《Betrayed, Then Back For Blood》 Forsaken 1 Chapter 1 It was September in Dasmieca. In the fancy Jennings family mansion in Shoneport, five people sat in the living room, the tension thick enough to choke
  1. on.
Briar Jennings, fresh off a flight from abroad, kicked ba the other couch across from her, clearly ufortable. Gunfire from a phone game kept sting from Briar¡¯s phone, ¡°Briar, you just got back. You don¡¯t even know the first thing me? You¡¯ll still get your annual cut just like before.¡± Briar didn¡¯t even nce up. Her thumbs kept tapping. a couch, legs crossed like she owned the ce. The other four were crammed together on cutting thrash her father¡¯s voice every time he tried to speak. a Edgar continued, ¡°Your brother¡¯s grown now. It¡¯s time he started learning the from scratch.¡± rope I could transfer him half your shares so that he doesn¡¯t have to start There was still nothing from Briar. ¡°And about that engagement to the Hargreaves boy,¡± Edgar added.ve been sister take your ce?¡± 11 No matter what he said, Briar just kept ying, like he wasn¡¯t there. gone for years. You don¡¯t even know him anymore. Why not let your Edgar¡¯s patience wore thin. His face darkened, but before he could explode, Halle Jennings¨Chis ever¨Cgraceful wife and longtime expert at ying the good stepmother¨Cgently ced a hand on his chest. ¡°Edgar, she just got home,¡± she said sweetly. ¡°Let her settle in first.¡± But her eyes weren¡¯t so sweet. They flicked coldly toward her daughter, Beatrice Jennings. Catching the signal, Beatrice jumped up and snatched the phone from Briar¡¯s hands. ¡°Briar, Dad¡¯s talking to you! Where are your manners? You¡¯re upsetting him.¡± Briar¡¯s face turned stone cold. She shot Beatrice a look sharp enough to kill. ¡°Give it back.¡± Beatrice froze like a deer caught in the headlights. The overwhelming pressure made a chill On her spine.¡± Briar grabbed her phone back. The game was over. Her teammates were cussing her out in the group chat. Her mood soured even more. She hadn¡¯t even had time for a drink since stepping off the ne. Her luggage was still sitting by the stairs. But none of that mattered to Edgar. He didn¡¯t ask how she¡¯d managed all these years alone overseas. He didn¡¯t care. All he wanted was her shares¨Cand to dump her fianc¨¦ on someone else. Some father he was. Then again, Edgar had never been much of a father to begin with. Briar didn¡¯t care about that fianc¨¦ or the arranged marriage. But that didn¡¯t mean she¡¯d let anyone take what was hers. She wasn¡¯t like her mother¨CRosalia¨Cwho gave up everything, even her life, for a man. What made it worse was that just three months after Rosalia died, Edgar shamelessly moved his mistress, Halle, and her two kids into the house. The boy, Camden Jennings, was two years older than Briar, and the girl, Beatrice, was only two months older than Briar. Their sudden appearance was a p in the face to Rosalia, and it instantly had her father¡¯s family boiling with anger. Even if Briar had been raised overseas by her grandfather, she was still the rightful heir to the Jennings family. Her uncles were so furious that they 1/2 Chapter 1 almost went after Edgar with knives, Back then, Edgar had built hispany with the help of Rosalia¡¯s father, Zeke Grant. Rosalia had held 60% of the shares, and before she died, she secretly left them all to Briar. It was the one thing she¡¯d done right after everything else had fallen apart. By the time Edgar found out, it was toote. Zeke¡¯s family had already taken Briar out of the country. Edgar didn¡¯t hear from her again until she got older and started reaching out. As far as Zeke¡¯s family was concerned, Edgar and Halle were the ones who pushed Rosalia to her death. They had wanted revenge, but no matter what untouched. they tried, Edgar always slipped away The only possible reason was that he had someone powerful backing him. Some of thepany¡¯s new products didn¡¯t evene from their own team -they came through private ounts under Edgar¡¯s name you But the most shocking part was this¨CBriar found out that mom hadn¡¯t run off because she had broken down. She¡¯d been taken. When Zeke¡¯s people finally tracked her down, she was locked in a mental hospital¨Ceitherpletely out of it or asleep. During the rare times she was clearheaded, she¡¯d cry and ask for awyer to make her will. Snapping out of it, Briar slipped her phone into her pocket and looked straight at Edgar. Her tone was t, but every word cut deep. ¡°So all those hundreds of calls, rushing me toe home, were just to trick me into handing over my shares so your idiot son can run thepany into the ground, huh? ¡°You really think thepany belongs to you now, huh? Did you forget who the majority shareholder is? That bastard son of yours isn¡¯t stepping one foot into mypany.¡± Edgar¡¯s face twitched. ¡°You ungrateful brat!¡± Camden, who¡¯d been quiet up until now, shot Briar a look like he wanted to tear her apart. Briar didn¡¯t even flinch. She pointed right at Beatrice. ¡°And you want me to break off my engagement just so this homewrecker can take my spot, right? Like mother, like daughter. I¡¯ve never seen anyone so proud to be the other woman.¡± She turned her eyes on Beatrice and sneered, ¡°Did your mom teach you that? Was that part of your well upbringing¨Chow to steal someone else¡¯s man? Why are you so dead set on taking what¡¯s mine?¡± Edgar¡¯s face went dark. His n had beenid bare, but he still forced himself to speak calmly. ¡°Briar, don¡¯t say things like that. Camden¡¯s the only boy in the family. Of course, he¡¯s going to take over thepany eventually. You don¡¯t even want to work there, so what¡¯s the point of holding onto those shares? grandfather and Gavin agreed to years ago. Now that Zeke¡¯s gone, it ¡°And about your engagement to the Hargreaves boy¨Cthat was just somethingnt to break them up?¡± doesn¡¯t mean anything. Beatrice and that boy love each other. Would you really Edgar only dared to pressure Briar now because he¡¯d heard Zeke was dead. With their guarded ite. Edga AD Forsaken 2 Chapter 2 Soon, Briar¡¯s uncles would be too tied up to help her. Once Edgar got her back, she¡¯d have no one left to turn to and Edgar could do whatever he wanted with her. He had Rosalia wrapped around his finger back in the day. To him, Briar was just another easy target. ¡°Briar, I¡¯m your father, your closest family.¡± Edga you can sign the transfer papers. said in a gentle voice. ¡°I¡¯d never hurt you. Just be a good girl. I¡¯ll have Marcus, thewyer,e over so ¡°Tomorrow, go call off your engagement with the Hargreaves boy. After that, you can go back abroad. I won¡¯t bother you again, I promise¡± Briar let out a coldugh. ¡°Do you even hear yourself and toss me aside when you¡¯re done.¡± She knew the moment she gave in, Edgar would ¡°You think I¡¯m easy to push around just because I ha dime.¡± ou think I don¡¯t see through all this, huh? You¡¯re not looking out for me¨Cyou just want to use me fought back, huh?¡± She said, ¡°Let me be clear¨CI¡¯d rather burn everything down than give you a She then pointed at Camden and Beatrice. ¡°My mom has only one daughter. I don¡¯t have any siblings. These two are your love children with your mistress. They¡¯ve got no im to what¡¯s mine.¡± Edgar¡¯s face twisted in rage. He suddenly raised his hand to p Briar. ¡°You ungrateful brat! I¡¯ll teach you a lesson!¡± But Briar caught his wrist mid¨Cair. Edgar cried out in pain. Briar might¡¯ve looked sweet on the outside, but she wasn¡¯t weak. Edgar had no idea. He thought she¡¯d been struggling abroad all these years. He believed a kid raised without parents would break at the slightest fake affection. But Briar didn¡¯tck love or support. In fact, she could destroy Edgar with just one of her many hidden identities, Over the years, she rarely came back, and her rtionship with Edgar was barely more than a formality. She waited until she turned eighteen toe back because that s when she¡¯d legally inherit her mother¡¯s shares. And there was more to it¨Cshe had proof tied to her mom¡¯s disappearance. She needed a reason to stay in the country and dig deeper. As luck would have it, Edgar¡¯s desperate power grab gave her the perfect excuse, so Briar returned. Edgar howted as Briar twisted his wrist, but all the cursing in the world didn¡¯t loosen her grip. No one dared step in¨CBriar¡¯s icy aura had everyone frozen in ce. Just then, Briar¡¯s phone rang. She frowned, kicked Edgar aside, then gave Halle and her kids another swift kick, sending all four of them rolling into one pathetic pile. She looked at her phone, hung up the call, and slid it back into her pocket. Ime toe back. Did you think you could cheat me out of my Then she stared down at the mess in front of her. ¡°Dad, you were the one who begged shares and toss me out right after? Keep dreaming I¡¯m not the pushover you were hoping for.¡± Something in her words must¡¯ve hit a nerve. Edgar suddenly stood up and lunged at her, hand raised and voice shaking with rage. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you, yo ungrateful brat!¡± Briar calmly stepped back. Edgar missed and crashed straight to the floor,nding hard on his knees. Halle and the kids rushed over to help him up, all of them ring at Briar like they wanted her gone¡ªbut none of them dared move again. Chapter 2 Good thing for Edgar, he¡¯d already sent the servants and bodyguards away earlier because he didn¡¯t want any witnesses to his little scheme if ther seen this mess, the embarrassment would¡¯ve been even worse. ¡°You really thought you could steal what¡¯s mine, huh?¡± Briar sneered. Edgar slowly got to his feet, shaking with rage, but this time, there was fear in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m still your father,¡± he snapped. ¡°You¡¯ll do what I say, I¡¯m the head of the Jennings family!¡± Briar didn¡¯t bother to look back. She walked to the door, then paused. ¡°I¡¯ve already scheduled a shareholders¡® meeting for the day after tomorrow, che ¡°What?¡± Edgar froze. His face went pale as he rushed o call his secretary. Behind him, Briar walked off without a care. Outside, her phone rang again. She picked up. ¡°Georgiana? ¡°Briar! Are you in Dasmieca?¡± Georgiana asked in a s ¡°Yeah. What is it?¡± Briar replied, then warned, ¡°Don¡¯t throw me sup?¡± She was Briar¡¯s business partner abroad. any work. I¡¯m on vacation.¡± Georgianaughed. ¡°I know. But it¡¯s just a quick job. There¡¯s a batch of experimental meds that needs delivering within the hour. Super urgent. The pay is 3 million dors. Interested?¡± Briar raised an eyebrow. ¡°3 million dors? Who¡¯s throwing around that kind of cash? ¡°Ashton from Shoneport. His grandfather just had a medical emergency. He needs ck market meds to stay alive,¡± Georgiana exined. ¡°You¡¯re already there, so it¡¯s a local run. Easy money.¡± ¡°Alright. When will the meds be ready?¡± Briar didn¡¯t exactly need the money, but she wasn¡¯t about to say no to it either. Georgiana hesitated andughed awkwardly. ¡°That¡¯s the thing. It¡¯s toost¨Cminute. Even if we shipped it out now, it might not make it in time. But don¡¯t you still carry some of those All Miracle Pills? Maybe you could-¡± Briarughed in disbelief. ¡°So that¡¯s what you¡¯re after, huh?¡± Georgiana chuckled nervously. ¡°Come on, Briar, do me a favor?¡± Forsaken 3 Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Two minutester, Briar slipped on her ck helmet, jumped on a sleek ck motorcycle parked in the Jennings family¡¯s driveway, and took off humming, ready to make a quick delivery. Camden and Beatrice only dared to step outside after she was out of sight. They started cussing up a storm¨Cbut it was way toote. Briar was already gone. While riding, Briar¡¯s phone pinged with a file on Ashton. She tapped it open and stopped short at the photo. He was tall with broad shoulders and a sharp jawline. A pair of gold¨Crimmed sses sat on his nose, masking the sharpness in his gaze. His lips were tight -an expression worn by men used to control and authority. Briar gave a low whistle. ¡°Perfect,¡± she muttered. Ashton was built like a dream. A little cold, a little dangerous. Just her type. Any hesitation Briar had about this job disappeared the second she saw his face. She grinned, twisted the throttle, and sped up. An hourter, Briar pulled up in front of a massive mansion, skidding her bike to a smooth stop right next to a shiny ck SUV. Her motorcycle looked rough, all scratched up and worn, but she didn¡¯t care. As soon as she cut the engine, a tall man in a suit approached, followed by a group of bodyguards. Briar took off her helmet and eyed Ashton as he got closer. No surprise, he was even better¨Clooking in person. She stayed seated, one leg on the ground, totally calm. Meeting his stare, she asked, ¡°Ashton?¡± Ashton looked a little surprised that the courier was a girl, but he nodded. ¡°Where¡¯s the medicine?¡± Briar pulled a small, clear stic bag from her pocket and held it up between two fingers. ¡°Where¡¯s the money?¡± The bag looked like something off the street¨Cjust two tiny ck pills inside. It didn¡¯t look like anything special. Ashton¡¯s eyes drifted to Briar¡¯s wrist, where a simple ck hair tie stood out against her skin. Her chill attitude, the way she handled herself¨Cit threw him off for a second. After a couple of seconds of silent observation, a cold glint shed behind Ashton¡¯s sses. He suddenly changed his mind. Instead of taking the pills, he pulled out his phone and transferred half the payment. Then he said, ¡°Come with me. I¡¯ll pay the rest after the pills are tested.¡± Briar nced at the bodyguards, then back at Ashton. She didn¡¯t like the vibe, but she wasn¡¯t fazed either. After a short pause, she slipped the pills back into her pocket, got off the bike, and followed Ashton, hands in her jacket, face unreadable. The Wade family was the oldest and most powerful n in Shoneport. Their mansion looked more like a museum¨Cfancy and old¨Cschool. It had several courtyards, but only one was lit up. A crowd of anxious¨Clooking people stood gathered at the entrance. In families like this, it was hard to tell who really cared. Nobody knew if all that concern was real or just for show. When Ashton walked in with a young girl, every head turned. All eyes were on her¨Ccurious, suspicious, maybe a little judgmental. Surrounded by all these political and business heavyweights, most people would¡¯ve been shaking. But Briar was cool as ever. She didn¡¯t even tone down her attitude one bit. She walked into the courtyard like she owned the ce, Ashton right beside her With Griffin on his deathbed, the Wade family was staring down a major storm over their wealth and power. So when Ashton brought in a stranger at a time like this, everyone tensed up. 13:33. Mon2OR JUS Chapter 3 But because Ashton hatt a reputation for being cold and tolthroat, no one dared stop thair. They just kept quiet and kilmant the can be the ana Griffin used to run with President Steven back in the day. When he stepped down for health reason, the higher ups made sure he got the men inakary doctors in the country Right now, those same doctors were gathered around Griffin¡¯s bed, and they lookedpletely stumped. Griffin had dipped into another ciana, with ne warning signs and no symptoms. This was his sixth one this year, and each onested longer than the fast. This time, he¡¯d been out way past what they thought wm cafe. His vitals we dropping fast. They¡¯d nearly dered him dead twice. Word got out, and suddenly the whole Wade family swarmed the house, dragging inwyers and kicking up drama. They crowded around Gaffer¡¯s bed, refusing to leave, each one acting like they had the final say. It took Ashton losing his temper and swearing he¡¯d found an experimental drug to make them clear the room. So when Ashton walked in now with a young woman at his side, the doctors looked a little anxious. ¡°Did you get the medicine?¡± one of them asked. Ashton didn¡¯t say anything and turned to Briar. Without missing a beat, Briar held up the clear stic bag. Inside were two small ck pills that rattled lightly as she handed them over. The doctors stared at it like she¡¯d just handed them a bag of candy. The packaging was cheap, and the pills didn¡¯t look like anything special. ¡°Miss, has this been clinically tested?¡± one doctor asked hesitantly, not taking the bag. ¡°What are the side effects? What¡¯s in it?¡± ¡°No clinical trials,¡± Briar said tly. ¡°The side effect is drowsiness. And as for what¡¯s in it¨Cthat¡¯s ssified.¡± The doctors didn¡¯t look impressed. But Briar ignored them and turned to Ashton. ¡°You asked for one pill. I brought an extra. You can test it if you want. I¡¯ll wait thirty minutes. ¡°But I¡¯ll tell you now¨Cthese pills work. Combine them with acupuncture, and your grandfather will wake up in half an hour. ¡°And you don¡¯t have time to waste. At the rate he¡¯s going, he¡¯s got maybe an hour left. You¡¯d better decide fast.¡± Before Ashton or the doctors could respond, someone scoffed from behind them. ¡°What a joke. The best military doctors in the country are still working on this, and some random girl shows up acting like she¡¯s got all the answers, huh?¡± ¡°Ashton, where did you even find her? Experimental drugs are risky enough. If something goes wrong- ¡°Yeah, Griffin¡¯s pulled through before. Let¡¯s stick with what we know. No need to gamble now.¡± ¡°She¡¯s just a kid. What does she even know about Griffin¡¯s condition? Giving him an hour to live, huh? She¡¯s full of it.¡± ¡°And acupuncture? What kind of outdated nonsense is that? Isn¡¯t that Tristan¡¯s thing anyway? If he¡¯s not here, what¡¯s the point?¡± As the crowd kept murmuring, Ashton turned slowly to face them. His voice stayed calm but carried weight. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to get kicked out again, shut up.¡± The room went silent. Then Ashton turned back to Briar. He looked her dead in the eye. ¡°You know traditional medicine?¡± he asked. ¡°You can do acupuncture?¡± It didn¡¯t sound like a real question¡ªmore like a quiet demand. His tone was cold and steady¨Cand hard to argue with. Something about the way he looked at her made Briar uneasy. She¡¯d seen that look before, though she couldn¡¯t ce where. ¡°A little,¡± she replied. Chapter A Forsaken 4 Chapter 4 Briar quickly pulled hersell together and fret Ashton¡¯s gaze ¡°So, what sit puma he? if you¡¯re Ashton nanowed his eyes, thinking for a second. ¡°How sure are you? Hands stuffed in her pockets, Briar nced at the unconscious Griffin. ¡°Ora pilt and tome acupuncture, and he¡¯ll be awake is an hour. Read it ANUS day, and he¡¯ll be back on his feet in a week¡± She said it like it was a done deal full of swagger, not a hint of doubt. Griffin had been sick for years. Every top doctor in Dasmieca had tried and failed to cure him. All they could do was dow things down. Unless they could somehow track down the legendary Tristan, Griffin wasn¡¯t gonnast much longer. But Tristan had basically vanished off the face of the earth. Ashton had already burned several million dors trying to find him, but it was all for nesting Some folks believed Tristan was dead. They said his only student had taken over¨Cbut that person was even harder to find Only a handful of people had ever seen Tristan¡¯s student. No one even knew if it was a man or a woman. That was why, with Griffin slipping deeper into anothera, Ashton had no choice but to gamble on experimental drugs from the Dark Met They could keep throwing money at finding Tristan, but Griffin couldn¡¯t wait. Ashton¡¯s gaze shifted. The curiosity he¡¯d shown at first was still there, but now it wasced with scrutiny and suspicion. ¡°Awake in an hour? Fully recovered in a week?¡± Before Briar could answer, a few of the Wade rtives burst outughing. ¡°Do you even know where you are, Miss?¡± one sneered. ¡°This isn¡¯t some clinic where you can say whatever you want.¡± ¡°Yeah, wake up in an hour, cured in a week¨Cwho are you trying to fool?¡± another chimed in. ¡°Even Dasmieca¡¯s best doctors wouldn¡¯t dare promise that. Someone get this clown out of here,¡± someone else shouted. More voices joined in. They looked Briar up and down, already convinced she was a nobody. They¡¯d heard she rode in on some beat¨Cup bike to deliver meds. Her outfit probably cost less than one of their belts. They didn¡¯t bother looking into who she really was. To them, she was just some bold girl trying to chase Ashton. And in their eyes, Ashton would never go for someone like her. Honestly, they thought they were being generous just by not tossing her out. The doctors didn¡¯t show the same contempt as the Wade rtives, but they tried to talk her down. ¡°Youngdy, this isn¡¯t the ce to take wild chances,¡± one said. ¡°Yeah,¡± another added. ¡°Forget the pills. We¡¯re not even sure if they¡¯re safe. And acupuncture is not an option either. You¡¯re too young to even have a license, right?