Kearney watched Glenn''s retreating figure, reying his words. A slow smile spread across his lips.
The butler, who had heard everything, kept his eyes lowered, his expression neutral. He understood Kearney''s choice.
They had maintained ties with the Fawkes family because their power was something they had to contend with. But now that disaster was looming for the Fawkes, there was no need for the Carlisles to continue debasing themselves.
Realizing this, his dark eyes flickered as he asked softly, "Sir, shall we still go to the Fawkes estate?"
Kearney nced at him. "You go on behalf of the Carlisle family. Tell them that we are incredibly busy with business matters, and Glenn is too preupied with the search to spare any time."
The ''search'' naturally included looking for Soren, a reason they couldn''t argue with. "Very well."
The butler acknowledged the order and turned to leave.
"Wait," Kearney said, a new thought urring to him.
The butler looked back, puzzled.
Kearney continued, "Give Glenn another sum of money. Also, gather all the bodyguards on our estate and put them at his disposal to help with the search."
The butler hesitated. "Sir? Why is that? You''ve already given Mr. Carlisle so much authority."
"And if all the bodyguards are sent out, won''t you be unsafe?"
Kearney smiled. "He''s short on manpower right now. What I''m doing is providing a lifeline when he needs it most."
His smile wasyered with deep meaning.
Glenn''s aggressive move against the Fawkes family had served as both a warning and a test for Kearney.
Now that he had confirmed this son was more than capable of leading the Carlisle family, he naturally had to offer some incentives to ensure he would stay willingly.
By sacrificing his own safety to help Glenn find Evangeline, Glenn would be indebted to him, regardless of whether Evangeline was found alive.
Still, he hoped Evangeline was alive.
After all, with her alive, he had a much better grip on Glenn''s leash.
However, on the other side of Serenity City, someone held apletely different view.
When news of Finn''s suspected
death spread through the Lockridge family, the atmosphere took a sharp downturn. The already tense air became so heavy it was almost suffocating.
Members of the Lockridge family, avoided the estate unless absolutely necessary, fearing they would get caught in the crossfire.
"My poor grandson!"
"If I had known, I would never have let him return to the country! This never would have happened, and I wouldn''t have to bury my own grandchild!"
"My grandson! My poor, poor grandson!"
In the main hall of the Lockridge estate, the Lockridge matriarch was wailing, on the verge of fainting.
Sybil Lockridge stood beside her, gently patting her back to soothe her. The news had saddened her as well.
"Mother, they haven''t found him yet. There might still be a sliver of hope," she murmured.
But her quiet words were drowned out by the sobs, heard by almost no one. Nearby, Victor Lockridge sat on the sofa, seemingly unaffected by the tragic news. He sat with his legs crossed, idly fiddling with a string of prayer beads on his wrist.
ncing at the somber mood, he chuckled What''s there to feel sorry about? Finn died for the woman he loved You could almost call it happy asion. At least he got what he wanted before he died."
His words made the Lockridge patriarch, standing not far away, turn pale with rage.
He mmed his cane on the floor and rose to his feet.
"You... Victor, are those words even fit for a human being to say?"
Victor sneered. "Isn''t it the truth? He could have survived... oh, wait, he could have just ignored the whole thing from the start. He chose to
throw his life away. No one could
have stopped him."
The words had barely left his mouth when a coffee cup flew through the air, smashing hard against Victor''s face.
"Victor! He is your brother!" the Lockridge matriarch shrieked, nearly hysterical.