Frank eagerly ran up like a loyal sidekick “Ashton, you’d better go in quickly. Briar must be terrified of being put in such a situation


    Ashton’s expression was grim. It was unclear whether it was because Briar had ended up in the station due to a fight, or because <b>of </b>the photo Frank had sent of a certain unfamiliar man. Either way, Frank felt oddly pleased seeing Ashton’s face darken,


    For someone like Ashton to show up at a small district police station, he obviously wouldn’te without making an impression. As expected, the head of the station, having gotten wind of his arrival, rushed over in a panic. “Mr. Wade, why are you here in person? If anything happened, you could’ve just called me directly.”


    Ashton wasn’t a government official, but many members of the Wade family held powerful positions in Shannport. Their connections were untouchable. Offending one of them could mean the end of a career. Naturally, the police chief didn’t dare treat him carelessly.


    Ashton walked up to the station entrance and immediately spotted Briar sitting in the hall, her face full of irritation. As for the man standing beside her, speaking to the officers, Ashton didn’t even spare him a nce,


    Suppressing his temper, he lifted his chin slightly and pointed toward Briar. “I’m here to pick up my girl,” he sai


    said.


    The chiel, Ronan Ramos, was the son–inw of Edmund Haynes, a distant rtive of the Haynes family. His position as head of this station cantrgely thanks to the Haynes family’s influence.


    However, Edmund’s status within the Haynes family wasn’t high. If Ronan were to offend someone like Ashton because of something his subordinates did, Edmund would likely be berated. Edmund might even take it out on him directly.


    More importantly, Ashton controlled much of Shoneport’s financial resources. He <b>was </b>a figure no one in the city could afford to offend.


    Hearing Ashton’s tone still rtively calm, Ronan understood the situation hadn’t spiraled out of control yet. He quickly replied, “I see Please,e inside. May <b>I </b>ask which one is your girl? I’ll have her brought out immediately.”


    Following Ashton’s line of sight, Ronan scanned the noisy hall. Aside from the police officers, there was only one young woman present. The rest were all men. He understood at once.


    While <b>inviting </b>Ashton toe inside, he turned and called to the team captain, <b>“</b><b>You</b>,e here. What’s going on? That girl over there is Mr. Wade’s. It’s already thiste. Why haven’t you let her go?”


    The team captain, Deacon Ramos, was the nephew of Ronan. He had been personally mentored by the chief since their time in the academy. Smart and quick–witted, he immediately grasped the situation. Smiling, he responded.


    “Oh, here’s what happened. ording to the records, Miss Jennings is the eldest daughter of the Jennings family who have just returned from abroad. We initially asked her to contact her family to sign a form as a guarantor <b>so </b>she could leave. But now that <b>we </b>know she’s with Mr. Wade, there’s no need for that. She’s not a problem. She can leave immediately.”


    Deacon deliberately left out the part about Briar refusing to <b>cooperate</b>.


    Ashton showing up in person was proof enough that Briar wasn’t someone their small local station could afford to touch.


    Naturally, Deacon chose his words carefully and changed his tonepletely. He became polite and amodating, personally walking over to the female officer <b>and </b>instructing her to release Briar.


    Nathan stood protectively behind Briar as they approached Ashton. Following Briar’s lead<b>, </b>he said, “Mr. Wade.”


    Ashton’s gazended on Nathan. His eyes carried a weight of scrutiny and unspoken pressure. Nathan felt a chill down his spine. He grumbled internally, but his <b>face </b>remained all smiles, looking perfectly harmless.


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    11:08 Wed, 13 Aug


    Ashton had always been tolerant of Briar’s friends, epting them out of affection for her. So after giving Nathan a cool nce, he looked


    away.


    “Did it scare you?” Ashton asked as he reached out his hand toward Briar. His tone was gentle, filled with concern, treating her as if she were. a frightened little girl.


    Briar initially wanted to shake her head. There was no way something this minor could scare her. But when she looked up and met his deep. tender gaze, she paused. Under that <b>gaze</b><b>, </b>she slowly nodded. “Yeah. I was scared.”


    Ashton hade in person. Even if she wasn’t scared, she might as well be. Someone like him deserved that kind of gesture.


    Though in truth, she hadn’t been afraid at all.