¡± ¡°Griffin isn¡¯t someone you experiment on. Just walk away,¡± someone else said. Briar didn¡¯t react. No flinch, no panic. She didn¡¯t even nce at the people trash¨Ctalking her. Her focus never left Ashton¨Clike he was the only one whose opinion mattered. And Ashton noticed. Most people would¡¯ve cracked by now, but Briar stayed calm, unfazed by all the noise around her. That alone was enou an impression. He raised his hand, and the room instantly quieted down. Everyone expected him to kick Briar out. nake IVIUIT, 20 U C Instead, he looked straight at Briar and said, ¡°If you can wake my grandfather in an hour, F¡¯lle thank you in person. Whn¡¯s your n ¡°Briar Jennings,¡± she replied coolly. Ashton didn¡¯tpletely buy the whole ¡°fully recovered in a week¡± thing, but he did believe Briar could wake Griffin up in an hour. That atone earned him a few points in Briar¡¯s book. ¡°Ashton, how can you gamble with your grandfather¡¯s life like this?¡± someone from the crowd shouted, clearly angry. ¡°I won¡¯t allow it¡± ¡°Me neither,¡± another chimed in. ¡°Griffin¡¯s condition is too fragile. We can¡¯t just let anyone mess with him.¡± Ashton shot them a cold re. ¡°And since when do you make decisions for the Wade family?¡± That shut them up fast. Briar raised an eyebrow, starting to get a clearer picture¨CAshton had real authority around here. Without paying any attention to the sour faces around her, she followed Ashton to Griffin¡¯s bedside. She pulled out a small ck cloth pouch, unrolled it. andid out a set of acupuncture needles. After quickly sterilizing everything, she got to work. Her hands moved fast and steady as she ced eight needles with pinpoint precision. The crowd couldn¡¯t believe what they were seeing. Briar didn¡¯t just know acupuncture¡ªshe was clearly a pro. It was toote for those Wade rtives to stop her now, so someone started a timer, just waiting to prove Briar wrong when the hour passed with no change. They wanted to see Ashton humiliated. Briar knew exactly what they were trying to do, but she didn¡¯t care. Honestly, the only reason she agreed to help was because Ashton was good¨Clooking ¨Cand of course, out of respect for Griffin. Once the needles were in ce, she took out the pill and asked Ashton for a ss of water. She crushed and dissolved the pill in it and carefully gave it to Griffin. Then she plopped down in a chair and pulled out her phone. [Didn¡¯t you say you had an old friend in Dasmieca? What was their name again?] she texted. A few minutester, the reply came through. [Griffin Wade, but it¡¯s been years since west talked.] Briar read it and casually replied: [Got it.] Inside the room, things were quiet, but outside, people were getting antsy. They didn¡¯t know exactly what was happening, but they saw Briar treating Griffin and were losing their minds. They wanted to barge in and stop Briar, but Ashton¡¯s right¨Chand man, Brandon, was guarding the door. All they could do was stew in their own panic. When Griffin¡¯s oldest son, Sean, and his wife Arlette finally stepped out, the crowd swarmed them. ¡°What¡¯s going on in there?¡± someone demanded. ¡°Why¡¯s someone doing acupuncture on Griffin?¡± As the eldest, Sean had once been next in line to lead the Wade family¨Cuntil Griffin decided to hand the reins to his youngest son¡¯s branch. Since then, Sean had been at odds with Ashton and the rest of that side of the family. So now, he didn¡¯t hold back. ¡°Ashton¡¯s losing it. He let some random girl take over Griffin¡¯s treatment.¡± Arlette added, all dramatic, ¡°She actually imed Griffin would wake up in an hour and be totally cured in a week!¡± ¡°What?¡± someone gasped. ¡°They¡¯re seriously ying with Griffin¡¯s life, huh?¡± ¡°This girl¡¯s gotta be a scammer,¡± another said. ¡°We need to call the cops and get her out of there before something happens!¡± Forsaken 5 The loudestints came from a sharp dressed middle¨Caged man who clearly had some pull in the Wade family. As soon as he spoke up, the others followed his lead, trying to shove past Brandon at the door to get inside. Briar might¡¯ve looked absorbed in her phone game, but she was fully aware of the noise outside. The noise was getting on her nerves. She paused the game, nced at Griffin, and noticed his face had more color now. The acupuncture was doing its job. Even the military doctors who had doubted her at first had gone quiet. They didn¡¯t want to get caught in the middle of anything. Everyone knew Griffin¡¯s body was worn out, and his age didn¡¯t help either. The best most people could do was keep him alive a little longer. Briar saw how the crowd was reacting and muttered to Ashton, ¡°It¡¯s too noisy. He needs peace.¡± Ashton wasn¡¯t known for his patience to begin with, and the only reason he hadn¡¯t exploded already was because he was worried about his grandfather. He didn¡¯t know much about medicine, but after dealing with Griffin¡¯s condition for so long, even he could tell the treatment was working, So when Briar said the word, he gave Brandon a nod. Brandon didn¡¯t waste a second¨Che cleared the room and pushed everyone back out into the courtyard. Finally, things went quiet again. An hour would go by quickly, but Briar had no interest in awkwardly staring at the others. She kept her head down, focusing on her game instead. The cheerful game music and asional gunshots helped Briar rx. She leaned into the chair, totally chill. Ashton couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her. In all his years, he¡¯d never met anyone¨Cespecially not a teenage girl¨Cwho acted this calm and unbothered in front of him. It made him even more curious about who she really was. Briar could feel his intense stare, but she didn¡¯t say anything. She always kept her work and personal stuff separate. Sure, she¡¯d shown up partly because Ashton was easy on the eyes, but now that she knew Griffin had once been close with Tristan, she had to take it seriously. After all, Tristan barely called anyone a friend. Briar knew she had to do her best to help, or Tristan would never let her hear the end of it. About twenty minutester, she shut off her game and walked over to Griffin. She checked his pulse, looked at his face, and nodded to herself before pulling out the needles. Then she nced at her watch. ¡°It¡¯s working,¡± she said. ¡°He should wake up in about half an hour.¡± Honestly, the results were even better than she¡¯d expected. At this rate, Griffin might wake up even earlier. Ashton didn¡¯t say much, but his expression changed. His eyes lit up¨Cthis was the best news he¡¯d gotten all day. Outside the door, the Wade family had been waiting, listening in. When they heard what Briar said, they startedughing again, still thinking she was full of it. They couldn¡¯t wait for the moment Ashton tossed her out. They were convinced she¡¯d made a fool of herself. The doctors looked uneasy. It was the first time they¡¯d just stood by and done nothing while Griffin was in aa. Half an hourter, the people waiting outside couldn¡¯t hold back any longer¨Cthey pushed past Brandon and stormed in. When Arlette saw Griffin still lying there, eyes shut, she thought she had her chance. She snapped with a smug tone, ¡°Ashton, it¡¯s been thir and he¡¯s still out cold. What now? Are you finally ready to admit this girl is a fraud and let us have her arrested?¡± She acted like she had the moral high ground, but after being kicked out by Brandon earlier, she didn¡¯t actually darey a finger on Briar. utes, The whole room tensed up. All eyes were on triar r game and beating the final enemy. Their she calmly did it into her parked But Briar didn¡¯t even flinch. She tapped her phone onest time, finishing her stood up, met Ashton¡¯s gaze, and spid, ¡°What¡¯s the rush? He¡¯s already waking up.¡± The doctors were closest to the bed. They immediately turned to Griffin, and sure enough, his eyelids started to twitch before slowly opening He still looked a little dazed, his old eyes stiff and unfocused, but he was definitely awake, just like Briar had said. Ashton rushed over, leaned in, and said softly, ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re awake.¡± Griffin¡¯s eyes moved slightly. He gave a faint nod and let out a low hum. The room fell into stunned silence. Everyone This girl, even without a license, had done what the top military doctors in all of Dasmieca couldn¡¯t. Ashton finally let out a breath of relief. ¡°Miss Jennings, thank you. I mean it.¡± Briar stayed asid¨Cback as ever. Her face didn¡¯t show much emotion as she stood there and said casually, ¡°No big deal. But just because he¡¯s awake doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s in the clear. The pill will onlyst about a month. Without regr acupuncture, he¡¯ll fall back into anothera.¡± Then she looked at Ashton, her eyes cool and sharp with just a hint of yfulness. ¡°So yeah, you should find a doctor who knows acupuncture. Soon.¡± Of course, she was being a little dramatic on purpose- -just to keep them on their toes. Ashton gave a small, refined smile. ¡°Miss Jennings, didn¡¯t you say you could fully cure my grandfather in a week? Would you consider staying and continuing the treatment?¡± Briar nced at the stunned Wade family, then gave a dry, sarcastic smile. ¡°Me? Aren¡¯t I just some shady girl with no license and a sketchy background? You guys should look for someone more qualified. Maybe even try tracking down Tristan.¡± If Tristan ever found out his old friend had been sick for this long, he¡¯d definitely show up in Shoneport and raise hell. Ashton shot a cold look at the Wade rtives. One by one, they lowered their heads, too scared to speak. Ashton¡¯s anger cooled a little. He turned back to Briar. ¡°Miss Jennings, please stay and treat my grandfather. I¡¯ll add another 3 million dors to your payment. And take this as a personal favor¨CI owe you one. If you ever need anything, just say the word.¡± As for finding Tristan, Ashton would keep looking. But he was like a ghost, and Griffin¡¯s condition couldn¡¯t afford to wait. Right now, the best choice was standing right in front of him, and Ashton wasn¡¯t about to let her go. AD Comment Forsaken 6 hapter 6 Ashton¡¯s offer was hard to turn down¨Cespecially the part about owing Briar a favor. That one hit differently. Getting a favor from the Wade family might not mean much now, but Ashton¡¯s promise carried real weight. His influence had already outgrown the Wade family¡¯s name. Thinking about her own reasons foring back to the country, Briar paused. Noticing her hesitation, Ashton leaned in. ¡°Miss Jennings, you¡¯re still in college, right? With your talent in traditional medicine, it¡¯d be a shame not to study at Shoneport University. I¡¯ve got some pull there if you¡¯re interested, I can help.¡± He was sharp. In the short time since learning Briar¡¯s name, Ashton had already looked into her background. And this offer just hit the mark. Briar smiled, her voice clear and calm. ¡°Deal.¡± Ashton pulled out his phone right away. ¡°Let¡¯s exchan contact info.¡± Briar nced up, catching the friendly look in his eyes. She casually opened WhatsApp and added him. Right after, Ashton transferred 3 million dors to her, along with the remaining payment for the pills. Once the money hit her ount, Briar¡¯s mood lightened even more. ¡°Today¡¯s treatment¡¯s done. I¡¯ll be back tomorrow for another session.¡± When Ashton heard she was leaving, he nodded, then looked over at Griffin, who was slowlying around. He turned back to Briar and said politely, ¡°Let me walk you out.¡± So the girl who¡¯d swaggered in beside Ashton was now being respectfully escorted out by him. The Wade family members who¡¯d been eyeing her like a¨Cstray off the street could only look away, too embarrassed to say a word. Now that Griffin had woken up, all their little ns had gone up in smoke. ¡°See you,¡± Briar called out as she swung a leg over her bike. She bnced on one foot, gave the engine a little rev, and waved with the other hand, shing a surprisingly sweet smile. Ashton¡¯s face softened. He backed up to make way and replied, ¡°See you tomorrow, Miss Jennings.¡± It wasn¡¯t lost on him¨Cever since he paid her, Briar had been way more polite. Even her smile felt more genuine. Ashton quickly figured out what had changed her attitude. He couldn¡¯t help but smile to himself. Briar rode off cool as ever on her ck motorcycle, leaving Ashton with nothing but the sharp, stylish image of her disappearing down the road. As Ashton kept staring in the direction she¡¯d gone, Morton came over and asked in a low voice, ¡°Mr. Wade, want me to have someone follow her?¡± Ashton nced at Briar¡¯s WhatsApp profile pic¨Ca little ck kitten with a fierce look that was more bark than bite. It was just like her. ¡°No need,¡± Ashton said. ¡°She¡¯ll be back tomorrow.¡± He¡¯d already figured out what made Briar tick. As long as he kept that in mind, she wasn¡¯t going anywhere. Morton looked a little puzzled but nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± Out on the busy street, Briar cruised behind a stretch limo on her bike. It was rush hour, so she didn¡¯t bother cutting through traffic. After all, there was no need to rush. Just then, her phone rang with Tristan¡¯s custom ringtone. She answered through her Bluetooth. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Chapter 6 *There¡¯s a new bounty on the Dark Net, Tristan said. ¡°Some Wade guy is offering big money to track me doen. The offices long dan de be Dasminca, is that the same Wade family you mentioned?¡± Briar squinted. ¡°Probably ¡°Probably?¡± Tristan snapped. ¡°Get on the Dark Net and check who posted it!¡± Briar chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m on vacation, and you want me to mess with the Dark Net, huh? Do you realize how much influence they hold in Dasmical Ser like you¡¯re trying to get me arrested.¡± That ce was crawling with elite hackers. Digging around without a good reason was asking for trouble. ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± Tristan grumbled. ¡°Just find out who it is. If it¡¯s Griffin, maybe I¡¯ll think abouting out of hiding.¡± He hung up before Briar could shoot him down. Briar stared at her phone, speechless. Tristan was a legend in the medical world, known for his rare and insane Golden Eighty¨COne Technique. Every rich and powerful person wanted big, but he had just dropped off the face of the earth for some reason. Money could buy almost anything¨Cexcept more time. So people never stopped looking for Tristan. On the Dark Net, even a scrap of info about him could go for about 3 million dors. If Briar weren¡¯t already loaded, she might¡¯ve cashed in on his location herself. She sighed, pulled over into an empty spot, and hacked into the Dark Net anyway. It only took a few minutes to pull the data Tristan wanted. She shot it over to him, telling herself it was just a random act of kindness. Two hourster, Briar rolled back into the Jennings family¡¯s driveway. It was past 8 PM. Dinner was long over. Inside, the whole family¨CEdgar, Camden, Beatrice, and Halle¨Cwere sitting around whispering in the living room. The second they heard the motorcycle, they all mmed up and turned toward the door. When Briar walked in like she owned the ce, their faces immediately dropped. Briar sneered and ignored them. Her eyes flicked to the spotless dining table before she called to a nearby servant, ¡°Make me some pasta.¡± The servant hadn¡¯t met her before, but everyone knew the real heir/hade back today. She nced at Edgar. When Edgar didn¡¯t object, the servant nodded and headed to the kitchen. Soon, the servant brought out some cut fruit and set it on the table. Briar didn¡¯t even nce at the fancy sofa. She dropped into a chair at the dining table, one leg crossedzily over the other. Chin resting on one hand, she forked a piece of fruit into her mouth with the other,pletely ignoring the four people ring at her from the living room. Watching Briar act like this, Edgar could almost feel his bruises ring back up. But he forced a smile and walked over. *ransferr make a ¡°Briar, since you¡¯re not going back to Qathana, why don¡¯t you stay here a while?¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯re a college freshman, right? I know the president of Trae AD Comment Send gift Forsaken 7 Chapter 7 Briar¡¯s pretty eyes sparkled with mischief as she nced at Beatrice. ¡°No, I¡¯m going to Shoneport University¡± ¡°Shoneport University?¡± Edgar nearly choked. ¡°Do you even know what kind of students they take? They¡¯re all from top¨Ctier families. With your grade¡±. from that no¨Cname school in Qathana, even if I tripled my donation, it wouldn¡¯t cut it.¡± Briar¡¯s rxed smile turned cold. ¡°Then donate more. Isn¡¯t that how Beatrice got in?¡± Actually, Briar had finished all her sses by the time she was fourteen. She was now the top¨Ctier professor, Ms. Bree, at the famous Atrington University, teaching high¨Clevel finance to global elites. But she¡¯d kept all that quiet, known only to those closest to her. Edgar only knew she skipped school a lot to race cars, so he assumed she was just an underachiever who couldn¡¯t get into a real college. Since Briar wouldn¡¯t hand over her shares in thepany, Edgar figured he¡¯d just keep her busy by tossing her into some random college. As for the shareholders¡® meeting she wanted to call tomorrow, Edgar had already moved fast while she was gone. He¡¯d pulled strings, made calls, and locked things down. Even if Briar tried to remove him as CEO, the big shareholders wouldn¡¯t go for it. He¡¯d hold on to the Jennings Group no matter what. But now, hearing Briar¡¯seback, Edgar almost lost it. ¡°You ungrateful¡ª¡± Briar seemed to expect this reaction. She didn¡¯t even flinch. The sly look in her eyes made Edgar¡¯s¡® skin crawl. He forced a calm voice and exined stiffly, ¡°Shoneport University is the best in the city. My donations alone aren¡¯t enough. Beatrice only got in because I donated five buildings, and Javier pulled some strings.¡± Beatrice added softly, ¡°Yeah, Briar. Even with Dad and Javier helping, I barely made it. With your grades, Shoneport University probably won¡¯t take you.¡± They all thought Briar had just fooled around overseas and ended up at some random school. Her talk of getting into Shoneport University felt like a total joke. Briar looked bored. She leaned back in her chair, crossed her arms, and sneered, ¡°If you won¡¯t help, I¡¯ll handle it myself. If I want to get into Shoneport University, I¡¯ll get in.¡± Edgar and Beatrice were stunned by how cocky she was. They didn¡¯t even know how to respond. From the sofa, Camden nearly spat out his coffee. He coughed, then sneered, ¡°You? Get into Shoneport University? That¡¯s a dream.¡± Briar¡¯s smile faded as she nced over at him. There was no real threat in her gaze, but it still made Camden tense up. Still, he pushed on, not wanting to look weak. ¡°The president at Shoneport University is from the Goodwin family. That¡¯s one of the top four families in the city. Even the Hargreaves family members have to wait in line to talk to him. Who the hell do you think you are?¡± Camden was sure of himself. In his mind, Briar was just some clueless girl from Qathana, totally cut off from Shoneport¡¯s inner circles. Halle, sitting beside him, let out a smugugh. ¡°Come on, Briar. You¡¯ve got to know your limits. Shoneport University isn¡¯t for people like you to y around in.¡± Sure, Briar had the title of Jennings heir¨Cbut in Halle¡¯s eyes, without the right background or support, it didn¡¯t mean anything. Briar took it all in, her grin turning colder. ¡°If you can¡¯t help, then shut up and stay out of it.¡± Just then, the servant brought over a steaming te of pasta. Briar took it, didn¡¯t even nce at the others, and dug in like she owned the The Jennings family wasn¡¯t in the same league as the city¡¯s wealthiest, but Edgar still loved to show off. The house was bright and shy, full of expensive Chapter 73 decor and glittering chandeliers. Under the lights, Briar¡¯s face looked even more striking as she ate. Her skin was wless, her neck slender, and her fingers long and delicate as she held the fork. Even sitting there alone, she gave off a quiet,mandin vibe¨Cdistant, but impossible to ignore. Edgar had never liked Briar, but even he had to admit¨Cshe outshone Camden and Beatrice in a lot of ways. Briar ate fast but neatly, finishing the pasta in under ten minutes. Then she wiped her mouth with a napkin and stood up. Her eyes met Edgar¡¯s as he returned to the sofa. Her look was casual, evenzy, but cold enough to make Edgar feel uneasy. ¡°My room ready?¡± she asked as she headed for the stairs and grabbed her suitcase. It wasn¡¯t clear if she was talking to Edgar or the servant. The servant looked at Edgar first. Seeing no answer, she bowed slightly. ¡°Yes, Miss. It¡¯s thest room on the second floor. I¡¯ll show you.¡± Once Briar was out of sight, Beatrice finally snapped, ¡°Dad, are we really just letting her walk all over us? What if she causes problems at Shoneport University?