<b>Chapter </b><b>121 </b>


    After replying to the message from Ashton, Briar didn’t even nce at the two fresh corpses lying on the <b>ground </b>with their eyes were con death. She simply stepped over them, opened the door, shut it behind her, and quickly left the restroom.


    Before leaving, she even shed a devilish smile toward a certain corner.


    The person hiding in the corner gritted his teeth in silence,


    If looks could kill, he would’ve torn Briar into pieces a thousand times over.


    His twopanions were dead. They were killed by this very woman, yet he couldn’t reveal himself.


    Because he couldn’t win. If he showed up, he’d just be throwing his life away.


    He had to take advantage of the chaos and clean up the bodies before anyone found them, erase all traces of what happened.


    Otherwise, if Ashton’s men caught wind of it, the trouble they’d face would be far worse.


    Avoiding the security cameras‘ blind spots, Briar stashed her silenced pistol and found another restroom with fewer people. She washed her hands for a long time, making sure the scent of gunpowder had faded before leisurely returning to the screening room.


    Almost the moment her figure appeared, Ashton stood up to greet her, took her hand, and led her back to her seat. In a low voice, he asked, “What took you so long?”


    “The restrooms at the entrance were being cleaned. I had to use a farther one,” Briar exined.


    Ashton didn’t suspect anything and nodded.


    Watching Ashton’s overly eager expression, Stephen shook his head in helpless amusement.


    It was just a trip to the restroom. Anyone unaware would think Ashton’s girlfriend had run off.


    The movie was excellent, and the premiere received a great response. Many fans were moved to tears by the characters. After the screening came the premiere ceremony, where fans and reporters were allowed to enter.


    Stephen went on stage with the rest of the cast and crew to thank the audience, pushing the atmosphere to its peak.


    Ashton and Briar had no interest in the ceremony. A few minutes before the movie ended, they quietly slipped out.


    Now, the two of them were walking hand in hand toward the parking lot, from afar looking like a sweet couple in love.


    Brandon was already waiting by the car. He looked at Ashton<b>, </b>who had fallen in love at rocket speed, and the calm, detached Briar. He silently


    crushed his cigarette.


    He remembered Xavion’s words clearly, but never got involved in Ashton’s love life. Xavion had said, “Ashton’s got money, power, and looks. So what if he suffers a little for love? Besides, he’s robbing the cradle here! If things go too smoothly, he won’t know how to cherish it.”


    Brandon thought Xavion made a lot of sense,


    Outside the cinema, plenty of fans and reporters were still waiting. So instead <b>of </b>taking the original route, Ashton led Briar <b>through </b><b>a </b><b>shortcut </b>to the neighboringmercial building’s/parking lot.


    The whole way, Ashton never let go of Briar’s hand. She tried several times to pull away, but he wouldn’t budge. <b>The </b><b>harder </b><b>she </b><b>pulled</b><b>, </b><b>the </b>more he stared at her with that handsome face <i>of </i>his until she finally gave up and let him hold on.


    10:51 <b>Fri</b>, <b>15 </b>Aug O


    But <b>in </b>her heart, she was uneasy. Ashton had grabbed her left hand<b>, </b>and her left hand was her dominant shooting <b>hand</b>.


    Finally home, Briar retrieved her hand, waved at him with a smile, and said, “Good night, Mr. Wade<b>” </b>


    Then she turned and ran upstairs without looking back.


    Standing by the car door, watching her disappear into the house, Ashton’s smile vanished the moment her bedroom light came on. His face turned grim. “Brandon, pull the cinema surveince.”


    Brandon instantly tensed. “Mr. Wade, what’s wrong?”


    “There was gunpowder residue on her hand.” Ashton’s voice was ice cold. “By morning, I want a satisfying answer from the head of cinema security.”


    Brandon’s face changed. “Gunpowder? Got it. I’ll get them on it immediately.”


    That night, there had been arge flow of people at Bright Cinema. Most security staff had been deployed to the outer perimeter. Internal security was indeed weaker than usual. Even Brandon had been stationed in the basement parking lot, afraid someone might approach


    Ashton’s car.


    No one dared nt bombs on Ashton’s turf, so that left only one possibility. Someone had fired a gun inside the cinema.


    Hopefully, Briar hadn’t witnessed it, or Ashton would truly be furious.


    Unaware of the looming storm, the cinema manager turned pale when notified by Brandon.


    Someone was killed in the cinema, and it happened while Ashton brought his girlfriend here.


    That night, every staff member inside and outside the cinema was summoned for questioning. Eventually, it was discovered that three new employees hiredst month were missing, and footage from 8:00 to 9:00 pm had been deleted. This was big.


    When the cinema manager tremblingly reported all this to Brandon, he was stunned.


    Brandon said, “Mr. Wade, something really did happen…”


    Briar had just finished her shower and was sitting in front of herputer, drying her hair. On–screen, the chat window was shing rapidly.


    Larry: [I got word that they’ve sent assassins after you to Dasmieca’s Shoneport. Be careful for the next while.]


    Briar: [Already taken care of.]


    Larry: [You ran into them?]


    Briar: [Yeah, just a couple of amateurs. Barely took any effort.]


    Larry: [Alright, just d you’re safe. Did you tell DDC Vanguard about this?]


    Briar: [I didn’t mention it. No need to trouble them with something this minor.]


    Larry: [Got it.]


    After finishing the chat, Briar’s phone buzzed with another message from Ashton. [Briar, I have to head out tonight, so try to get some rest early.]


    [Okay.] Briar arched her brow. ‘Heading out thiste? Looks like Ashton’s pulling another all–nighter<i>,’ </i>she thought.


    She put down her phone and nced at her left hand. The gunpowder smell was gone<b>, </b>but she <b>wasn’t </b>sure if Ashton had picked it up vi holding her hand for so long.


    But then again, he just messaged her casually, so he probably hadn’t noticed.


    With that thought, she went into the bathroom to blow–dry her hair, then crawled into bed andfortably went to sleep.


    Meanwhile, down in the basement of Bright Cinema…


    “Mr. Wade, we found the three people, but two of them are already dead. Their time of death matches exactly with the deleted footage, between 8:00 and 9:00 pm.” Brandon pushed open the heavy iron door and walked in quickly, whispering in Ashton’s ear.


    Lounging on the sofa, sipping from a wine ss, Ashton wasn’t surprised at all. He nodded. “Bring him in.”


    Brandon replied, “Yes.”


    Soon, the cinema manager arrived, dragging in a tall, thin man. Behind him, two icy corpses were being carried in. Upon seeing the ck d men with batons standing beside Ashton, the tall man’s legs began to tremble uncontrobly.


    He had heard. This rich scion from Shoneport was ruthless. Once in his hands, hoping for life or even <b>a </b>clean death was a fantasy.