Chapter <b>316 </b>


    55 vouchers <fn9af8> Original content can be found at Find_Novel(.</fn9af8>


    Nathan red at Briar with resentment as he signed, “I haven’t even started confessing, and you’ve already


    turned me down!”


    Briar reached into an inner pocket and, in front of Nathan, slipped a massive diamond ring onto her left ring finger.


    “Sorry, I’m married,” she said tly.


    Nathan stared at the dazzling stone, dumbstruck for a long moment.


    He was silent for so long that Briar wondered if the ring’s brilliance had blinded him. Finally, he asked, “When did you get married? Why didn’t I hear about it?”


    He had always thought that as long as Briar wasn’t legally married to Ashton, he still stood a chance.


    He could not believe that they had actually gone ahead and tied the knot behind his back.


    Briar casually removed the oversized diamond and tucked it away again. The ring was far toorge, cumbersome to wear; she preferred to keep it close, to touch it, not unt it.


    “It happened when Ashton and I were abroad. I deliberately kept it from you because I was worried you’d be too heartbroken,” Briar replied with a faint smile.


    Nathan uttered, “You’re telling me this now? Aren’t you worried about hurting my feelings?”


    Briar shrugged in response, “What can I do? I’m a married woman now–I can’t just flirt around. If Ashton found out, I’m afraid he’d toss you into the sea to feed the fish.”


    Nathan muttered bitterly, “So being rich and powerful is everything…”


    ‘How unfair!


    ‘I was the one who met Briar first. I went through years of ups and downs with her, only to be beaten by ater like Ashton,‘ he silently cried.


    “Being rich and powerful is indeed remarkable.” Suddenly, a cold, deep voice cut in from behind. “Do you have a problem with that?”


    It was Ashton.


    “Ashton, what are you doing here?” Briar turned at the sound, startled by his sudden arrival.


    Ashton strode over to her side and draped an arm casually around her waist, pulling her close with an ease that radiated possession.


    In Nathan’s eyes, the domineering gesture was both unbearable and infuriating.


    But this was Ashton’s territory–Shoneport. Even if Nathan wanted to cause trouble, he dared not do so


    10:24 Wed, <b>Oct </b><b>1 </b>


    openly.


    He quicklyposed himself, bowed his head slightly, and said with forced respect, “Ashton.”


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    Ashton ignored himpletely. Looking down at the girl giggling in his arms, he asked softly, “Babe, are you finished here?”


    “I’m done, I’m done. Let’s head to the police station.” Fearing Ashton would provoke Nathan further, Briar hurriedly nodded and tugged him toward the elevator.


    Ashton hadn’t intended to waste energy on Nathan, so he let Briar pull him along without resistance.


    Once Briar and Ashton were gone, Ian patted Nathan on the shoulder. “Buddy, I get it. But take my advice- just give up. Briar has only ever seen us as brothers,” heforted.


    Nathan sighed heavily, “Damn it! After all these years, I finally found someone I liked in Briar… and someone else just swoops in and takes her.”


    Ian nced at Brandon, who was following Briar and Ashton into the elevator, and said, “Don’t take this the wrong way, but even without Ashton, nothing would have happened between you and Briar.”


    Nathan frowned in response, “Why not? Briar likes handsome men. I think I’m good–looking. I’ve got money, I’ve got charm…”


    Ian shook his head helplessly and he exined, “But everything you have, Ashton has too. And everything youck, Ashton also has. There’s noparison. If Briar was ever going to fall for you, she would have done it years ago.”


    “Help Briar with thepany. I’m leaving.” Not wanting to be dragged into more questions, Ian slipped away quickly.


    A man like Ashton had every advantage–of course Briar fell at first sight.


    And everyone knows, love at first sight is just lust at first sight.


    A woman like Briar, who adored handsome faces, would never pass up someone like Ashton.


    By the time Ian came downstairs, Briar and Ashton’s car was already waiting at the gate. He jumped into the passenger seat, shut the door, and asked, “Briar, where are we going now?”


    In the back seat, Briar leanednguidly against Ashton, her body rxed as she replied, “To the police station. We’re going to see Edgar and offer our sympathy.”


    Ian raised a brow and he probed, “Just sympathy?”


    “Of course. We’re decent,w–abiding citizens. We’d never break thew,” Briar said, straight–faced.


    If not for the sharp scalpel she was twirling nimbly between her fingers, her words might almost have been


    believable.


    Ashton, silent since entering the car, gave no reaction to Briar’s cheeky words.


    10:24 Wed, Oct <b>1 </b>


    The arm around her waist remained firmly in ce.


    M:.


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    Noticing the tension, Brandon raised the partition as he shotn a look, cutting off the view of the back seat.


    “That can’t be right.


    I only exchanged a few words with Nathan,‘ he thought.


    Brandon shook his head in response, “It’s not a fight. He’s jealous.”


    “Jealous? Who’s jealous of whom?”n asked eagerly, eyes alight with gossip.


    Keeping his focus on the road, Brandon lowered his voice and exined, “Who else? Mr. Longley. Mr. Wade still can’t stand that Mr. Longley has feelings for Miss Jennings.”


    “Tsk! But Briar already rejected him! What’s Ashton got to be upset about?” Ian said, though his lips twitched in a grin.


    “A proud man like Mr. Wade would still be annoyed. Let’s stay quiet and let Miss Jennings coax him,” Brandon advised.


    Ian smirked mischievously, “What if Briar gets tired of coaxing and decides to pick a fight with him instead?”


    Brandon shot him a re and warned, “Quit stirring trouble. Mr. Wade is easy to cate. If she can’t cheer him up, he’ll cheer himself up.”


    Ian burst outughing as he thought, ‘What kind of ruthless man gets angry and then cheers himself up?


    ‘Was this really the legendary Ashton, famed for being decisive, cold, and merciless?‘


    Brandon gave him another stern look before sharing, “You clearly don’t know what it means to appease a wife. At times like this, no matter how much she frustrates you–or whether she actually manages to soothe you- you need to know when to let go.”


    Ian pressed, “And if you don’t?”


    “Then even if you’re in the right, you’ll end up being the one at fault,” Brandon replied firmly.


    He nodded to himself with conviction before adding, “That’s the truth. If your wife doesn’t hand you a way out, you have to make one for yourself.”


    “Tsk, tsk. Is your wife really that difficult?” Ian asked. But hearing his own words, the sparkle in his eyes instantly vanished.


    <b>10:24 </b><b>Wed</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b>1


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