¡± What she really wanted to say was that she was scared her ssmates would find out she had a half¨Csister like Briar¨Cone who didn¡¯t go to a fancy school, didn¡¯t have a polished background, and didn¡¯t care what anyone thought. Even if they were half¨Csisters, Briar still carried the Jennings name. That alone was enough to cause Beatrice stress. Briar might not care about her reputation, but Beatrice sure did. Besides, the way the servant treated Briar with such respect made Beatrice burn inside. Briar had only just gotten back, and already she was taking over. ¡°Rx. She can talk big all she wants, but she¡¯s not getting into Shoneport University,¡± Edgar said. ¡°You saw how hard Javier had to pull strings just to get you in.¡± He didn¡¯t believe Briar could manage anything on her own. The Grant family might¡¯ve had power, but most of it was overseas. They didn¡¯t have any real pull at Shoneport University. Beatrice blinked, ¡°Dad, shouldn¡¯t we at least pretend to help her? What if she fails and drags our name through the mud?¡± ¡°With her attitude, if she actually got into Shoneport University, that would be the real embarrassment,¡± Edgar scoffed. He sounded authoritative now that Briar was gone. ¡°Let her try. I want to see what she thinks she can actually pull off.¡± Of course, what he didn¡¯t say was that he was still scared of Briar. The way she¡¯d roughed him up earlier had shaken him more than he cared to admit. If anyone found out his own daughter hadid hands on him, he¡¯d never live it down. AD Comment Send gift No Ad Forsaken 8 Chapter 8 Upstairs in her room, Briar took a long bath and slipped into a loose, ankle¨Clength nightgown covered in cute cartoon prints. Just as she stepped out of the bathroom, towel drying her hair, her phone buzzed with a WhatsApp message. Holding her damp hair over one shoulder, she dried it with one hand while checking her phone with the other. It was from Ashton. The message was short. [Fill this out.] Briar raised an eyebrow. She had a feeling she knew what it was. Sure enough, when she opened the attachment, it was an application form for Shoneport University. She was surprised that he worked so fast. With her hair nearly dry, she tossed the towel aside and pulled an old, bulkyptop from her suitcase. Sitting at the desk, she opened a folder, copied over her academic records and test scores, and filled out the form. The whole thing took less than two minutes. She sent it back without a second thought. Ashton epted the file in no time, probably just waiting for her to respond. After a short pause, he sent a brief message: [Got it.] Then, weirdly, he sent an eye¨Croll emoji right after. But as expected of him, he didn¡¯t ask any questions. He simply forwarded Briar¡¯s application straight to Marvin. Marvin Goodwin¨Cthe president of Shoneport University¨Cwas from one of Shoneport¡¯s four major families. The Goodwin family carried weight in both politics and business. Their influence was something most upper¨Css families wouldn¡¯t even dare challenge. Even the kids from Shoneport¡¯s richest families tread carefully around Marvin, knowing he had the power to make or break their academic futures. Besides, he was also the most well¨Cliked principal among the upper crust. However, usually cool and collected, Marvin lost hisposure the moment he saw Briar¡¯s application. Less than three minutester, he.video¨Ccalled Ashton. He looked upset, but still forced a smile when Ashton picked up. ¡°Ashton, who exactly is this girl?¡± Just an hour ago, Marvin had been thrilled when Ashton said he¡¯d found a traditional medicine prodigy for the university. The medical school of Shoneport University was already prestigious, but it had a big gap in traditional medicine. In Dasmieca, traditional medicine wasn¡¯t exactly mainstream¨Cmodern medicine was more popr. But to these century¨Cold elite families, no matter how advanced modern medicine was, it still couldn¡¯tpare to the steady, time¨Ctested ways of traditional medicine. And then there was the legend: Tristan. The world¨Crenowned doctor who had once saved lives using the Golden Eighty¨COne Technique¨Chis fame had practically made him a ghost story in elite medical/circles. As the president of Shoneport University, Marvin had been trying for years to recruit real talent in traditional medicine. So when Ashton said he¡¯d found someone, Marvin had high hopes. But the moment he saw the application, those hopes crashed. Briar¡¯s grades were awful¨Cpossibly the worst he¡¯d ever seen. Her photo showed a pretty but wild¨Clooking girl who clearly didn¡¯t take things seriously. Chapter 8 From Marvin¡¯s years of experience, she didn¡¯t look like someone who had the discipline or patients to study traditional my, dicial to mingue trouble. Marvin figured Ashton wasn¡¯t interested in her brains¨Che probably just thought she was cute, ¡°She¡¯s the traditional medicine prodigy I told you about,¡± Ashton said inly, not at all acknowledging Marvin¡¯s near¨Cbreakdown on the video screen. . I¡¯m just worried this pretty girl might not be able to keep Marvin tried to keep his cool. ¡°Ashton, you kno up.¡± Shoneport University only takes top students. Ashton¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Wait a moment. You¡¯re saying you¡¯re rejecting someone I personally rmended, huh?¡± Marvin froze at Ashton¡¯s sharp tone. His hand trembled a little as he held his phone. ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant. I just think if she stands out too much, she might get picked on.¡± Ashton locked his gaze on Marvin, that cocky, sharp look in This eyes hinting at just how dangerous he could be. ¡°Are you saying students at the top university in Dasmieca are out here bullying people, and you can¡¯t even stop it?¡± He said, ¡°Maybe I¡¯ve been wasting my donation money on your school.¡± ¡°No, no! I¡¯ve put every cent of your donations to good use!¡± Marvin panicked at Ashton¡¯s aggressive, rich¨Cguy pressure and backpedaled fast. ¡°Since you¡¯re the one backing her, I¡¯m sure she¡¯s got something special. Fine, I¡¯ll make an exception and approve her admission.¡± Ashton nodded and didn¡¯t let up. ¡°When¡¯s her eptance letter going out?¡± Marvin gritted his teeth but smiled through it. ¡°I¡¯ll have my staff write it up now. We¡¯ll deliver it in the morning. She¡¯ll have it by tomorrow afternoon.¡± Ashton thought for a second, then said, ¡°She¡¯s stopping by to see me tomorrow. Just have someone bring it to Wade Mansion.¡± Marvin was speechless. At this point, he was convinced Ashton was just taken with a pretty face. He let out a long sigh. Ashton had too much power in Shoneport to argue with, and now the girl he forced into the school would probably be just as untouchable. Marvin would have to choose her professors carefully¨Che didn¡¯t want any blowback if she caused trouble. Briar had no idea the president of Shoneport University now saw her as just as scary as Ashton. Later, whenever she stirred up drama on campus, Marvin pushed all the problems onto Ashton. He even gave Ashton a fake librarian title just to keep a eye on her. But Briar didn¡¯t know any of that. She was lying in bed, trying to calm down a panicked Tristan over video chat. ¡°I get that you¡¯re worried,¡± she said, rubbing her forehead. ¡°But can you chill out for two seconds?¡± Tristan was pacing on the screen, clearly freaking out. ¡°Chill? One of thest brothers I¡¯ve got left is on his deathbed! I should¡¯ve been back in Dasmiec yesterday!¡± Briar raised an eyebrow. ¡°You sure about that? Are you not afraid of being hunted down? And I¡¯m guessing none of those bodyguards on your little priva Trist AD Comment Send gift Forsaken 9 Chapter 9 ¡°So what am I supposed to do?¡± Tristan had calmed down a little. ¡°I don¡¯t have many old friends left, and who knows how much time I¡¯ve got You can¡¯t let me die with regrets.¡± ¡°Guilt¨Ctripping me won¡¯t get you anywhere,¡± Briar said tly. ¡°You do remember people are still hunting you down on the Dark Net, right? There are hitmen after your head. You really wanna test how fast they can find you, huh?¡°. Tristan sighed, totally deted. ¡°How sure are you that you can help?¡± Briar¡¯s eyes sparkled with mischief. ¡°About fifty¨Cfifty. I don¡¯t have the good stuff with me right now, you know.¡± Tristan asked immediately, ¡°What do you need? Just make a list. I¡¯ll send it all over. ¡°Don¡¯t regret saying that.¡± Briar grinned and immediately sent over a massive list detailing over a thousand rare and costly medicinal herbs. Tristan stared at the list in silence, and his voice trembled. ¡°Briar, can we talk? Maybe cut back on a few of these, okay? I¡¯m down to myst few rare herbs. as well, you know.¡± Briar shrugged. ¡°Sure, but I¡¯ll have to skip a couple of treatments for him. And as for how effective that¡¯ll be-¡± ¡°Fine, fine! I¡¯ll get everything,¡± Tristan muttered, clutching his heart like she¡¯d just robbed him blind. His years of carefully hoarded herbs were gone, just like that. Briar looked satisfied. ¡°Good. Once I¡¯ve got the herbs, Griffin will start getting better. I¡¯ll wait for your delivery. Good night.¡± She hung up before Tristan could yell at her. The whole world was still looking for Tristan, but no one had guessed he¡¯d been hiding on an ind in North Bofloria for over a decade, dodging assassins. Briar¡¯s expression darkened a little. When she became Tristan¡¯s student, she learned that the same people hunting him had also been involved in her mother¡¯s disappearance. To protect him¡ªand herself¨Cshe helped Tristan vanish. Since then, Tristan had stayed off the gridpletely. Feeling pretty pleased about scoring those herbs, Briar shut herptop and got ready for bed. She¡¯d been taking on tough gigs nonstop to prep for this trip home. A good night¡¯s sleep was overdue. She drifted off quickly,pletely missing the text that lit up her phone screen. [I¡¯ll send someone to pick you up at 2 PM tomorrow. We¡¯ll meet at Wade Mansion.] When Briar woke up at 6 AM the next morning and saw Ashton¡¯s message, she just replied with a simple ¡°Okay.¡± She wasn¡¯t the least bit surprised he knew where she lived. If Ashton couldn¡¯t even track her down, the Wade family would¡¯ve been eaten alive by their rivals years ago. Briar got up, freshened up, changed into workout clothes, and tied her hair into a high ponytail. She headed downstairs for her morning run. The house was still quiet. Only the servants were moving around. Briar jogged out onto the tree¨Clined paths of the fancy neighborhood. She didn¡¯t bother greeting any of the neighbors she passed. She wasn¡¯t nning to stay here long anyway. Her goal was to find a ce of ¡® Shoneport University soon. Briar always went for a run whenever she wasn¡¯t working. She kept a steady pace, knocking out 6 miles in just 40 minutes. ¡®wn near Chapter 9 Out of habit, she never wore headphones because she liked to stay alert. It helped her keep an eye on her surroundings and spot frouble before i close. On her thirdp, she noticed someone tailing her. Her eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint shing in them. She didn¡¯t speed up or slow down. Instead, she casually changed her route, leading the follower into the wooded trail. They took the bait and followed her in. A few minutester, Briar strolled out of the woods like nothing had happened. Not even a strand of hair was out of ce. She dusted off her hands¨Cmore out of habit than need¨Cand kept running. She ran the full 6 miles and headed home with a slight smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. Nothing looked out of ce¨Caside from the unconscious man with twisted limbs now lying deep in the woods. By the time Briar got home, the Jennings family was already up and eating. Edgar was sitting at the table, reading the paper and chewing his food. Halle sat beside him, looking as graceful and polished as ever. Across from them sat Camden and Beatrice. It all looked picture¨Cperfect¨Cfour people eating breakfast,ughing, acting like the perfect family. But whatever they were talking about left Briar deeply irritated. ¡°Dad, why isn¡¯t Briar up yet?¡± Beatrice said with a smug look. ¡°If she sleeps in like this after transferring schools, she¡¯s gonna bete all the time.¡± Camden scoffed, ¡°She was always skipping ss or picking fights when she was abroad. You really think she¡¯ll wake up early now, huh?¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t talk about Briar like that. She just got back. Maybe she¡¯s still jetgged,¡± Halle chimed in, sounding sweet but clearly fake. ¡°Besides, the Grant family probably didn¡¯t teach her properly. But don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll help her adjust and teach her how to act like a realdy.¡± Edgar snorted, not looking up from his paper. ¡°Tell Sara to wake her up for breakfast,¡± he said. ¡°If she can¡¯t even get out of bed, what makes her think she¡¯ll ever get into Shoneport University?¡± None of them noticed the girl standing quietly in the doorway, arms crossed, listening to every word. Halle turned to the maid. ¡°Sara, go wake Briar. She can go back to bed after she eats.¡± Sara nced at Briar, who was still leaning against the doorway, smirking like she¡¯d just watched something funny. Then she looked at Halle, who was smiling sweetly but clearly fuming inside. She hesitated. Halle frowned. ¡°Why are you just standing there? Go!¡± Sara pointed toward the doorway. ¡°Briar¡¯s been up since six. She just got back from her morning run.¡± All four turned to look¨Cand froze. Briar stood there, calm and distant, arms still crossed. Nobody knew how long she¡¯d been standing there or how much she¡¯d heard. But from the smug, untouchable look on her face, they figured it was probably everything. Edgar cleared his throat and forced a smile. ¡°Briar, go get changed so you don¡¯t catch a cold. We were just waiting for you to eat breakfast together.¡± It sounded nice, but their half¨Cempty tes told a different story. Briar raised an eyebrow and gave them a crooked smile¨Csharp, sarcastic, and a little mean. ¡°No, thanks. I don¡¯t eat with trash. It ruins my appetite.¡± Without another word, she turned and headed upstairs, not bothering to look back at their stunned faces. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Forsaken 10 Chapter 10 About thirty minutester, Briar came downstairs in rxed clothes with a ck backpack slung over one shoulder. She gave Edgar a quick nond sand ¡°Let¡¯s head to the office.¡± Hearing that, Edgar perked up right away. He nodded and hurried out the door with her. Beatrice red at Briar¡¯s back like she wanted to tear Briar apart. ¡°Mom, I can¡¯t stand her.¡± patient. Once your dad gets her shares, we¡¯ll deal with her.¡± Halle gently patted her arm. ¡°Just b In the car on the way to Jennings Group, Briar gave no reaction to Edgar¡¯s hesitant expression. She simply leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes. Edgar was annoyed but didn¡¯t dare say anything. Up front, the driver¨Cwho¡¯d been with the family for ten years¨Cwatched the whole thing through the mirror. He couldn¡¯t help but feel shocked. Briar was acting like the one in charge now. Briar didn¡¯t move a muscle until they reached thepany. Then she opened her eyes, looking sharp and wide awake. The summer sun was zing. Briar rolled up her sleeves, revealing her smooth arms, then got out of the car with her backpack. She followed behind Edgar with her hands in her pockets, calm and confident. Honestly, the sharp coldness in her eyes made her look more like the boss checking in than someone being brought along. Edgar took her straight to the top¨Cfloor conference room for the shareholder meeting she had called the day before. All the shareholders were already there. When they saw Briar walk in so casually and confidently, they all looked at each other, surprised. They stood up and greeted Edgar with polite smiles, but their eyes kept flicking toward Briar. Her meeting notice had only been a short email. No force, no formality. Most people had assumed she¡¯d show up with awyer or at least an assistant. But instead, she came alone. They chuckled quietly to themselves, thinking she was either full of herself or just in stupid. On the other hand, Edgar clearly had the upper hand. He had already promised the shareholders all sorts of benefits, so most of them were leaning his way. Even though Edgar wasn¡¯t the most capable leader, he had kept thepany running well enough. The shareholders were still getting paid every year. Sure, the Jennings family had lost some influence in Shoneport, but as long as the money kepting in, nobody really cared. And honestly, they didn¡¯t think Briar had what it took to keep thepany afloat, let alone improve it. Briar could read the room perfectly. She knew what they were thinking. People were like that¨Calways focused on their own gain. But she wasn¡¯t bothered. She knew they¡¯de around soon enough. She walked over and shoved Edgar away from the head seat without a word. Then she dropped her backpack on the table and sat down like she owned the ce. Her voice was calm and steady. ¡°Let¡¯s get started.¡± Edgar was fuming inside, but he managed to hold it in and sat down next to her Trying to save face, Edgar forced a smile and said, ¡°Briar will be leading today¡¯s meeting. Please cooperate with her.¡± Chapter 10 The shareholders traded nces, realizing Briar might have something up her sleeve. But no one spoke first. They all wated to see a Briar wasn¡¯t the type to waste time. After all, there was no way those potbellied, balding old men were going to say anything useful. She pulled out her beat¨Cupptop, hooked it up to the projector, and went straight to business. ¡°You all know why I called this meating, right? Everyone nodded. One of them said, ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re here to vote on the nextpany president.¡± Briar gave a short nod. ¡°Great. Then let¡¯s vote. I¡¯m voting for myself.¡± She didn¡¯t even bother looking up, eyes focused on her screen. The projector shed a few icons, then yed some random video clips. Seeing nothing of real importance, everyone went ahead and cast their votes, just for show. About 70% of the room voted for Edgar to stay on as president. The rest sided with Briar, but it wasn¡¯t nearly enough to tip the scales. Those 30% who supported Briar were mostly old employees loyal to Zeke, her grandfather, but they didn¡¯t hold enough shares to matter. With the voting done, Edgar had afortable lead. ording to the rules, he would remain in charge. He smiled smugly and thanked the shareholders before turning to Briar. He said with a patronizing tone, like he was lecturing a child, ¡°See, Briar? I¡¯ve been running thispany for years. I know how things work. Don¡¯t be so stubborn.¡± Briar let out a softugh but didn¡¯t respond to him directly. Instead, she looked at the shareholders and asked, ¡°We¡¯re done voting, right?¡± They nodded, thinking it was over. Then Briar smiled slightly and tapped a key on herptop. ¡°Cool. Then take a look at this and let me know if you¡¯d still vote the same way.¡± The projector flickered and started ying footage¨Cclear, high¨Cres videos with sound. One by one, clips of the shareholders who had backed Edgar shed on the screen¨Cfootage of them embezzlingpany money, dodging taxes, or bribing officials. They were just straight¨Cup evidence. The kind that couldnd them all in jail. With every new clip, another face turned pale. In ten minutes, half the room was soaked in sweat. No one knew how Briar got her hands on this stuff. It looked like surveince footage. Briar leaned back in her chair, voice calm and almost polite. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve seen this, if we did the vote again, would your answer still be the same?¡± She held their secrets in her hands¨Cyears of lies, betrayals, and quiet crimes. No one said a word, but they didn¡¯t need to. Every single shareholder who had voted for Edgar quietly switched sides. Just like that, Briar was officially elected as the new president of Jennings Group. Edgar slumped back in his chair, stunned into silence. He didn¡¯t even have the strength to speak. AD Comment Forsaken 11 Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Edgar couldn¡¯t believe what had just happened¨CBriar had actually be the new head of Jennings Group. It felt like a bad joke. He always thought thepany was his, especially after Rosalia passed away. Yet in less than an hour, Briar had snatched it right out of his hands. After the final vote, Briar kept that calm smile on her face. She nced at the stunned Edgar and said, ¡°Sorry, Dad. But this is what everyone agreed on. Starting today, I¡¯m the president of Jennings Group.