly, his toneced with warning and threat.


    “And what if I don’t?” Jean tilted her head, smiling.


    Thomas’s face darkened further. “Then you can deal with the consequences yourself.”


    Jean sneered without backing down. “Wow. Didn’t you used to suck up to my brother? And now you’re threatening me like this? What, you don’t care about my brother anymore?”


    It was true–Thomas had gone out of his way to cozy up to Dominic before. The Ginger family’s influence far surpassed the Lawson family’s. He’d been trying to ride that wave, and for a time, he had been cautious.


    But after that incident at dinner…


    His rtionship with Dominic had shifted in subtle but unmistakable ways.


    In the adult world, words weren’t always needed. One look, one slight change in tone–everything could be clearly understood.


    Dominic hadn’t publicly cut him off, but the growing distance and coldness were impossible to ignore.


    Thomas knew there was no need to maintain the act anymore.


    It was clear Dominic had lost patience with him.


    “I don’t have to worry about that now,” Thomas said honestly, lifting his brow.


    No more caution. No more pretending. No more wasting energy trying to shove his sister into someone’s


    arms<b>. </b>


    There was a sh of menace in his eyes. His voice dropped into a cold, sharp tone.


    “If I actually gave a damn about Dominic…”


    “…I wouldn’t have sshed you on purpose.”


    Jean’s fingers curled into a tight fist.


    So it <i>was </i>on purpose!


    “You think that’s going to scare me off?” Jean sneered, lips pulling into a crooked smile full of defiance.


    “This is just the beginning,” Thomas said, like a devil whispering in your ear–his voice dark and grating.


    directly at her.


    11 15 Just the Beginning


    Jean’s eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t panic.


    Thomas stopped the car just half a meter from her body.


    Through the windshield, she could see his smirking face. His expression was full of mockery and provocation.


    This was a threat. A warning.


    <i>Thomas</i>…


    He really was insane.


    Eventually, he stepped on the gas and sped away.


    Jean ran a hand through her still–damp hair, her face twisting with fury.


    +8 Pearls


    The way Thomas had treated her–it meant he was officially burning the bridge with the Ginger family.


    But why?


    <i>The </i><i>Ginger </i><i>family </i><i>was </i><i>still </i><i>far </i><i>more </i><i>powerful </i><i>than </i><i>the </i><i>Lawson </i><i>family</i><i>. </i><i>Did </i><i>he </i><i>really </i><i>not </i><i>care</i>?


    If she told Dominic what had happened today, she knew he’d stand up for her. No question.


    But there was no need.


    If she’d cared about Asher’s case before–if she’d fought for it out of guilt, or for Mindy’s sake, or to right her own past wrongs in reshaping Asher’s fate–then now…


    She wanted one thing only. To make Thomas suffer as much as possible.


    She didn’t need Dominic’s help.


    She’d do it herself.


    Jean’s face was grim as she turned to leave, nning to hail a cab and go home. But for some reason–some smoldering spark of fury-


    She turned back.


    She stormed toward Tri Street again.


    Back to that old, broken–down alley.


    But then-


    Jean’s eyes flew wide open.


    Because she saw something that made her stop in her tracks.