<b>Chapter </b><b>277 </b>
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On the other end of the line, Marvin remained silent, as if burdened by an immense, unspeakable secret.
Sensing Marvin’s hesitation, Briar scoffed and said coolly, “Mr. Goodwin, do you really think I can’t figure out the terrible things you all did back then just because you’re silent?”
This was a threat, a tant one.
But what could Marvin do?
He had already heard from others how formidable Briar was.
He was threatened by her and could only endure it.
He sighed, “…Briar, about what happened back then, we actually had our reasons.”
“Reasons?” Briar’s smile grew even colder. “I don’t care about your reasons. Why did my mother have to pay for them with her life?”
Marvin was left speechless.
Indeed. What did their reasons have to do with Rosalia?
And what did they have to do with Briar?
But in the end, they had used every means possible to ruin the lives of an innocent woman and a helpless child.
Even though theyter regretted it and tried desperately to make amends.
Even though they tried to make up for it by providing Briar with a luxurious life, endless connections, and
resources.
But the damage had been done, and it could never be undone,
What’s the use?
Suddenly, Briar asked, “Marvin, besides my grandfather and you, who else was involved in my mother’s
death?
“Was my mentor involved, too?”
On the other end of the line, Marvin gasped. His hand holding the phone was trembling,
Briar was too smart.
Just as smart as Rosalia was.
She didn’t need Marvin to answer. His overreaction was enough for her to guess the truth.
<b>10:43 Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>25 </b>
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“I knew it. All your talk about doing things for my own good is just a self–serving way to ease your guilt.
“It’s absolutely disgusting!” Briar shouted.
There was no need to see Marvin in person anymore. She already knew everything she needed to know.
Briar hung up, afraid she couldn’t resist the urge to kill.
Hearing the busy tone, Marvin slumped into his chair, shaken and unable to calm down.
Briar’sst words hit him like a p in the face.
It left a burning sting.
After a long while, Marvin dialed a number with a trembling hand.
After three rings, a teasing voice came from the other end. “What’s wrong, old man Goodwin? Is there a reason you’re calling me thiste?”
“Tristan, if you don’te back soon, I’m afraid your disciple… is going to show up at my house to kill me tonight,” Marvin said, resigned.
But Tristan didn’t say a word.
*****
“Honey, are you… Are you okay?” Ashton asked cautiously.
Because Briar was angry.
She was so angry that she almost crushed his phone.
Ashton carefully rescued the poor phone, not because he was afraid Briar would break it.
He was afraid that Briar would actually shatter the screen and hurt her hand.
She might not feel the pain, but he would be heartbroken.
“I’m fine.” Briar shook her head and slipped her hand into Ashton’s palm, letting his warmth spread to her as she grew colder.
Ashton pulled her into his arms, rubbing her back with one hand. “Sweetheart, even though there were many suspicious circumstances surrounding your Mom’s death, we can get revenge, we can vent our anger…
“But promise me you won’t do anything foolish, like trying to take them down with you, okay?”
Briar stiffened. “Ashton, be honest with me. Are you hiding something from me?”
Ashton hadn’t expected her to be so perceptive. A single reassuring sentence from him was enough to put her on guard.
He quickly smiled and said, “What could I possibly hide from you now? Don’t overthink it.”
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“And another thing, honey,” Ashton said, trying to change the subject. “Could you not sound so cold every time you call me that? It’s pretty scary!”
Briar pursed her lips. “What? You don’t like it?”
Ashton didn’t dare to disagree. “I do, of course I do! As long as you’re happy, honey, I’ll love hearing you call me that, no matter the tone.”
“Have my uncles contacted you? Did they go to Shiri Bank? And did they get my grandfather’s safe deposit box?” Briar wasn’t so easily fooled. Staring into Ashton’s eyes, she enunciated every word.
Ashton gave a wry smile. “Honey, you don’t have to be so smart all the time. Really.”
But Briar continued to stare at Ashton in silence.
Finally, unable to avoid her gaze any longer, Ashton nodded. “Alright, your uncles did contact me. But honey, I want to make it clear that I wasn’t trying to hide it from you on purpose.”
Briar asked, “What do you mean?”
Ashton had no choice but to repeat what Ruben and the others had told him, word for word.
“Your two uncles said the documents in the safe deposit box haven’t been verified yet, so we decided not to tell you for now.”
Hearing this, Briar lowered her gaze, hiding the sh of killing intent in her eyes. “Mm, I understand.”
Ashton raised an eyebrow. “Honey, are you really not angry?”
“You’re all doing this for my own good, aren’t you? What is there for me to be angry about?” Briar said in a nonchnt tone.
The corner of Ashton’s mouth twitched. “You just said what Marvin and the others call ‘for your own good‘ disgusts you!”
“So… You want to do something to disgust me, too?” Briar asked rhetorically.
Ashton was left speechless by her retort.
“Alright, I know you truly have my best interests at heart.” Briar managed to force a smile, though it wasn’t much better than seeing her cry.
But what could she do? They were the only three rtives she had who genuinely cared for her.
Perhaps both uncles truly had her best interests at heart.
“Don’t overthink it. We’ve already caught the mastermind behind that incident. It won’t be long before we find the others hiding in the shadows.” Ashtonforted.
10:43 Thu, Sep <b>25 </b>
He ruffled her hair andforted her with a smile, sensing her sudden low mood.
<b>85 </b>
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“I know. I’m not in a hurry,” Briar said, her hair a mess. “First, I’ll slowly torment Brody to force out the person hiding behind the scenes.”
Briar knew the Lopez family couldn’t have hidden Brody for so many years without someone else operating in the shadows.
The Lopez family, no matter how wealthy, couldn’t have evaded her investigation for so many years without leaving a single clue.
To have fooled even her, the person behind this must be incredibly powerful.
So powerful that they werepletely beyond the reach of the Hacker Alliance.
And people like that were usually high–ranking government officials…
She hoped her guess was wrong this time.
Otherwise, her only choice would be to take them down with her.
Sometimes, even an egg could leave a stone scarred.
With that in mind, Briar started to get up.
But Ashton grabbed her. “Sweetheart… tormenting Brody can wait until tomorrow, can’t it?”
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