¡± She pped for herself. The shareholders joined in awkwardly, their apuse weak and hesitant. But with all the dirt Briar had on them, none of them dared to speak up against her. Edgar stared at her with pure hatred. If they were alone, he might¡¯ve tried something crazy. But Briar didn¡¯t care. In fact, she kind of wished he¡¯d lose it and keel over from the rage. She didn¡¯t even want the president title that badly. With her skills, she could easily make Jennings Group¡¯s yearly profit by picking up a few side jobs. What she really wanted was control¨Cso she could put her own people in ce and dig into the shady stuff Edgar had been hiding, especially those secret projects he¡¯d funneled his money into. And most of all, she needed to find out if he had anything to do with her mother¡¯s disappearance. ¡°Oh, right,¡± Briar added casually. ¡°I¡¯ll be starting at Shoneport University soon, so I won¡¯t be here every day. I¡¯ll be handing over day¨Cto¨Cday operations to someone I trust.¡± She then nced at the shareholders. ¡°My dad¡¯s worked hard for thispany all these years, so I¡¯ll keep him around as vice president. Anyone got a problem with that?¡± It was a clever move. Instead of kicking Edgar out, she gave him a face¨Csaving role. Though his power had been stripped, no other personnel changes were made within thepany. From the worst¨Ccase perspective, if Briar didn¡¯t mess with him any further, he could still call the shots like nothing changed. Of course, that all depended on who Briar put in charge. Nobody objected. Honestly, most of them trusted Edgar more than Briar. She was sharp, but also a little too ruthless for their taste. Just then, there was a knock at the door. ¡°Come in,¡± Briar said with a knowing smile. Everyone turned toward the door, curious about who would be bold¨Cor crazy¨Cenough to step in as Briar¡¯s pick. A tall man in a sharp suit walked in. His expression was cold. Gasps rippled around the room. ¡°Wait. Is that Nathan Longley?¡± someone whispered. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s him,¡± another replied, stunned. ¡°Nathan¡¯s working for Briar, huh? Isn¡¯t that a waste of talent?¡± Briar enjoyed their shocked faces. She motioned for Nathan to sit next to her, then introduced him like it was no big deal. ¡°Looks like you all already know Mr. Longley. Then it should make things easier,¡± she said. ¡°But just to be clear¨Cthis is Nathan, one of the top names in international finance. He¡¯ll be acting president while I¡¯m in school. Hope you all get along.¡± 13.35 Mon, 28 Jul Chapter 11 The apuse was a lot louder this time. Nathan stood up, calm and confident. ¡°Nice to meet you all, I¡¯m Nathan Longley, I¡¯ll be working with you for th next three and a half years. Let¡¯s make it a good one.¡± Edgar feltpletely cornered. If Briar had taken over thepany herself, maybe he could¡¯ve still pulled a few strings behind her back. She was young. spoiled, and didn¡¯t really know how to run a business¨Cat least that was what he thought. But then she brought in Nathan, who had been a financial prodigy since he was fourteen and was now one of the top 100 richest people in the world. With him watching over everything, there was no chance of sneaking anything past. Edgar¡¯s hand slipped into his pocket, where he kept an old phone¨Cone he only used to contact his secret backers. Things had spiraled out of control way too fast. If he didn¡¯t fix this soon, those people mighte for him. He was so deep in thought that he didn¡¯t even notice the meeting had ended and that the others had cleared out. A hand waved in front of his face. ¡°Dad?¡± Briar¡¯s voice snapped He blinked. ¡°What?¡± d him back. ¡°The meeting¡¯s over. Nathan¡¯s waiting for you to walk him through how things work,¡± said Briar. Edgar didn¡¯t want to. But he didn¡¯t really have a choice. Wordlessly, he got up and left with Nathan. Briar stayed behind in the now¨Cempty conference room. She leaned forward on her elbows, her chin resting on her hands. The smile she wore earlier was gone, reced by something quieter and sadder. Her eyes were distant as she was lost in thought. Just then, her phone rang, pulling her back. It was Ashton. ¡°Mr. Wade?¡± she said in her usualid¨Cback tone. ¡°Miss Jennings, your eptance letter from Shoneport University is ready. Want toe pick it up, or should I send someone?¡± Ashton said. ¡°That was fast.¡± Briar raised an eyebrow, a little surprised. ¡°The president of Shoneport University signed it himself,¡± Ashton replied. ¡°No one dared stall.¡± Briar had already nned to head over to the Wade family¡¯s ce after finishing things at thepany, so she said, ¡°No need to send anyone. I¡¯ll be there soon to treat Griffin anyway.¡± ¡°Perfect. I¡¯ll be home. See you then,¡± Ashton said. After exchanging a few polite words, they hung up. Briar rubbed her temples and checked the time. It wasn¡¯t even ten yet. If she went over now, she¡¯d probably finish Griffin¡¯s acupuncture right around lunchtime, and that might make things a little awkward. Almost as if he read her mind, Ashton messaged her again, inviting her to stay for lunch¨Cand asking her not to say no. Briar stared at the screen, a little caught off guard. He really did know how to read people. She few the roo ing over AD Comment Forsaken 12 hapter 12 Since Briar came with Edgar earlier, her motorcycle was still back at the Jennings family. To get to Wade Mansion, she¡¯d need to call a cab. But just as she stepped outside and pulled out her phone, a ck Bentley rolled up to the curb. The driver was Brandon, one of Ashton¡¯s bodyguards she¡¯d seen at the Wade Mansion. The car stopped right in front of her, and the back window rolled down to reveal Ashton,ptop open on hisp. ¡°What a coincidence, Miss Jennings,¡± he said, gl ncing up from his screen. ¡°Where are you off to? Want a ride?¡± Briar¡¯s lips twitched. She was sure he already know exactly where she was going. She gave him a dry smile. ¡°What a coincidence.¡± She had just told him she¡¯d being to treat Griffin, so obviously she wasn¡¯t going anywhere else. This whole act of his¨Cpretending to run into her¨Cfelt old¨Cschool. Still, Ashton was good¨Clooking. Briar had a soft spot for pretty faces, so even though his move was kind of cheesy, she gave him a warm smile and answered honestly, ¡°I was just about to grab a cab to your ce.¡± ¡°Perfect. I¡¯m headed home too. Want to ride together?¡± he offered with a grin. Briar nodded. ¡°Why not?¡± Anyway, a free ride in a Bentley was way better than a cramped cab. Brandon hopped out of the driver¡¯s seat and opened the door for her. ¡°Please, Miss Jennings.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Briar said, sliding in like she belonged there. As she sat down, she happened to catch a glimpse of Ashton¡¯sptop screen¨Cinvestment documents tied to Shoneport University. She reacted immediately¨Che wasn¡¯t bluffing when he said he had money tied up in the school. Ashton didn¡¯t try to hide anything. He wrapped up whatever he was working on, then shut theptop and reached for his briefcase. ¡°This just came in¨Cyour eptance letter from Shoneport University,¡± he said, handing her an elegant envelope and a thick wee packet. ¡°Thanks,¡± Briar said, taking it and opening it right away. She¡¯d grown up overseas, so this was her first time seeing a university eptance letter from Dasmieca. The packet was surprisingly fancy. The first thing inside was a stunning photo of Shoneport University¡¯s main gate, followed by 3Dyouts of all the department buildings. Since her major was traditional medicine, those buildings were highlighted¨Cthey looked clean, professional, even kind of pretty. Briar flipped through everything carefully before tucking it all into her backpack. Ashton didn¡¯t say much during the ride. He only asked a few quick questions about Griffin¡¯s condition. Briar noticed him ncing at her from time to time, but his looks weren¡¯t weird or ufortable¨Cmore curious than anything¨Cso she just ignored them. They pulled into the Wade Mansion before 11 AM. Likest time, a group of people had gathered in the yard. But this time, it wasn¡¯t Griffin¡¯s oldest son¡¯s family. It was the second son¡¯s group waiting out front. It seemed that the family had worked out a rotation, taking turns watching over Griffin until he got better. Briar followed Ashton into the yard, and right away, a dozen pairs of eyes locked onto her. No one was even looking at Ashton anymore. And one girl in 13:35 Mon 28 Jul 6 De Chapter 12 the crowd, Emily Wade, her stare held the weight of suspicion, as if she believed Briar brought trouble in with the wind. Briar wasn¡¯t dressed up, just in casual clothes, but she¡¯d worn a little makeup earlier for her Jennings Group meeting. It brought out her features, making her even more striking than she¡¯d been here before. From the very first nce, Emily felt a surge of quiet hostility toward Briar, driven by a woman¡¯s innate sense of jealousy. On top of that, Briar¡¯s sudden appearance had ruined her parents¡® n to hire Wyatt for Griffin¡¯s treatment. ¡°Ashton, is she the miracle doctor who did acupuncture on Grandpa?¡± Emily asked, forcing a smile. ¡°She¡¯s so young. Can we really trust her? I mean, I¡¯m about to be Wyatt¡¯s student. Why don¡¯t I treat Grandpa instead?¡± She walked up, her eyes shifting from jealousy to disdain as she looked at Briar. She reached for Ashton¡¯s arm like it was natural, but he moved away without a word, his face expressionless. Griffin had four sons. The third son, Wilder, was married to Eileen, and they only had one kid, Jalen. The eldest and second sons each had two children. Ashton was the fourth¨Coldest grandkid. Emily awkwardly pulled her hand back, clearly embarrassed. But she didn¡¯t dare argue with Ashton, so she turned her re on Briar instead. But Briar didn¡¯t even blink. She just stood there coolly, waiting for Ashton to lead her inside. She had zero interest in ying petty games. Ashton nced at Emily, his voice t, his eyes cold. ¡°You? You¡¯ve barely scratched the surface of medicine in the past two years. I appreciate that you want to help Grandpa, but I¡¯m not about to let you treat him. Just stand back and observe.¡± His words hit like a p. Emily¡¯s face stiffened. ¡°Ashton, I am still a Wade. I started learning medicine because of Grandpa.¡± ¡°Then wait until you officially be Wyatt¡¯s student before offering to treat anyone,¡± Ashton cut her off, not bothering to sugarcoat it. He stepped past her and led Briar inside. Emily clenched her jaw and stared daggers at Briar¡¯s back. She refused to believe Briar could pull off some miracle with a few needles. She figured that even if Briar managed to wake her grandpa up, it wouldn¡¯t change anything. Wyatt had said her grandpa¡¯s condition wasplex and would need serious treatment. Meanwhile, Briar followed Ashton into the house and into Griffin¡¯s room. Griffin was already sitting up in bed. When he saw Ashton walk in with a young woman, he knew right away this had to be the one who had treated himst time. He was still weak, but he managed a faint smile when he saw Briar. ¡°Hello, Mr. Griffin Wade.¡± Briar smiled, her tone respectful. She¡¯d grown up around Zeke, and he¡¯d taught her to be polite to elders. Seeing Griffin smile at her, she smiled back¨Cgenuine this time. Forsaken 13 Griffin was still really weak. Just sitting up and chatting for a bit left him struggling to breathe. Briar quickly told Ashton to help him lie down, then w This time, the treatment was a lot moreplicashed b hands and got to work. It two full hours. Briar had to constantly adjust her technique based on Griffin¡¯s condition. It drained her, but she stayed focused. Traditional medicine wasn¡¯t widely practiced in Dasmieca by Briar¡¯s acupuncture skills. He liked her even more now. 50 even someone like Griffin¨Cwho¡¯d seen just about everything¨Cwas blown away Ashton stayed the whole time, asking a few questions about Griffin¡¯s condition while secretly keeping an eye on Briar. Honestly, even though he¡¯d only met her twice, he was getting more and more curious about her. He¡¯d already looked into her background, but her overseas records were clearly fake¨Canyone could see that. Her files imed she started cutting ss and getting into fights when she was fourteen. That was a joke. No one would believe someone like that could handle advanced acupuncture like this. And that experimental drug Ashton had ordered came from a top¨Csecretb, the kind of stuff one couldn¡¯t even buy on the ck market. There was no way some regr girl could¡¯ve gotten her hands on it, let alone delivered it alone. Files that vague rarely came without reason. It was either a sign of a major scandal that had been buried with money and influence, or the person had another identity altogether, and the profile was crafted to hide it. Ashton narrowed his eyes. His instinct leaned toward the second exnation¨CBriar¡¯s identity was protected. Briar had to adjust the needles every fifteen minutes, so she just sat Most people would¡¯ve felt awkward being stared at by two of the casually at the edge of Griffin¡¯s bed. Both Griffin and Ashton ended up watching her. most powerful men in Shoneport. But Briar didn¡¯t care. She even got bored and pulled out her phone to y The gunfire sounds were loud and crisp. Griffin nced between Briar and Ashton, clearly amused. It was probably the first time he¡¯d seen someone sopletely ignore Ashton.. To Briar, the head of the Wade family wasn¡¯t nearly as interesting as her phone. After two hours, Briar finally pulled out thest needle and gave Griffin a few instructions. ¡°Same treatment again in five days. Keep taking your medicine, and more importantly, stay in a good mood.¡± ¡°Got it. Thank you, Miss Jennings,¡± said Miranda, the housekeeper who managed Griffin¡¯s daily care alongside the bodyguards. She had been looking after him for over thirty years and was one of the few people he fully trusted. Outside, Emily had been waiting with the others. When she overheard that, she immediately jumped in with a snidement. ¡°Wow, really? So my grandpa still has to take regr medicine, huh?¡± she sneered. ¡°If your acupuncture¡¯s actually working, why does he still need that? Or are you just afraid to take him off it because your acupuncture doesn¡¯t work?¡± All of Griffin¡¯s medication had been prescribed by those military doctors. Emily felt she¡¯d caught a w in Briar¡¯s words and started mock However, because Ashton had kicked her out earlier for being too loud, she didn¡¯t realize that Griffin already looked a lot better after Briar¡¯s acupuncture. Briar was just about to walk out the door when she heard it. She didn¡¯t even look annoyed. She was still holding her phone, ying her game one- handed. The breeze blew through her hair as she turned slightly, eyes cool and full of quiet confidence. Chapter 13 ¡°You¡¯re not the one who gets to judge whether I¡¯m good at this or not,¡± she said tly. ¡°If you¡¯ve got a problem, go talk to Ashton. She didn¡¯t even i back¨Cjust pointed her thumb toward Ashton. Ashton¡¯s eyes turned sharp the moment Briar said his name. He looked past her at the people outside, and the intensity in his gaze was enough to max everyone¨Cincluding Emily¡ªfreeze. He didn¡¯t need to say a word. Just that one look sent them all scrambling, mumbling excuses as they quickly left. Once they were gone, Ashton¡¯s expression softened. He gave Briar an apologetic smile and motioned toward the dining room. ¡°Sorry about that, Miss Jennings. It¡¯s already past lunchtime, so I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to settle for something simple for now. But I¡¯ll make it up to you with a proper dinner tonight.¡± Briar waved it off. Her eyesnded on the food alreadyid out. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. This all looks pretty good.¡± She wasn¡¯t just being polite. Even a simple lunch at the Wade family¡¯s ce beat anything most people got to eat. Ashtondled her a bowl of chicken soup and set it in front of her with a smile. ¡°Miss Jennings, you¡¯ve done a lot for my grandfather. Buying you dinner is the least I can do.¡± Briar was caught off guard by his smile. It was a bit too charming. She cleared her throat and mumbled, ¡°You can just call me Briar. Besides, I should be the one thanking you for helping me get into Shoneport University.¡± She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Ashton was smiling like that on purpose. Ashton nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. Calling you Miss Jennings feels too stiff. I¡¯ll call you Briar then.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Briar said softly. Her heart skipped a beat. She¡¯d heard her name plenty of times, but somehow, it sounded different Poming from him. Ashton gave a quietugh but didn¡¯t push it. He picked up his spoon and started eating. The rest of the Wade family had already cleared out, and the servants had disappeared as well. The two of them were alone in the dining room. The only sound was the asional clink of silverware. It was peaceful and calm. Ofer AD Comment Forsaken 14 No Ads Chapter 14 After lunch, Ashton drove Briar home. On the way, he asked if she¡¯d like to have dinner at 7 PM. Briar was a little caught off guard by how friendly he was. But seeing the hopeful look on his face, she nodded and said yes. Ashton had never been to the upscale neighborhood where the Jennings family lived. Normally, security would check every visitor¡¯s car. But his car and tes were so well¨Cknown that the guards recognized them instantly. The head guard even came out to personally greet him and waved him through without asking a single question. Briar couldn¡¯t help thinking that rich people really did live in a different world. She told Ashton where to stop. As she got out, she nced back and said, ¡°See you tonight.¡± ¡°See you,¡± Ashton replied with a slight nod, then drove off before anyone from the Jennings family could spot him. Edgar was still at work, so only Halle and Beatrice were home. They heard the car pull up and heard Briar talking to someone, so they came out to take a look. But by the time they reached the gate, the car had already disappeared. ¡°Who were you talking to just now, Briar? Sounded like a guy,¡± Beatrice asked, smiling sweetly, but her tone dripped with sarcasm. ¡°You should learn to carry yourself with more dignity,¡± Halle added in a scolding voice. ¡°I know you grew up overseas and might be a bit free¨Cspirited, but now that you¡¯re back-¡± Briar didn¡¯t even spare them a nce. She walked past them and into the house, leaving them standing there talking to thin air. ¡°Mom!¡± Beatrice stomped in frustration. Halle stared at Briar¡¯s retreating figure and said calmly, ¡°You should take a page out of her book. Learn to stayposed. If you keep losing your temper like this, she¡¯s always going to outshine you.¡± Beatrice had nothing to say to that. Upstairs, Briar took a shower and changed intofy pajamas. She curled up on the bed with herptop and video¨Ccalled Tristan, who¡¯d been waiting to hear from her. She gave him an update on Griffin¡¯s condition. Then she asked him for a few hard¨Cto¨Cfind items and hung up while he was still yelling in protest. Since it was still early, Briar browsed Shoneport University¡¯s website. She checked out the faculty list, school departments, and some of the campus facilities. Then she hopped onto the student forum and scrolled through some gossip posts for fun. She didn¡¯t leave her room all afternoon, and it annoyed Halle and Beatrice. They had been waiting downstairs just to pick a fight. They¡¯d clearly forgotten the lesson Briar had taught themst time. And now that they¡¯d heard she¡¯d actually reced Edgar as president of Jennings Group, they hated her even more. Briar couldn¡¯t have cared less whether the Jennings family liked her or not. She didn¡¯t like them either. The only reason she hadn¡¯t mar them yet was because she was still digging for answers. ove against After poking around the school forum for a while, she started looking up houses near Shoneport University. She nned to move out as soon as school started in September. The area around Shoneport University was one of the most luxurious parts of Shoneport. The few neighborhoods that met Briar¡¯s standards started at a minimum of 9 million dors per unit. Move¨Cin¨Cready, fully furnished homes were even harder to by. After about an hour of searching. Briat finally found a smaller vi that looked okay¨C15 million dors, about a thirty¨Cminute drive frpers campus She called the agent and scheduled a tour for the next morning. Just then, someone knocked on her door. Briar opened it to find Camden standing there, looking serious. ¡°What do you want?¡± she asked tly. He had clearly just gotten back from somewhere important, dressed in a ck suit and carrying a briefcase. His slicked back hair and gold rimmed sses made him look like he was trying way too hard to seem impressive. Lifting his chin with a smug expression, he said, ¡°Javier wants have dinner with you tonight to discuss ending the engagement-¡± ¡°I¡¯m busy,¡± Briar cut him off coldly. ¡°If he wants to end the to Camden¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Who do you think you are? Making Javier call he can call me himself.¡± huh? You¡¯re just-¡± Before he could finish, Briar mmed the door in his face. The edge of it caught him right on the nose¨Chis freshly done one. He yelped in pain and staggered back, clutching his face. For a second, he looked like he wanted to kick the door, but he held back. Hearing themotion, Halle came rushing over. She gasped when she saw Camden bent over in pain. ¡°What happened? Did she hit you again?! told you to let Javier handle it himself! Let me see. Did she break your nose?¡± As Edgar¡¯s longtime mistress, Halle had stayed in his favor mostly because of her looks. The two kids she had with Edgar turned out decently attractive as well. Camden was practically Edgar¡¯s clone. He¡¯d been popr since middle school, but he¡¯d lived recklessly. Over the years, Halle had quietly helped him clean up messes, including getting rid of girls he¡¯d gotten pregnant. Beatrice, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t exactly the prettiest among the rich girls in Shoneport, but she was smart and knew how to market herself. She built a solid reputation through her talents, especially in music and the arts. Dance was where she truly shone. She became well¨Cknown at Shoneport University¡¯s art department, andst year, her performance of Moonrise over River earned her the title of vice president of Dasmieca Dance Association. She¡¯d even be a personal student of the famous dancer, Jolene Sutton. Back at the door, Camden shoved Halle¡¯s hand away when she tried to check his nose. ¡°Don¡¯t touch it. It hurts!¡± ¡°We should go to the hospital. It¡¯s probably crooked now,¡± Halle said, lowering her voice as she led Camden downstairs. ¡°And stop trying to talk to her. Just let Javier handle it, okay?¡± Upstairs, Briar had heard everything and couldn¡¯t help butugh to herself. ¡®The Hargreaves family?¡® she thought. ¡®They used to be one of the top four families in Shoneport, but they¡¯re nothing now. And Javier? He fails at everything he touches. He¡¯s got nothing left. Only these four brain¨Cdead ones are still obsessed with him like he¡¯s some big deal.¡± She sat back down at herptop and started typing. A few keystrokester, she was inside the Hargreaves family¡¯spanywork. She nted severa viruses in their system without breaking a sweat. Even though the Hargreaves family had fallen from grace, the Jennings family still couldn¡¯t match them financially. However, they still valued Beatrice so much, even spreading rumors that she and Briar were fighting over Javier. It probably meant there was something in the Jennings Group they were after. Forsaken 15 Chapter 15 At 6 PM, Briar stepped out of the house in her usual sporty outfit with her old backpack slung over one shoulder. Right at the gate, she ran into Edgaring home from work. He lookedpletely drained, shoulders slumped and steps slow like he was dragging h? body forward. Seeing how beat¨Cdown he looked actually lifted Briar¡¯s mood a little. Edgar shot her a weak re but didn¡¯t say a word. He didn¡¯t even bother asking where she was going¨Cit was obvious he was still fuming about what had happened at thepany. Briar acted like she didn¡¯t e even see him and kept walking. If she hadn¡¯t already made dinner ns with Ashton, she might¡¯ve stuck around just to mess with Edgar a little more. Just as she stepped out onto the main road, Ashton¡¯s sleek car pulled up like clockwork. The window rolled down, revealing his handsome face. ¡°Hop in, Briar,¡± he said casually, like it was something they did every day. ¡°Alright,¡± she said, a slight twitch at the corner of her lips. She slid into the passenger seat without hesitation. The car didn¡¯t stay parked long. It pulled away smoothly before anyone from the Jennings family had the chance to notice. Well¨Calmost anyone. Camden had just gotten back from the stic surgery clinic and missed the whole thing. But his driver caught a glimpse of the woman with long hair getting into a luxury car with a license te he definitely recognized. He thought about saying something but held his tongue after seeing Camden¡¯s sour expression. Better not get involved. In the car, Ashton asked, ¡°What kind of food do you like? How about Zakian cuisine?¡± Briar loved spicy food, so she answered right away, ¡°Sounds perfect.¡± ¡°Great.¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°A buddy of mine just opened a new Zakian cuisine ce. They fly in fresh ingredients every day. Let¡¯s go try it out.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Briar said, smiling. About an hour and a halfter, she was sitting in a private dining room on the 88th floor, overlooking the whole Shoneport waterfront. She sipped her milk and dug into the spicy Zakian cuisine spread in front of her. She actually wanted to have a drink, but Ashton had only ordered milk for her, worried that mixing alcohol with spicy food might upset her stomach. Briar¨Cwho could hold her liquor better than most¨Cfound it kind of funny, but she didn¡¯t say anything. If he wanted her to drink milk, fine. It was no big deal. The food was amazing, and she didn¡¯t hold back. Unlike most girls who picked at their food in public, Briar ate with zero self¨Cconsciousness. She had a big appetite and didn¡¯t care who was watching. Watching her eat sofortably made Ashton eat more. After the main course, Ashton asked the restaurant manager to bring over a special dessert. ¡°This one¡¯s not on the menu,¡± he said. ¡°They only make it for VIPS.¡± Briar took a bite and nodded in approval. It was sweet but not overwhelming¨Cjust right after a heavy meal. ¡°Ashton, you¡¯re being a little too nice,¡± she said. ¡°This can¡¯t just be about thanking me for helping Griffin, right?¡± She wasn¡¯t wrong. Ashton was a busy man¨Che ran all of the Wade family¡¯s businesses. There was no way he¡¯d carve out time like this for a girl he barely knew unless there was something more going on. 13:35. Mon, 28 Jul Oly Chapter 15 Ashton gave her a small smile. ¡°Since you figured it out, I won¡¯t beat around the bush,¡± he said. ¡°Here¡¯s the deal Just then, Briar¡¯s phone rang. Her expression shifted a little. She gave Ashton ¨¤ quick, polite smile. ¡°Sorry, I need to take this.¡± ¡°No worries,¡± Ashton said warmly. ¡°I¡¯ll give you some space.¡± He could tell it was important. He stepped out onto the balcony and lit a cigarette Briar didn¡¯t bother guessing why he was being so considerate. She quickly answered the call. ¡°This is Bree.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Sam. Bree, I need a favor,¡± came a clear male voice over the line. In the background, there was wind and gunfire. ¡°I¡¯m not taking any missions,¡± Briar replied calmly. ¡°But if you need help with something else, just say the word.¡± This call came from the underground organization she used to work with abroad. So naturally, her whole vibe changed. Her voice was colder now¨Ccool, sharp, and distant, not at all like how she was with Ashton. Her expression gave off a kind of calm danger, the kind one couldn¡¯t look away from even if they wanted to. Cigarette in one hand, the other resting on the balcony, Ashton turned slightly and caught a glimpse of her through the ss. For a moment, he just watched, stunned by how different she looked. But he didn¡¯t try to read her lips¨Che just quietly watched her hold the phone, noting how steady and graceful her hands were. A few minutester, Briar ended the call. Her whole expression softened again as she turned toward Ashton with a smile. Ashton put out his cigarette and stepped back inside. ¡°Hope the smoke didn¡¯t bother you,¡± he said. Briar shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. So¨Cwhat were you going to say before the call?¡± Ashton fidgeted with the ring on his thumb, thinking for a second. ¡°Briar, I know you¡¯re a great doctor¨Cand that you¡¯re connected with thatb. I wanted to ask if you could help me track down Tristan. I¡¯ll pay whatever it takes to get him to treat my grandfather.¡± Briar hesitated. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to help, but everyone¡¯s been trying to find Tristan. He¡¯spletely off the radar. Even with all my contacts, I¡¯ve got nothing.¡± ¡°I figured it¡¯d be a long shot,¡± Ashton admitted. ¡°But still, if you could ask around, see if someone hears something¨Canything¨CI¡¯d really appreciate it.* He knew Briar had only agreed to treat Griffin¡¯sa, but that wasn¡¯t the whole picture. What had really damaged Griffin¡¯s health was something that went way back¨Csomething the older generation had gotten involved in. It was messy and dangerous. And Ashton didn¡¯t want to drag someone like Briar into it. His only real hope now was finding Tristan. AD Comment Forsaken 16 Chapter 16 Ashton sounded so genuine¡ªand even a little humble that Briar couldn¡¯t bring herself to turn him down. After a moment, she nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll do what i can.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Ashton sald, clearly relieved. He gave her a small, respectful nod. After dinner, Ashton offered to drive her home, but Briar shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve got something else to do. I¡¯m not going home yet. Let¡¯s just say goodbye here.¡± Ashton paused by his car. ¡°It¡¯s gonna be tough finding a cab around here thiste. If you don¡¯t mind, I can still give you a ride.¡± Briar looked around and saw he was right. The ce was too upscale¨Ceveryone either drove themselves or had a driver. Cabs were few and far between, and most were already taken. ¡°Alright, thanks,¡± she said and walked with him to the car. Brandon, Ashton¡¯s bodyguard, was waiting. He opened the back door for them and greeted them with a nod. ¡°Mr. Wade. Miss Jennings.¡± Ashton motioned for Briar to get in first, then slid in after her. Once Brandon got behind the wheel, he asked, ¡°Should drop Miss Jennings off first?¡± Ashton nced at Briar, and she gave Brandon an address. Brandon didn¡¯t ask questions. He typed it into the GPS and started driving. Ashton didn¡¯t ask why Briar was heading to some random neighborhoodte at night, and Briar didn¡¯t ask why Brandon was driving instead of him. But she saw it. There was something tucked into Brandon¡¯s waistband¨Cand from the shape, it looked a lot like a gun. They were headed to an old apartmentplex on the outskirts of the city¨Ca far cry from the downtown lights. Briar had promised Sam she¡¯d help him out with something there. It definitely wasn¡¯t the kind of ce a girl like Briar usually went, and it was her first time in the area. When they pulled up to the entrance, she looked out the window and told Brandon to park outside. She would walk in alone. ¡°Ashton, can you wait a bit? I¡¯m just meeting a friend. I¡¯ll be quick,¡± she said, ncing at him. Ashton nodded. ¡°Take your time.¡± He watched her head into the dimly litplex, her steps steady and confident. Brandon raised an eyebrow. ¡°Does Miss Jennings really have friends living in a run¨Cdown ce like this?¡± Ashton didn¡¯t answer. He was wondering the same thing. She¡¯d only been back in the country a few days, yet there were so many sides to her he hadn¡¯t figured out. Every time he saw her, it felt like she was hiding something new. or Most of the people living in this old apartmentplex were seniors. It was only 9 PM, but the ce was dead quiet. The buildings were just five stories high, and only a few of the streetlights actually worked. Briar followed Sam¡¯s directions through the dark. When she reached building 44 and saw that most of the windows were either cracked or broken, she frowned. ¡®How can he let a teenage girl live in a dump like this? Sam¡¯s being way too careless,¡® she thought. Chapter 16 It was a hot night, and by the time she climbed up to the fifth floor, her back was damp with sweat. The stairwell was stuffy and smelled like mold. The lights on the top floor were out. Briar used her phone shlight to find apartment 502, then kno on the door.. Over a minute passed, but no one answered, and there were no sounds from inside. Briar waited a bit and knocked again, this time more gently. ¡°Ellen? I¡¯m Briar Jennings. I¡¯m a friend of your brother¡¯s. He asked me to check in on you Finally, after nearly two minutes, a quiet, nervous voice came from behind the door. ¡°My brother sent you?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Briar replied. ¡°Didn¡¯t he call you about it?¡± The door cracked open just a little, and a pair of wide, anxious eyes peeked out. In the dim light, they looked almost tearful. Briar had always had a soft spot for pretty faces. She gave Ellen a warm smile. ¡°Hey, Ellen.¡± ¡°Hi. Pleasee in,¡± Ellen said, rxing when she saw Briar was alone. She opened the door wider and let Briar in. Briar stepped inside and took a quick look around. The ce was tiny¨Cjust a worn¨Cout one¨Cbedroom. Everything looked decades old. The furniture was chipped and faded. There wasn¡¯t even an air conditioner, just a creaky old fan in the corner trying its best. ¡°Miss Jennings, please have a seat. Lonly have water¨Chope that¡¯s okay,¡± Ellen said, flipping on the main light. It brightened the room a little, but not much. There was no coffee in the house¨Cshe simply couldn¡¯t afford it. Since being kicked out by her adoptive parents and moving in alone, making sure she didn¡¯t go hungry had be the only priority. There was no room in the budget for anything else. ¡°Water¡¯s fine. Thanks,¡± Briar said, sitting down without the slightest sign of difort. She wasn¡¯t the type to turn up her nose at someone¡¯s situation. To her, the sad part wasn¡¯t the shabby apartment¨Cit was the fact that a high school girl was living here alone. Ellen hurried into the little kitchen and came back with a ss of water, The cup was in, the kind one could see at a cheap diner, but it was spotless. Briar took a sip and gave Ellen a reassuring nod. ¡°Come sit. You don¡¯t have to be so nervous.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ellen sat down stiffly with her hands in herp. Her shoulder¨Clength hair slipped into her face, and she tucked it behind her ear. ¡°Miss Jennings, did my brother ask you toe for something specific?¡± she asked softly. She wanted to ask when her brother woulde to see her, but she didn¡¯t know how to bring it up. Even though she was shy and unsure, she was happy. Just knowing she had a real brother out there gave her hope. ¡°He¡¯s overseas and can¡¯t make it back right now,¡± Briar said gently, watching her face. ¡°You know that, right?¡± Ellen was very timid and innocent. Sam said she was only two years younger than Briar¨Csixteen this year¨Cand currently a junior at Shoneport High School. Her right leg had a slight disability from birth, not very noticeable if she walked slowly. Sam had told Briar all this. lings had been Ellen¡¯s life hadn¡¯t been easy, Her parents had died when she was little. At one year old, she and her four¨Cyear¨Cold brother, Sam, were sent to an orphanage. A yearter, Ellen was adopted by a local couple. Not long after, a foreign family adopted Sam and took him abroad. separated for over a decade. Sam had spent years trying to find her. He only managed to track her down a few days ago. But he couldn¡¯t leave his work overseas, so when he found out she was living alone and barely getting by, he asked Briar to check in on her and help out for now. Of course, Briar wasn¡¯t doing this out of pure kindness¨CSam had wired 1.6 million dors to her. 1 million dors was for Ellen¡¯s living expenses. The I CO Ou remaining 600 thousand dors was her payment. Forsaken 17 Chapter 17 Ellen nodded, keeping her head down. ¡°My brother told me,¡± she said softly. She looked like the was about to cry, and Briar felt a little awkward. She wasn¡¯t great atforting kids, so she cleared her throat and tried to keep her tone calm and gentle. ¡°Yeah, your brother¡¯s tied up with work and can¡¯te back right now. He asked me to look after you for a bit,¡± Briar exined. ¡°I¡¯m two years older than you, and I grew up here in Shoneport. I¡¯ll be starting at Shoneport University in September¨Cit¡¯s near your school. You can just call me Briar Ellen was polite, despite everything she¡¯d been through with her foster family. She nodded again and said, ¡°Okay. I understand, Briar¡± Briar raised an eyebrow. Ellen was honestly kind of adorable. Something softened in Briar¡¯s chest. After Briar¡¯s mom passed, she¡¯d lived with her grandpa and grown up as the youngest in the family. Her older cousins always doted on her like she was still a little kid. Even when she started working with soldiers at fourteen, she¡¯d still been the baby of the group. Now, at the Jennings family, Camden and Beatrice also called her ¡°sister¡± in that fake, mocking way that made her want to punch them in the face. ¡°Good girl,¡± Briar said with a small smile, pulling out a bank card and handing it to Ellen. ¡°There¡¯s 1 million dors on this. Your brother transferred it for your living expenses. We kept it under my name so no one shady could get to it.¡± Ellen¡¯s hands trembled a little as she held the card. She¡¯d never seen this much money in her life. Back when she lived with her foster parents, even after doing all the housework, she barely got enough pocket money to buy breakfast now and then. After they kicked her out, she went to school and worked part¨Ctime at a small restaurant. The boss always shorted her pay, using her age as an excuse. ¡°Briar, 1¡­ I can¡¯t take this much,¡± Ellen said, scared to even hold the card. It was light, but in her hands, it felt heavier than a brick. ¡°Why not?¡± Briar asked with a softugh. ¡°Are you afraid someone¡¯s gonna rob you?¡± Sam had told Briar about the bullying Ellen dealt with at school. With no parents and no one to stand up for her, she turned timid and scared of everyone. Good thing it was summer break. If school had still been in session, Sam probably would¡¯ve dropped everything and flown back just to punch someone. Ellen¡¯s eyes started to tear up again. She bit her lip, trying not to cry. ¡°They always take my stuff, and I¡¯m scared to tell the teachers.¡± For someone who¡¯d never felt much warmth growing up, it only took a little kindness to break her down. But Ellen had learned the hard way that crying never helped¨Csometimes it just made things worse. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If anyone messes with you, call me. I¡¯ll deal with them,¡± Briar said. ¡°Do you have a phone?¡± Ellen nodded and hurried to her room. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll go get it.¡± Then, she came back with an old, outdated phone¨Cthe kind one would throw away without a second thought. It took three whole minutes to power an. Briar rubbed her temples but didn¡¯t say anything. She added her number to Ellen¡¯s contacts. ¡°That¡¯s my number. Call me anytime, okay? Until your brotheres back, I¡¯ve got your back.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Ellen whispered. She nced down at her junky old phone sitting next to Briar¡¯s sleek one and felt a little embarrassed. Briar saved Ellen¡¯s number in her phone as well. Just to be sure, she looked Ellen in the eye and said, ¡°Seriously. Don¡¯t be afraid to call me. F Got it?¡± hing Ellen nodded quickly. In just a few minutes, Briar had shown her more kindness than she¡¯d seen in years. ¡°I got it. Thank you, Briar,¡± she said sincerely. 13:35 Mon, 28 Jul G 55.0 ¡°Good girl,¡± Briar said as she finished her water and stood up. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. You should get some rest. I¡¯lle by tomorrow, and we¡¯ll go look for a better ce for you to live.¡± Ellen walked her to the door. ¡°Goodnight, Briar.¡± ¡°Goodnight. Lock the door behind me and stay home tomorrow, okay?¡± Briar said, giving her a small wave before heading out. Once she heard the door lock, Briar went downstairs and texted Sam. [Just saw your sister. She¡¯s sweet. No major health issues¨Cjust a little underweight from not eating well. She¡¯ll be fine with some proper care. But you really should bring Alex back with you. She needs someone who knows how to handle emotional stuff.) When she¡¯d handed Ellen the bank card earlier, Briar had also quietly checked her health. Physically, Eller was mostly fine and would bounce back soort enough. But when it came to emotional or psychological stuff, Briar wasn¡¯t an expert. Sam replied quickly: [Got it. Thanks.] Briar put her phone away and walked out of theplex. Ashton¡¯s car was still parked outside, and he was leaning against it, smoking. The night breeze tugged at his shirt, stretching his shadow long across the pavement. Brandon stood nearby, alert and watchful in the unfamiliar neighborhood. Briar jogged over with a smile. ¡°Hey, Ashton. I¡¯m back.¡± ¡°Did you find your friend?¡± Ashton asked, flicking his cigarette away as he saw hering. He walked over and opened the car door for her. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re hanging out tomorrow,¡± Briar said casually, like they were old friends. ¡°Do you know where you¡¯re taking her?¡± Ashton asked as she got in. Briar shook her head. ¡°Not yet. I want to help her find a better ce first. This area¡¯s not safe, and she¡¯s still underage. She shouldn¡¯t be living here alone.¡± ¡°Need any help?¡± Ashton offered. Briar waved him off. ¡°No, thanks. I¡¯ve got it. I¡¯m already house hunting near Shoneport University anyway, so I¡¯ll bring her along while I look.¡± As for buying a ce for Ellen, Briar nned to ask Sam to cover it. After all, she wasn¡¯t running a charity. AD Comment Forsaken 18 After dropping Briar off at the upscale neighborhood, Ashton said from the back seat, ¡°Start looking into houses for sale near Shoneport University tomorrow.¡± Brandon was caught off guard but nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± He figured Ashton was only interested because Briar mentioned wanting to buy a ce there. Brandon thought, ¡®Wherever she moves, Mr. Wade is probably nning to buy the house right next door! Briar, of course, had no clue about this. The next morning, she rode her motorcycle to Ellen¡¯s ce. When Ellen came down, Briar tossed her a helmet. ¡°Come on,¡± she said. ¡°Let¡¯s go have some fun.¡± Ellen hadn¡¯t slept well the night before. She kept worrying that everything had just been a dream. It wasn¡¯t until Briar called her that morning that she felt a little more grounded. Her brother really had found her, and he really did send someone kind and cool to look after her. Now that person was right in front of her. Ellen fumbled with the helmet and climbed on the back of the bike. She didn¡¯t know how to sit properly and wobbled a bit, but Briar didn¡¯tugh at her or say anything mean. They rode to a small diner near Shoneport University for breakfast. They had pasta and waffles, and Ellen swore it was the best pasta she¡¯d ever tasted. At 8 AM, right after they finished eating, Briar got a call from a real estate agent. After confirming the meeting point, she drove Ellen to their first choice- Moonspring Estate, a small, upscale vi neighborhood near Shoneport University. The agent was already waiting at the entrance, but when he saw that the potential buyers were two teenage girls, his enthusiasm noticeably cooled. The cheapest home in the neighborhood started at 6 million dors, and the one Briar had asked about was 18 million dors. She might¡¯ve looked put together, but the agent seriously doubted a girl her age could afford something like that. Still, he stayed professional and showed them around, exining the details of the house. Briar wasn¡¯t paying much attention to him. She already liked the house and was busy imagining how she¡¯d design a hidden room to store her more ¡°sensitive¡± belongings. ¡°So, what do you think, Miss Jennings?¡± the agent asked, pulling her back to the moment. ¡°I like it,¡± Briar said. ¡°I¡¯ll take it. I¡¯ll pay in full.¡± ¡°In full?¡± The agent blinked, stunned. ¡°Yep. I want to wrap up the paperwork today, if possible.¡± Briar pulled out a bank card and handed it over. ¡°Go call your manager.¡± The agent was buzzing with excitement and was about to dial when Briar suddenly stopped him. ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°Yes, Miss Jennings?¡± His voice was practically trembling¨Cthis would be his biggest sale in months. ¡°Are there any other houses for sale in the neighborhood?¡± Briar asked. The agent perked up even more. ¡°Are you looking to buy another one?¡± He could barely hold his phone steady from excitement. ¡°There¡¯s a smaller ce to the southwest¨Caround 2,000 square feet, listed at 6 million dors.¡± He felt like he¡¯d just hit the jackpot¨Ctwo vis in one deal. Themission alone would cover half a year¡¯s sry. ¡°Good,¡± Briar said. ¡°I¡¯ll take that one too.¡± ¡°Of course! Please wait here for a moment¨CI¡¯ll call our manager right away to assist you with the paperwork,¡± the agent said, already pulling out his phone. As thergest real estate agency in Shoneport, they prided themselves on handling everything for clients as long as the money was there The moment the manager got the call, he sounded thrilled. He said he¡¯d be there right away to help Briar close the deat In less than two hours, Briar had dropped 24 million dors on two homes in Moonspring Estate¨Cone for herself and one for Ellen Ellen was stunned the entire time. Now with the deed in her hands, her head felt light, her steps unsteady, like she was walking in a dream. She had a house¨Ca 6¨Cmillion¨Cdor house¨Cin her name. Just yesterday, something like that would¡¯ve felt impossible even dreaming about it would¡¯ve felt like a stretch. She wanted to turn it down, but Briar told her the money was from her brother. That firially convinced her. Ellen remembered Sam once saying he¡¯d get them a ce to live together when he came back. What amazed her even more was how calm Briar seemed while spending 24 million dors, like it was nothing. Ellen tried to hide how shocked she was as they rode away on Briar¡¯s motorcycle. The real estate agent bowed as they left, saying goodbye with extra respect. ¡®So this is what being rich feels like,¡® Ellen thought. After that, Briar took Ellen to an amusement park. Ellen had never really had fun like this before. She lit up the moment she saw the rides, dragging Briar from one to the next with a smile so wide it barely fit her face. She especially loved the roller coaster. She was terrified, but kept begging to ride it again and again. They went three times, and she screamed louder each time¨Chalf fear, half joy. Briar stayed pretty chill the whole time. On the third ride, while they were at the highest point, she even took a photo of Ellen mid¨Cscream and sent it to Sam. Her message was clear¨CSam¡¯s 600 thousand dors wasn¡¯t wasted. After all, it wasn¡¯t easy to get Briar to do anything yful, let alone ride a roller coaster three times in a row. While the two girls were off enjoying themselves, the real estate manager was busy closing another sale at Moonspring Estate¨Cthe house right next to Briar¡¯s. This time, Brandon came in person to handle it. The manager respectfully handed him the documents. ¡°Here are the papers for Mr. Wade. Please make sure he gets them.¡± Brandon nodded and waved him off. Once he was alone, he pulled out his phone and called Ashton. ¡°It¡¯s done, Mr. Wade,¡± he said. Forsaken 19 Briar and Ellen left the amusement park around 8 PM. They had dinner there a new kids¡® meat from a fried chicken ce that came with a toy meant for toddlers. Ellen had never tried fried chicken before. She loved it, especially the ice¨Ccold c. She even crunched the leftover ice cubes with a big grin on her face. It was also the first toy she¡¯d ever received. Even though she was technically too old for it, she looked like she was about to cry. She clutched it like a treasure and kept thanking Briar, promising to take good care of it. After spending the day with her, Briar liked Ellen even more. She thought the girl was sweet, easy to please, and didn¡¯t ask for much. As they reached Ellen¡¯s ce, Briar said, ¡°Start packing your stuff in the next couple of days. I¡¯ll help you move into Moonspring Estate soon.¡± ¡°Okay, I will!¡± Ellen said, beaming with excitement, Briar nodded and turned to go, then paused. ¡°Oh, and don¡¯t give your new address to anyone. Especially not your foster parents.¡± Ellen froze, and her expression turned serious. She nodded hard. ¡°I won¡¯t tell anyone.¡± She knew the house wasn¡¯t really hers¨Cher brother had bought it for her. She didn¡¯t want her greedy foster parents showing up and causing problems for him. Briar could guess what was going through Ellen¡¯s head, but she didn¡¯t say anything else. As for how Ellen¡¯s foster parents had treated her, that wasn¡¯t Briar¡¯s business to handle. Sam would deal with it when he came back. Briar got on her motorcycle and rode off. What she didn¡¯t notice was the in ck car parked across the street. Inside, in the passenger seat, sat a man with a nasty scar on his left cheek. Briar had been out all day. By the time she got home that night, all four members of the Jennings family were gathered in the living room, looking way too cheerful, like they were up to something. Briar scoffed inwardly, thinking they were probably working on another stupid scheme. ¡°Wee home, Briar,¡± Beatrice said sweetly, like all the cruel things she¡¯d said before had never happened. Briar didn¡¯t bother responding. She looked straight at Edgar. ¡°What is it?¡± Edgar cleared his throat and gave Halle a quick look. Halle smiled, overly polite. ¡°Briar, you¡¯ve been back for a while now. We thought it¡¯d be nice to throw you a wee party this Saturday. What do you think?¡± Briar said nothing, just stared at her. Halle kept going, a little forced now. ¡°Your dad thinks it¡¯s a good idea. We want to introduce you to everyone and help you make some friends. Maybe yo can find someone to go shopping with. And it¡¯s good to know people before you start school at Shoneport University¡­¡± She rambled for a bit, but Briar didn¡¯t react. The silence eventually made Halle trail off awkwardly. Edgar¡¯s face darkened. ¡°What? You¡¯re not okay with it, huh? Halle¡¯s doing this for you. You should be grateful. It¡¯s meant to make yo Already tired of the setup, Briar interrupted him without a hint of patience, ¡°Fine. Whatever. Is Javiering?¡± Edgar hesitated, clearly caught off guard. Well, we¡¯re one of the top families in Shoneport. We have to invite the other big names.¡± good-¡± 13:36 Mon, 28 JI SD 24:3 Halle, more , chimed in smoothly with a practiced smile, ¡°Briar, you know how close our family is with the Hargreaves family. Of course will be there.¡± In reality, Javier was the whole point of the party. They were nning to use Briar¡¯s wee party as a cover to go public with Bearize and jejer s rtionship. Javier would officially break off the engagement with Briar at the event, so Beatrice could step in without bacsh. Before Briar came back, nobody really cared if Beatrice and Javier were seen together. They were both technically single, so it didn¡¯t raise any eyebrows Plus, Briar and Javier¡¯s engagement had been arranged by Edgar¡¯s first wife¨Cwho¡¯d passed away¨Cso most people didn¡¯t take it seriously anyway But now that Briar was back, things were different. In rich circles, appearances matter. If Briar and Javier didn¡¯t officially call off the engagement, people might start talking¨Cand not in a good way. It could end up making Beatrice look bad. Briar had figured out their little scheme the moment they brought up the wee party. Their so¨Ccalled good intentions wereughable. Still, she smiled and said, ¡°Sure, go ahead and throw the party.¡± They really thought they were being slick. But this n was bound to blow up in their faces. Halle was caught off guard by how easily Briar agreed. For a second, she didn¡¯t know what to say. Then she smiled brightly and said, ¡°Perfect! Tomorrow I¡¯ll take you and Beatrice dress shopping. It¡¯s your first real event as an adult¨Cyou have to look stunning.¡± Edgar also seemed pleased. He pulled out a credit card and handed it over. ¡°There¡¯s 150 thousand dors on this. Use it all if you need to. No need to hold back.¡± Beatrice snatched the card before Briar could even move. ¡°Thanks, Dad. You¡¯re always so good to Briar and me.¡± Edgar patted her head like she was still a little child. ¡°You¡¯re both my daughters. Of course I¡¯m good to you.¡± Briar watched them put on their little family show and yawned. ¡°Are we done here? I¡¯m going upstairs.¡± Honestly, she thought 150 thousand dors wasn¡¯t much. It was nothing to get worked up about. Beatrice could keep it if she wanted¨CBriar wasn¡¯t interested. Seeing Briar so calm, Halle and Beatrice assumed she was just putting on a brave face. They figured she was heartbroken over Edgar favoring Beatrice, In their minds, Briar would probably go cry in her roomter. Ìï Forsaken 20 Briar headed upstairs and took a shower. She didn¡¯t bother drying her hair¨Cjust threw on some pajamas and started towel drying it as the powered herptop. She hadn¡¯t brought it with her while hanging out with Ellen, so it had been off all day. The second it booted up, messages started pour
  1. in. Before she could even open any of them, a voice call popped up
Briar paused, slipped on her headphones, and answered, ¡°What¡¯s up, Alex?¡± ¡°Good news,¡± Alex said, sounding way too cheerful. ¡°Someone just dropped a huge chunk of cash on the Hacker Alliance, trying to dig into what you¡¯ve been doing since you got back.¡± Briar shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s nothing new. People have been trying to dig into my background.¡± ¡°True,¡± Alex said,ughing. ¡°But guess how much they o aid this time?¡± ¡°How much? Am I finally worth more?¡± Briar asked casually. She remembered someone once tried to pay 30 million dors for her intel, but that deal never went through. ¡°Not quite that much. They¡¯re not asking for your full r¨¦sum¨¦¨Cjust stuff about your life here with the Jennings family. They¡¯ve got no clue how big you are overseas,¡± Alex said, clearly hyped. ¡°But get this¨Cthey¡¯re offering 15 million dors just for that!¡± Briar paused. She hadn¡¯t realized her connection to the Jennings family was worth that much on its own. Alex continued, ¡°What if we tell them you¡¯re a top¨Ctier professor at Atrington University and Tristan¡¯s only student? I think we could squeeze another 15 million dors out of them.¡± He still hadn¡¯t forgiven himself for passing up the old 30 million dors offer. Now he was broke and desperate to make up for it. Briar rolled her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that Alexia froze your ounts again.¡± Alexia was his wife. Whenever Alex did something dumb, she¡¯d lock him out of his money. No matter how rich he was, when she cut him off, he was dead broke for months. ¡°You know me too well.¡± Alex smiled, a little embarrassed. ¡°She¡¯s go O s got me on financial lockdown for two months. I gotta make cash somehow.¡± ¡°Try taking that job. I dare you.¡± Hair half¨Cdry, Briar tossed her towel aside and opened the Hacker Alliance site. There it was, right at the top¨Cthetest bounty, targeting her. ¾Æ Only the other four current leaders of the Hacker Alliance knew about her real background. She figured the messages piling in were from them teasing her about it. People had started digging into her the minute she came back. Trouble always seemed to find her no matter where she went. Alex hesitated. ¡°Forget it. You sound mad. I¡¯m not touching it. I¡¯ll reject the job.¡± Briar might¡¯ve been the youngest of their crew, but even if all four of them teamed up, they still wouldn¡¯t be able to take her down. Briar didn¡¯t say anything, just waited. After a beat of awkward silence, Alex let out a guiltyugh. ¡°Okay, okay¨CI already took it. Just figured I¡¯d give you a heads¨Cup. I mean, on¡ªit¡¯s 15 million dors! I couldn¡¯t say no.¡± For a man who wouldn¡¯t have a dime of pocket money for the next two months, this cash felt like a lifesaver. Chapter 20 Briar chuckled, ¡°Fine. Go ahead and sell them whatever they want. It might help me figure out who¡¯s behind H.- Money matters more to me than you do but as your friend, I figured I should warn you. You¡¯re being watched the second you step back into the country. The Hacker Alliance doesn¡¯t wanna lose another leader,¡± Alex said seriously. The Hacker Alliance started out as a small team of six elite hackers. Alex, Alexia, George, Georgiana, and Briar were handpicked from around the world by groups in the world, on par with the Dark Netz a guy named Dexter. Under his lead, they got so good that they became one of the top ha But five years ago, during a mission, Dexter was killed outside Spoivania. No one ever found out who did it. That loss hit the Hacker Alliance harder than anything else. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not that easy to kill,¡± Briar said, then hung up. She sat there, staring at her screen, deep in thought. Someone was clearly on edge about her return. There was no way anyone would spend 15 million dors just to track her movements. They were probably watching her to decide whether she posed a threat¨Cwhether she needed to be taken out, just like her mother, Meanwhile, in Spoivania, Dark Net received a 15¨Cmillion¨Cdor job from someone in Dasmieca. Usually, Xavion¨Cwho ran the group¨Cwouldn¡¯t even blink at a job like that. But when he saw the name Briar Jennings, he paused. He looked deeper and confirmed it was the same Briar his boss Ashton held in such high regard. Just to be safe, Xavion gave Ashton a call. ¡°Mr. Wade, someone¡¯s digging into Miss Jennings. They wired 15 million dors to find out everything she¡¯s doing in Dasmieca.¡± Spoivania and Dasmieca were twelve hours apart. It was 10 AM for Xavion, but 10 PM for Ashton¨Ctight in the middle of his nightly hypnosis therapy. When the call came through, Ashton, who¡¯d been on the verge of sleep, snapped fully awake. Frederick, the psychologist helping him, looked like he wanted to throw something. He knew Ashton probably wouldn¡¯t sleep at all now. Five years ago, Ashton had nearly died after getting shot in the head during less than four hours of sleep a night. an attack abroad. Since then, he¡¯d struggled with severe insomnia, averaging Frederick was one of the best in his field, but even he couldn¡¯t do much. If Ashton managed to drift off once or twice out of ten attempts, Frederick called it a win. Only a handful of people knew about Ashton¡¯s condition. In the entire Wade family, only Griffin was aware. Not even Ashton¡¯s parents had a clue. Tonight, Frederick had been so close to helping Ashton fall asleep until Xavion¡¯s call ruined everything. He was so mad he nearly snapped at the phone. Ashton hadn¡¯t slept well in a week, and the dark circles under his eyes were noticeable enough. Forsaken 21 Chapter 21 Ashton frowned. ¡°Why would anyone dig into Briar¡¯s background? She¡¯s just eighteen. What could be worth 15 million dors to find out?¡± Xavion looked puzzled as well. ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t get it either. She only came back a few days ago. Do you think it¡¯s got something to do with her acupuncture skills?¡± Still, even though acupuncture and traditional medicine weren¡¯t that popr in Dasmieca, if one looked hard enough, they could find a few decent practitioners. ¡°Don¡¯t turn the job down yet,¡± Ashton said. ¡°I¡¯ll have Brandon check if this is connected to my grandfather.¡± He was thinking the same thing Xavion was. To him, Briar seemed like a normal girl¨Cquiet, a little headstrong at times¨Cbut if she was being targeted because she helped Griffin, then Ashton felt responsible. Xavion nodded. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll stall them for now. But if they reached out to us, they¡¯d probably already don¡¯t care who they sell info to as long as the money¡¯s good.¡± Ashton grabbed his keys and headed for the door. ¡°Give me thirty minutes.¡± Just the thought of dealing with the Hacker Alliance gave him a headache. ontacted the Hacker Alliance as well. Those guys At 6 AM, Briar went out for her usual morning run. The house staff was used to her routine by now and got back to work once she left. But today, Halle and Beatrice were up early too. Trying not to repeat her past mistakes, Halle didn¡¯t start with any snide remarks. She turned to a servant and asked, ¡°Is Briar up?¡± ¡°She went out running,¡± the servant replied. Beatrice rolled her eyes. ¡°Seriously? She thinks getting up early makes her special, huh? Please.¡± After growing up in the Jennings family and mixing with other rich girls in Shoneport, Beatrice had learned one thing: no one did anything without a reason. She figured Briar was trying to win favor. With her mom and grandpa gone and no one else in the family supporting her, Briar must¡¯ve been trying to get on Edgar¡¯s good side. ¡°Watch what you say,¡± Halle warned quietly, waiting until the servant left. ¡°Don¡¯t forget what your dad told youst night.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Beatrice muttered. ¡°We¡¯re supposed to y nice for a few days so she shows up at the party on Saturday.¡± ¡°Exactly. Things are finally moving forward. Don¡¯t screw it up now. If your dad gets mad, there¡¯s nothing I can do,¡± Halle said, patting her daughter¡¯s hand like it was all out of love. ¡°I get it, Mom.¡± Beatrice knew how things worked in this house. Edgar called all the shots. Even after all these years, Halle still had no real say. Edgar kept her on a tight leash. Halle got a monthly allowance of maybe 10 thousand dors. If she wanted more¨Cfor a dress or a party¨Cshe had to ask for it. Sometimes she even had to rent outfits and jewelry just to show up at high¨Csociety events looking halfway decent. Other rich womenughed behind her back for being cheap. They didn¡¯t know how hard it was for Halle and Beatrice to keep up appearances. Even Camden, Edgar¡¯s own son and future heir of Jennings Group, couldn¡¯t make a move without Edgar¡¯s approval. Everyone in the Jennings family knew one thing: if they wanted to stay, they did what Edgar said, Cross him, and they¡¯d end up like Rosalia¨Cwishing they Chapter 21 were dead, or worse, not even knowing what hit them. Beatrice red at the front door. Ever since Briar came back, she¡¯d been going against Edgar at every turn. Beatrice was just waiting for the day Brian pushed too far and vanished. Just then, Edgar came downstairs and saw them chatting on the living room sofa. ¡°What are you two doing up so early?¡± he asked, smiling Beatrice¡¯s expression instantly switched to a smile as she walked over and took Edgar¡¯s arm. ¡°We¡¯re waiting for Briar. Dad, you look great this morning Edgar chuckled. ¡°Yeah, I actually slept well for once.¡± He was in a good mood, thinking about how things would fall into ce once the partnership with the Hargreaves family went through¨Cand how Briar wouldn¡¯t be able to stir up any more trouble after that. Camden came downstairs a momentter, and the four of them headed to breakfast. They didn¡¯t wait for Briar since she never liked eating with them anyway. Honestly, it made things more pleasant for everyone. After breakfast, Edgar and Camden left for work. Halle and Beatrice stayed behind to wait for Briar so they could take her shopping. But Briar didn¡¯t show up until almost 8 AM. Halle and Beatrice were starting to get annoyed. If Briar¡¯s bag hadn¡¯t still been on the couch, they might¡¯ve thought she¡¯d snuck out again without saying anything. ¡°Briar, what took you so long? We¡¯ve been waiting forever,¡± Beatrice said with a forced smile. Briar nced at her watch and acted confused. ¡°It¡¯s not even 8 yet. Why were you waiting?¡± Beatrice¡¯s smile faded fast. Halle jumped in before Beatrice could blow up. ¡°Briar, didn¡¯t we agree yesterday to go shopping for dresses today?¡± Briar tilted her head like it had juste back to her. ¡°Oh, right. Well, you¡¯ll have to wait a bit longer. I¡¯m gonna shower and eat first.¡± Without another word, she headed upstairs. Beatrice was ready to chase after her, but Halle stopped her just in time. ¡°Mom! Why¡¯d you stop me? Did you hear how she talked to us? Like we¡¯re her maids or something!¡± Beatrice fumed. Halle kept her voice calm. ¡°Let it go. Just hang in there a little longer. Once the Hargreaves family breaks off the engagement and she¡¯s got no one backing her, she¡¯ll be the joke of Shoneport.¡± That made Beatrice feel a little better. She flopped back onto the couch, still stewing. What they didn¡¯t know was that Briar had paused just around the corner on the stairs. She¡¯d seen everything¨Cand she could read lips. She caught every word Halle had whispered. It was exactly what she expected. After all, this pathetic n was the best they coulde up with. AD Comment Forsaken 22 Chapter 22 Briar showered fast and came downstairs for breakfast twenty minutester. Even though she¡¯d been living abroad for years, she still liked the locals Dasmieca¨Cstyle breakfast. The moment she sat down, a servant brought her food. She ate slowly while e scrolling on her phone, clearly dragging things out on purpose. Beatrice, who had calmed down thanks to Halle, just scoffed when Briar. She didn¡¯t say a word or rush Briar. Almost an hourter, Briar finally finished. She wiped her mouth, stoo She picked up her bag and headed to the door without waiting for them. Halle and Beatrice trailed behind, quiet like maids. This wasn¡¯t just Briar being cold¨Cit was her openly mocking them. and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Even Halle, who was usually good at keeping her cool, was s fuming inside. Still, she reminded herself to hold on for a few more days. Soon, Briar would be humiliated in front of everyone. Outside, the driver was waiting. He opened the front passenger door for Briar, and the back doors for Halle and Beatrice¨Csplitting them into separate spaces in the car. Briar gave the driver a look, but he acted like he didn¡¯t see it and just drove. Forty minutester, they arrived at the biggest mall in Shoneport¨Cthe one where all the rich folks shopped. Most of the clothes there started at 3,000 dors a piece. Halle usually avoided this ce. She didn¡¯t have the budget for it. But today was different. They had Edgar¡¯s 150 thousand dors to spend. Briar didn¡¯t know Halle had been living on such a tight budget for years. She went straight into a few familiar stores, picked out two dresses, and spent the entire 150 thousand dors¨Call by herself. Then she left with her bags, not even ncing at Halle or Beatrice. It wasn¡¯t until she¡¯dpletely vanished from view that the sales clerk approached Halle and Beatrice with the receipt, asking them toplete the payment. Snapped out of their stunned silence, they finally realized what had just happened. But it was toote¨CBriar was gone. And without paying, there was no They went home furious, only to find Briar already on the couch, leg dresses were sitting right next to her. Beatrice stared at the bags, itching to see what was inside. they¡¯d be allowed to leave. Ssed, ying games on her phone. The tworge shopping bags with the pricey ¡°Briar, how could you spend all the money Dad gave us by yourself?¡± she snapped, making sure to say us loudly. She wanted to make it clear that Briar had spent her share of the money. Briar didn¡¯t even look up. ¡°Didn¡¯t Dad say not to hold back? I only bought two dresses. If you want more money, just ask him. The Jennings family¡¯s not broke.¡± Beatrice was speechless. She knew the family was rich, but Edgar had never handed out money like this before. She¡¯d nned to buy a few outfits with the 150 thousand dors. But Briar had blown it all on just two. Each dress cost 75 thousand dors. In all their years with the Jennings family, neither she nor Halle had ever worn anything that expensive. 1/3 Chapter 22. As Beatrice and Halle kept grumbling, Briar finally got annoyed and called Edgar. She put him on speaker, ¡°Dad, Is the Jennings family short, oncashi! just bought two dresses, but Halle and Beatrice won¡¯t stop whining.¡± Edgar sounded like he was in a meeting. He kept his voice low. ¡°If you liked them, buy them. I can afford it. They¡¯re just used to being cheap Ignore them.¡± Beatrice and Halle were stunned. They couldn¡¯t believe he said that. They¡¯d only been careful with money because Edgar never gave them enough to begin with. Briar didn¡¯t care that Halle looked like she was about to faint. She got the answer she wanted and hung up. ¡°See? As the Jennings family heir, spending 150 thousand dors on two dresses is me being responsible.¡± Halle and Beatrice said nothing. They just sat there, burning with rage. Two dayster, Briar got up early and rode her motorcycle to pick Ellen up for the move. Ellen had been kicked out by her foster parents when she was fourteen. Since then, she barely made enough from part¨Ctime jobs to eat and cover rent. She didn¡¯t have much to pack. All her stuff fit into one small suitcase¨Cmostly school uniforms and books. They didn¡¯t need movers. Briar just called a local delivery service to send Ellen¡¯s things over to the new ce. Then she gave Ellen a helmet and drove her to Moonspring Estate on her motorcycle. The guards at the gate already recognized Briar¡¯s license te from when she bought the house, so they waved her right in. On the way to Ellen¡¯s new home, they passed by Briar¡¯s ce. The house next door had movers bringing in furniture. It looked like someone was moving in. Briar didn¡¯t think much of it. She wasn¡¯t interested in meeting new neighbors. She just kept driving. Ellen had a big smile the whole way. It felt like she was finally leaving her old life behind. Now she had a real home, her brother, and Briar. She could go to school in peace. She didn¡¯t have to worry about food or rent anymore. For the first time, she felt safe and hopeful¨Cno more yelling, no more surprise visits from her foster parents. Life didn¡¯t seem so scary now. Briar hired a part¨Ctime housekeeper for Ellen. The woman would cook lunch and dinner ande every other day to clean. Ellen just had to take care of her own breakfast. Ellen was happy with that. The housekeeper made lunch that day¨Cfour dishes and a soup, with both meat and veggies. Briar stayed to eat with Ellen before heading out. She didn¡¯t say anything else before heading out¨Cthere was no need. The neighborhood was safe, and Briar had already installed cameras so she could. check in on Ellen anytime. ¡°Bye, Briar!¡± Ellen stood at the gate, waving with bright eyes and a cheerful voice. ¡°See you.¡± Briar tugged her helmet down, gave a cool wave without turning back, and roared off on her bike. Not long after Briar left, Brandon stepped out of the house next door to hers. He told the workers, ¡°That¡¯s enough for now. We¡¯re not even sure if Mr. Wade is gonna stay here.¡± The foreman nodded and called over his crew They packed up quickly and left. They¡¯d been paid three times their usual rate just to bring in furniture, so they were all smiles as they left. Brandon nced at Briar¡¯s gate and muttered, ¡°What¡¯s so special about Miss Jennin that she caught Mr. Wade¡¯s eye? After all, he never cares about 13:39. Mon 28 Jul J Women.¡± Morton came out and overheard him. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Brandon turned. ¡°What? You know? Tell me!¡± Morton gave him a look like he was slow. ¡°It¡¯s love at first sight, you idiot.¡± Brandon was too shocked to reply. ¡°You don¡¯t believe it, huh?¡± Morton said. ¡°Ashton¡¯s into her because she¡¯s different. She¡¯s got that cool, no¨Cnonsense vibe.¡± ex Brandon blinked. Sure, Briar was gorgeous and had attitude. But Ashton was a his bed the same night. always surrounded by beautiful people. If he wanted someone, they¡¯d be in Morton pped Brandon on the shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re single, man. You wouldn¡¯t get it. Love¡¯s weird. It hits when you least expect it.¡± Brandon still didn¡¯t buy it, so he kept quiet. Meanwhile, now that Ellen had moved in, Briar was ready to deal with the Jennings and Hargreaves families. At fourteen, she¡¯d already gone into dangerous ces and fought her way out alone, So a few sneaky tricks from the Jennings family members didn¡¯t scare her. If they wanted to gang up on her, fine¨Cshe¡¯d hit back harder. Thanks to Halle and Beatrice spreading the word, everyone in their social circle already knew about the party the Jennings family was throwing for Briar. No matter what people thought of the Jennings family, everyone agreed on one thing¨CBriar¡¯s return wasn¡¯t simple. And a lot of folks nned to show up just to see what would go down. A Forsaken 23 Chapter 23 Briar rarely attended parties abroad. First, she wasn¡¯t interested in the fake, schmoozy scenes. Second, for certain reasons, she had to maintain some mystique, with many details in her profile being fabricated. Not attending parties didn¡¯t mean she was unfamiliar with the etiquette. It was not like walking the red carpet, where the main character had to make a grand entrance. ¡°Oh really? Saving the best forst?¡± Briar¡¯s icy stare raked over the family crammed in her doorway¨Ctheir fake smiles twisting the knife deeper with every ¡°for your good¡°. Edgar was dressed quite formally today, even matching his outfit with Halle¡¯s gown in the same color. Even Beatrice¡¯s dress seemed to steal the spotlight with its bold red, off¨Cshoulder design. Camden was absent, as the Jennings family¡¯s youngest son, he had already gone out to greet the guests. The intentions of this family of four were crystal clear. They were blocking her door now to make sure she didn¡¯t show up too early and ruin their ns. The thing was, they thought they were hiding it well, but their smug faces were too obvious for Briar to ignore. Making her thest to appear, iming it was a grand finale, was actually to let everyone see how perfectly matched and loving Javier and Beatrice were before she showed up. So, when she finally appeared, Javier could announce their engagement cancetion with righteous justification, gaining more public approval. It would also ¡°introduce¡± her to the entire high society, making her theughingstock, a joke of the whole Shoneport. Wherever she went, people would introduce her like this. ¡°Look! That¡¯s the Jennings family¡¯s daughter who got dumped by Mr. Javier Hargreaves.¡± ¡°The ballroom¡¯s buzzing, Sweetheart.¡± Edgar¡¯s voice dripped honeyed venom. ¡°y nice¨Cwould I ever steer you wrong? Fresh off the ne, you are clueless about our circles. This is just Daddy¡¯s way to burn you into their retinas.¡± Briar seemed touched by Edgar¡¯s words and finally nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go outter.¡± Halle and Beatrice exchanged nces, happily following Edgar downstairs. But they were in such a hurry that they didn¡¯t notice the cold smile on Briar¡¯s lips as she watched them leave. If Edgar had seen it, maybe he wouldn¡¯t have chosen this method to embarrass Briar. Because, in the end, the one who got embarrassed and became theughingstock of the high society wasn¡¯t Briar, but Beatrice. It even tarnished the Hargreaves family¡¯s reputation, with Javier¡¯s mother publicly dering that Beatrice wasn¡¯t fit to be the future Mrs. Hargreaves, crushing her dreams of marrying into the Hargreaves family. But foresight couldn¡¯t be bought the moment the Jennings family started targeting Briar, the ending was destined. At the party, Beatrice immediately went to charm Javier¡¯s mom, calling out, ¡°Hi, Mrs. Hargreaves.¡± Hearing this, Javier¡¯s mom, Eleanor, turned around with a smile. ¡°Beatrice, you¡¯re here. This dress suits you so well today.¡± 7 prominent Eleanor was a well¨Cmaintained, graceful woman. Born into a wealthy family, she brought a ten¨Cmillion engagement gift when she married into the Hargreaves family, helping them rise again during their toughest times. Both Javier¡¯s father and grandpa held her in high regard, making¡® figure in the family. Normally, with a mom who once yed the mistress, Beatrice wouldn¡¯t be considered suitable for the Hargreaves family. Though the Hargreaves family wasn¡¯t the top elite in Shoneport anymore, as one of the former four major families, they expected a high standard for their daughter¨Cinw. Beatrice carved out Eleanor¡¯s nod through relentless hustle¨Cher dance gods¡® kiss dazzled on global stages; a discipleship under Ms. Jolene Sutton, the Vice President of Dasmieca Dance Association, polished her pedigree to a blinding gleam. Now, many knew that barring any surprises, Beatrice would likely be the future Mrs. Hargreaves. Javier then walked over, and Beatrice blushed. ¡°Javier.¡± ¡°Beatrice, let me introduce you to some board members.¡± Javier first greeted Eleanor and her friends, then spoke softly to Beatrice. Beatrice was more than willing. Three years older than her, Javier was about to graduate from Shoreport University, and hiswork there would soon be hers. Meanwhile, Halle stayed by Edgar¡¯s side, ying the perfect gentle wife to make Edgar look good in front of others. Overall, the party was going great for everyone. That was until the stage¡¯s big screen suddenly changed, and an ambiguous female voice unexpectedly yed. It waspletely out of sync with the rxed atmosphere, instantly silencing the hall. All eyes were drawn, only to witness a jaw¨Cdropping scene. All eyes were glued to the big screen, which was ying a steamy video. The footage showed two naked bodies intertwined, their surroundings suggesting a hotel room filled with adult toys. The soft pink lighting made the scene even more intimate and revealing, showing the faces of the two clearly. Turned out, it was none other than the host of today¡¯s event, Beatrice and Javier. So caught up in the video, they had no idea their actions were being secretly recorded. As they continued, their words caused a stir among the audience. Beatrice, panting, said, ¡°Javier, is this not right?¡± As was known to all¨CBed vows? Drunk¡¯s whiskey lies. Javier replied, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with it? The person Llike is you. Isn¡¯t she about to return from abroad? Once she¡¯s back, I¡¯ll get my mom to cancel the engagement.¡± Beatrice, being a trained dancer, had a naturally more flexible and alluring figure, which Javier seemed quite infatuated with. Despite her pleas, he went on plowing her. At his words, Beatrice¡¯s face showed satisfaction, but she pretended to be pitiful, saying, ¡°But our current rtionship¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you like this thrilling feeling, baby?¡± ¡°You bad boy¡­¡± What followed was a series of steamy scenes in various positions. Among the guests were also many children. The explicit content made parents cover their kids¡® ears and eyes, eager to leave immediately with their child¡® AD Comment Send gift Forsaken 24 Chapter 24 The party hall was buzzing with noise. The Jennings family, who had been so smug, now felt nothing but shame. The guests¡® looks of mockery and disdain made them feel like pariahs, with no one willing toe near them. This scene was supposed to be directed at Briar, as per Edgar¡¯s n. But now, they were the punchline¨Csquirming, burning, forced to eat dirt. And they had no escape. Edgar had someone try to turn off the big screen, but somehow, it just wouldn¡¯t shut off. Even when someone unplugged the power, the screen kept looping the footage dutifully. Just as everyone was in an uproar, a clear, shocked voice came from the staircase, ¡°Oh my gosh! Sis, you¡­ you guys¡­¡± The voice trembled with shock and sorrow. Most onlookers, even though knowing they should probably steer clear to avoid making the hosts more awkward, just stayed put to keep watching the drama unfold, apart from a few who left the party with their children. Halfway through the drama, the plot just got messier. Thus, they decided they gotta keep watching. So when another female voice chimed in, everyone¡¯s ears perked up. The video on the big screen, which initially grabbed everyone¡¯s attention, also started with a woman¡¯s voice. Thus, everyone turned in the direction of the sound, only to see a graceful youngdy pop up on the staircase. Dressed in a pure white gown, her long hair simply tied into a high ponytail, she looked elegant with her long neck and sexy corbone. The slightly loose dress couldn¡¯t hide her curvy body. Right now, she was leaning on the railing with one hand, the other covering her mouth, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at the big screen. Clearly, she too had been stunned by the spectacle on the screen. As she was calling Beatrice ¡°Sis,¡± it wasn¡¯t hard to guess that this youngdy was the main character of the party, Briar Jennings. Just then, the dialogue between the male and female leads in the video yed, catching the girl off guard, her face gradually turning pale. Her tears welled up in her eyes, her brows furrowed, and she looked at Edgar with restrained anger. ¡°Dad, you were so eager to call me back, especially arranged this party, and even made me the final act just to embarrass me like this?¡± she questioned. Edgar was evidently flustered. ¡°Briar, listen to me. It¡¯s not what you t Everyone present was sharp. you think. Go back upstairs first. I¡¯ll exinter.¡± Hearing Briar¡¯s words, they immediately started imagining a dramatic family feud. ¡®Saving the best forst? Sure. But deadst? Never heard of it. ¡®What, as the main character of the party, she didn¡¯t even get a chance to mingle with the guests early on? ¡®Briar vs. the Jennings, Beatrice and Javier¡¯s dirty tango? Another rich¨Cpeople tearjerker. 1/3 Chapter 24 Now that things had gone south, they wanted Briar to go back upstairs? Truth is, whether as the main character of the party or the biggest victim in the video, Briar was the one who should be standing up right now ¡®What a pity! With her mom gone, and her sister cheating on her fianc¨¦, she doesn¡¯t even have someone to stand up for her! Her dad didn¡¯t care about her either. Edgar watched the footage with bone¨Cdeep shock and shame, but no outrage. He knew about Beatrice stealing Briar¡¯s fianc¨¦. Eleanor was furious. She yanked Javier away from Beatrice the others. ¡± Jennings, aren¡¯t you going to get someone to smash Want people to keepughing at this?¡± she snapped. Hearing this, Edgar gave up exining to Briar and took matters into his own hands, grabbing a chair to smash the screen. ¡°Bang!¡± The screen shattered, and the intimate sounds filling the hall disappeared. The scene turned eerily quiet. Briar, teary¨Ceyed and barely standing, leaned on the railing, or she might have fainted. She closed her eyes, speaking with deep pain and a hoarse voice, ¡°Javier, since you love my sister, I¡¯ll let you both be. I¡¯m ending our engagement. From now on, we¡¯ll go our separate ways, and I wish you and my sister happiness.¡± With that, the tears she tried to hold back slowly fell. But she stubbornly wiped them away, forcing a smile for everyone. ¡°Sorry, there¡¯s been a small mishap at today¡¯s event. Hope it didn¡¯t ruin your mood. Excuse me, I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± Then, without even ncing at the Jennings family or Javier, she turned, lifted her dress, straightened her back, and walked upstairs gracefully. Only then did everyone notice that Briar had been standing at thest step of the stairs the whole time, like an outsider who never stepped into the hall. Who would want to enter a party held for them after such a mess? Being able to maintain herposure and say goodbye before leaying was already herst bit of dignity. Everyone¡¯s attention shifted back to the Jennings and Hargreaves families. Briar did something pretty decisive: she initiated the breakup of their engagement, securing her own future while also considering others. Otherwise, if Javier had brought it up, Briar would have been the real joke. As the biggest victim in this, her graceful exit was the right move. After all, she was all alone, so weak, helpless, and pitiful. Everyone¡¯s scales had already tilted towards Briar without even realizing it. ¡°Now that the engagement between our families has been called off, there¡¯s no need for excuse me.¡± us to maintain any further close ties. Mr. Jennings, if you¡¯ll Eleanor beat Edgar to the punch,ying out the stance of their family, then dragged the reluctant Javier away in a hurry. Not a word about Beatrice and Javier¡¯s rtionship. This was indirectly saying Beatrice wasn¡¯t fit to enter their family. 2/3 MONT, ZO With Beatrice¡¯s scandal, who¡¯d dare marry into their family? Seducing her future brother¨Cinw, so wild and unrestrained¨Cwhere¡¯s the dignity of a properdy? No wonder Eleanor rushed to pull her son away. Beatrice¡¯s face went pale. It was over! All their ns were ruined by this sudden video. ¡®Who¡¯s behind this? ¡®Why now of all times?¡® she asked inwardly. Under everyone¡¯s mocking gazes, Beatrice, pale¨Cfaced, was dragged out of the banquet hall by Halle. Edgar¡¯s expression was grim too, but despite his displeasure, he still saw off the remaining guests with Camden, handing out gifts to express their apologies and prevent gossip. And gift Forsaken 25 What was supposed to be a great party just fizzled out, leaving the Jennings family as theughingstock of the elite circle. Everyone got hush gifts from the Jennings family, so they wouldn¡¯t spill the beans outside, but the Jenningses went all out to invite every big shot they could. So, this thing was pretty muchmon knowledge among the elites now. After seeing off all the guests, Edgar hurried the staff to clean up the hall while he took Camden upstairs to check on Halle and Beatrice. The mother and daughter were bawling their eyes out in the room. Especially Beatrice, her eyes were all puffy. Tonight was a major embarrassment for her. Not only was she exposed, but she also lost favor with the Hargreaves family. Marrying Javier now seemed impossible. She couldn¡¯t forget how his mom looked at her like she was some shameless hussy. She worked so hard for years to win Javier¡¯s heart, and now it was all ruined, totally ruined! ¡°Dad, you gotta find out who¡¯s behind this to frame me!¡± Seeing Edgare in, Beatrice cried and rushed over, her face twisted with rage. ¡°Twon¡¯t let him off!y¡¯ll kill him!¡± ¡°Alright, alright, don¡¯t cry, Beatrice. It¡¯s not your fault. You and Javier were genuinely in love, just the way it got out was wrong. Your dad will make it right. Don¡¯t cry.¡± Halle also cried as she came over and hugged her daughter. Edgar felt bad too. Their wellid n was ruined, not only losing a great catch like Javier, but also having his daughter¡¯s video out there. Who knew what people were saying about them now? ¡°Dad will look into it. You two stop crying. Crying won¡¯t solve anything. What¡¯s important is figuring out how to fix this.¡± Edgar patted Beatrice¡¯s head gently, trying tofort her. Beatrice was his favorite daughter. He invested a lot in her upbringing. Now that she¡¯d been set up like this, as a father, he was naturally furious. But it was not the time to cry now. They needed to find that person behind this and get that video back. Otherwise, if the video got out, it was gonna be a constant worry. The Jennings family had already lost face once. They couldn¡¯t let the video leak. Luckily, tonight¡¯s guests were all big names. No one sneaked a recording. Camden, who hadn¡¯t spoken yet, finally said, ¡°Dad, could it be Briar?¡± Camden was probably the mostposed one in the Jennings family right now. He happened to see Briar turn back upstairs with a very faint smile on her lips. Now that he thought about it, that smile was kinda creepy. ¡°How could it be?¡± Edgar, Halle, and Beatrice all denied in unison. To sneakily hack into the backstageputer and y that video, one¡¯d need some serious hacking skills. How could Briar, who was always glued to her phone ying games, do this? Camden also felt that Briar didn¡¯t seem capable of doing something like this, but he had a strong intuition that Briar was deeply involved in this matter. Especially since Briar had both the motive and the time to do it. And her smile¡­ Chapter 25 Camden even felt that Briar at that time wasn¡¯t as useless as they thought. ¡°Briar¡¯s just spoiled by the Grant family. If she knew hacking, given how much the Grant family dotes on her, would they really leave her out of the ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait for you at home then. See you tomorrow.¡± Ashton didn¡¯t push it and just hung up the video call. Briar put down her phone, walked over to herputer, and quickly saved some hot video. Then, she switched theputer to the main interface and fell asleep contentedly. Early in the morning, after running and having breakfast, Briar left on her motorcycle. As soon as she was gone, Camden tiptoed into Briar¡¯s room and rushed over to her desk to turn on herputer. He thought he¡¯d have to waste time cracking the password, but it turned out there wasn¡¯t one at all. Camden was thrilled and started scrolling through files right away. 13:39 Mon, 28 Jul D! But what he didn¡¯t notice while looking through files was a tiny red dot shing on the cab handle next to the desk, recording everything he did with Briar¡¯sputer. When Briar got a message notification on her phone, she had just returned to Moonspring Estate after buying some herbs from the pharmacy. She briefly nced at the surveince footage that had been sent to her phone before closing it. ¡®Go ahead and look if you want; if Camden finds anything useful, it¡¯ll be a miracle,¡¯ she sneered inwardly. ¡°Briar!¡± As soon as she stopped riding, a voice full of surprise sounded. Briar turned around to see Ellen in workout gear running towards her with joy. Forsaken 26 Chapter 26 Chapter 26 ¡°Good morning. Briar!¡± Standing still, Briar looked at the little girl whoseplexion had visibly improved. Her tone softened, ¡°Morning, why the sudden interest in morning runs?¡± Ellen had been running for a few days now. Due to her weak constitution, she would get out of breath easily after running. ¡°My brother said I¡¯m too weak, so he told me to run for an hour every morning to build up my health.¡± Briar nodded. ¡°Yeah, your brother¡¯s right. Proper exercise Ellen¡¯s eyes lit up at her words. ¡°Mm¨Chmm!¡± helpsody and can even help you grow taller.¡± Having suffered from malnutrition since childhood, Ellen was much shorter than her peers. So when Briar mentioned running could help her grow taller, she became even more determined to stick to her morning runs. ¡°Huh? Briar, why are you buying so many herbs? Are you feeling unwell?¡± As Briar unloaded stuff from her motorcycle, the considerate little girl hurried over to help. Seeing all sorts of herbs in the bags, she thought Briar was sick and with concern. Briar carried the bags into the house without looking back. ¡°Not for me, just helping a friend buy them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. Being sick is so ufortable.¡± Ellen followed Briar into the house, cing the bags on the coffee table as instructed. With a little helper, Briar decided to sort out all the herbs at once. They worked until around 10 a.m., finally sorting and packing all the herbs, with the coffee table now piled high. Briar stretched and asked Ellen, ¡°What¡¯s your nanny making for lunch today?¡± This meant she was nning to have lunch with Ellen. Ellen immediately beamed, enthusiastically rmending, ¡°Our nanny¡¯s making pizza and hot chicken wings today. Briar, my nanny¡¯s dishes are super delicious! You have to try it.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°How is it, Camden? Find anything?¡± As soon as Camden came t of Briar¡¯s room, Beatrice pulled him into her room, whispering. Camden shook his head. ¡°Nope, I went through all the files on Briar¡¯sputer, but couldn¡¯t findst night¡¯s video.¡± Initially, Beatrice hadn¡¯t believed her brother¡¯s suspicions, but lying in bedst night, she started to think his doubts made sense. Briar had been alone all evening, and with no servants upstairs, if she Wanted to do something sneaky, no one would notice. Moreover, Briar appeared just after the video was shown, which seemed a bit too coincidental. Beatrice suggested, ¡°Maybe she didn¡¯t save it on theputer but copied it Conto a USB drive?¡± Camden nodded. ¡°Could be. We¡¯ll have to find another chance to check her bag.¡± While the siblings hid in their room to discuss their n, Edgar wasn¡¯t idle either. As soon as he got to the office this morning, he locked himself inside and even turned off the inte. 1/3 Chapter 26 Then, from a drawer at the bottom of his desk, he took out an old phone and dialed the only number in it. ¡°Mr. Garza¡­¡± He was very respectful, standing up and slightly bowing even though he knew Mr. Garza couldn¡¯t see him. Briar had lunch with Ellen and then let the little girl take a nap. Meanwhile, she grabbed two big bags of herbs and rode her motorcycle to Wade Mansion Brandon was waiting at the entrance of the house. Seeing Briar¡¯s Jennings.¡± Briar stopped her motorcycle and signaled Brandon to pick up Wade. Take them all.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Brandon held the bag while leading Briar inside. This time, there wasn¡¯t a single member of the Wade family in It seemed that Ashton had cleared everyone out intentionally. He was already waiting in Griffin¡¯s room, chatting with Griffin. motorcycleing from afar, he greeted her with a wide smile, ¡°Wee Mw the big bag of herbs hanging on the back seat: ¡°These are some herbs I prepared for M & courtyard; only insects chirping and birds singing could be heard As they walked in, Ashton immediately looked over at Briar, who had her hands in her pockets, walking coolly like a kid. A slight smile appeared on his lips without him realizing it. ¡°Briar is here,¡± he said. Briar was caught off guard by his smile, greeting, ¡°Hi, Mr. Wade.¡± Then, she quickly turned around to look at Griffin lying Griffin chuckled. ¡°Briar, here you are; thanks on his bed. ¡°Good day, sir, you look much better today.¡± to your excellent medical skills, or else my old bones would still be lying around for who knows how long While chatting with Griffin, Briar started preparing her herbal packages and wrote down instructions for use onbels quickly¨Cfinishing eachbel within seconds. Out of curiosity, Ashton walked over and was met with her handwriting that looked no better than random scribbles, and the smile at the corner of his mouth froze. ¡®Indeed, her handwriting stood out just like her personality¨Csomehow cute despite being messy,¡® he thought to himself. Brandon was stunned too, thinking, ¡®Miss Jennings¡¯s handwriting might be one of the ugliest ones I¡¯d ever seen. ¡®But Mr. Wade seemed¡­ actually quite appreciative?¡® Luckily, although messy, what she wrote could still be read more or less clearly enough, Seemingly oblivious to both men¡¯s reactions, Briar continued writing rapidly while reminding them, ¡°These are the herbal pouches I specially concocted for Mr. Wade. ¡°I¡¯ve noted down how to use them internally and externally; follow my methods daily. The next acupuncture session will be scheduled af herbal pouches have been used up.¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± Brandon also came over, making sure to take notes carefully. After exining the usage and dosage of the herbs, Briar finally started the acupuncture session for Griffin. For the third acupuncture session, Griffin was already a pro. Without needing any instructions from Briar, hey down in a position. Ashton, familiar with Briar¡¯s acupuncture routine, washed his hands and acted as her temporary assistant. these Chapter 26 The two worked seamlessly together, making the entire acupuncture process much easier for Briar By the time thest needle was ced, Griffin was already sound asleep, feeling soothed. Briar straightened up, only to see a big hand suddenly in front of her. It was Ashton, holding out a neatly folded gray handkerchief. The quality of the handkerchief was clearly top¨Cnotch, without any logo, likely Ashton¡¯s personal item. Briar¡¯s eyes flickered slightly, and she hesitated for a moment before taking it. ¡°Thanks, Mr. Wade Her forehead was covered in a thinyer of sweat, which the handkerchief quickly absorbed. ¡°You¡¯re wee. Thanks for your effort, Briar,¡± Ashton said, maintaining a proper gentlemanly distance after his assistant duties were done Briar nced at him but didn¡¯t say anything. Ashton¡¯s lips curved into a smile, his eyes filled with warmth. This sight made Brandon feel a shiver down his spine. ¡®Oh my! Mr. Wade¡¯s gaze at Miss Jennings was so gooey and tender Having been with Ashton for so long, this was the first time Brandon had seen him like this. ¡®Could this be what Morton mentioned¨Clove at first sight?¡® he wondered. Forsaken 27 Chapter 27 It seemed like Briar felt the weird and sticky atmosphere in the room. After wiping her sweat, she spoke to Ashton in a slightly cold tone. ¡°Mr. Wade, I¡® wash this handkerchief before returning it to you.¡± Briar was initially bewitched by his good looks and took the handkerchief without thinking. By the time she realized it, the handkerchief was already on her forehead. She suddenly thought that the handkerchief she was holding might bea limited edition item, something special and exclusive to Ashton. ¡°Is it inappropriate to use such an item to wipe sweat so casually? It feels too int wondered. Briar paused as she held the handkerchief. She had no idea what Ashton¡¯s move meant. intimate¡­ But I couldn¡¯t just throw it away after using it once?¡± she ¡°Sure, take your time.¡± But Ashton didn¡¯t seem bothered by her distant tone; he nodded naturally. ¡°Just return it next time we meet.¡± Brandon, hearing this, muttered inwardly, ¡®Dude, your schemes are rattling loud. ¡®You said take your time, but set another meeting? When is that? Either tomorrow or the day after! ¡°By then, Miss Jennings probably won¡¯t even have picked up the dry¨Ccleaned handkerchief yet. ¡®You¡¯re even using business tactics here. ¡®My my! Typical men!¡® Briar didn¡¯t seem to catch any deeper meaning in Ashton¡¯s words and simply agreed before putting away the handkerchief and sitting down to y games. Therefore, she didn¡¯t notice how Ashton¡¯s gaze followed actions until finally settling on her slender, nimble fingers. Brandon watched them, thinking to himself, ¡®The air really does have an ambiguous vibe; it¡¯s not just me imagining things. Should I leave now?¡® This time, Griffin¡¯s acupuncture session only took half an hour, with the remaining half hour devoted to auxiliary medicinal bath therapy. Briar exined everything about taking care of the medicinal bath to Ashton and made sure he remembered before leaving. When she teft the Wade family at three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, she declined being sent home by Ashton¡¯s men and rode off alone, looking cool as ever. Finally unable to hold back anymore, Brandon blurted out, ¡°Mr. Wade, there¡¯s something wrong with you¡­¡± Before Ashton could respond, a teasing voice interrupted abruptly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your Mr. Wade?¡± Brandon turned around and saw Frederick Knight, the psychologist and close friend of Ashton. He quickly greeted, ¡°Mr. Knight.¡± ?????? ???????? Frederick, with one hand in his pocket and the other holding a thick folder, walked towards them. ¡°Brandon, you haven¡¯t exined what you just said. What¡¯s wrong with Ashton? Is he finally going crazy?¡± As Ashton¡¯s exclusive psychologist and close friend, Frederick was more aware than anyone of Ashton¡¯s current physical condition. For a normal person. prolonged severe insomnia would inevitably lead to many physiological abnormalities. But Ashton was not normal; even after several days without sleep, he could maintain a highly clear mind and agile, nimble body, which once made Frederick want to hypnotize Ashton for a thorough study. Unfortunately, Ashton¡¯s willpower was too strong; no matter how many different hypnotic methods had been tried, there were very few that could truly. 1/3 hypnotize Ashton. Brandon nced at Ashton¡¯s expression and, seeing no sign of anger, he mustered the courage to whisper to Frederick, ¡°Mr. Knight, here¡¯s the thing After hearing the story, Frederick smirked. ¡°Oh my! So your Mr. Wade is quite the charmer, huh?¡± Ashton red at Frederick, who was just up trouble, but Frederick was unfazed. With no other choice, Ashton turned to check on his grandfather who was still soaking in the medicinal As Briar left the Wade family, a car ident halfway caused major traffic congestion. By the time she reached the Jennings family, it was nearly seven o¡¯clock in the evening, just in time for dinner. Given her ¡°hostile¡± rtionship with her family, she had intended to bypass the dining room and head straight upstairs, but was stopped by Edgar halfway. ¡°Briar¡¯s back. Coming home at this hour, have you had dinner yet? Come and join us. There¡¯s chicken wings tonight, your favorite,¡± he said. Briar turned her head, looking at Edgar, who seemed to be fully recharged again. Although she was puzzled, she still walked over, not because of the fatherly love Edgar disyed, but because the chicken wings made by their chef were indeed quite good. It was as if tonight¡¯s dinner had been specially reserved just for her; when the chicken wings were served, an extra te was ced in front of her ¡®You really went out of your way, didn¡¯t you? But that¡¯s a bit too obvious. ¡®But Edgar never moves without profit¨Call this sweg? Bet he¡¯s scheming again,¡® she said inwardly. Ignoring anyone who tried to talk to her, Briar focused solely on her meal, and once she was full, she set down her fork and left without a word. No matter how loudly Edgar called after her, she pretended not to hear. Just before closing her bedroom door, she could still hear Edgar¡¯s furious shouting. She couldn¡¯t stand this life for even one more day. Flopping onto her bed, Briar sent a message to Nathan, inquiring about Edgar¡¯s activities at thepanytely. Nathan reported, ¡°Bree, you¡¯re right. Your dad definitely has something to hide. These days, whenever I¡¯m not at thepany, he keeps inquiring about my whereabouts repeatedly, often locking himself in his office for one or two hours, and even cutting off all electronic devices in the office. My people can¡¯t eavesdrop on what he¡¯s doing during that time.¡± ¡°How frequently does this happen?¡± Briar¡¯s annoyed eyes darkened even more. ¡°Four days, three times. Not exactly rare.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll swing by thepany tonight. Just leave a window ¡°Got it.¡± open for me.¡± After hanging up, Briar headed to the walk¨Cin closet, rummaging through the bottom of the cab to pull out a ck biker suit and a demaized gun. ¡°Edgar, you better pray I don¡¯t find your secrets tonight.¡± It was a dark, windy night, and a ck motorcycle zipped through the empty highway, using trees on either side of the road to dodge surveince cameras before they could snap a shot at each intersection. Half an hourter, Briar¡¯s motorcycle slowly pulled up to a blind spot near the back gate of the Jennings Group. She took off her helmet, shook out her hair, and her gazended on a half¨Copen window on the top floor of the building. That was the pantry of the president¡¯s office. 23:57 Fri, 8 Aug After a quick scan of the surroundings, Briar leaned against the wall and folded her phone into apact miniputer. With a few rapid taps, a soft ¡°click¡± sounded as a small security door ten steps away silently popped open. Briar swiftly slipped in, then moved while controlling the surveince along the way, smoothly taking the elevator straight to the president¡¯s office floor Forsaken 28 Chapter 28 On the executive floor, there used to be only two offices¨Cone for the CEO and one for the secretary. But ever since Briar barged her way in Mathan had be the acting CEO of the Jennings Group. Edgar, the vice president, had no choice but to give up the CEO¡¯s office and move into the smaller room next door. Even so, Edgar hadn¡¯tpletely fallen out with Briar. That level of restraint actually impressed her a little. But more than that, it convinced her there had to be something inside thepany that forced Edgar to swallow his pride and hold back. Stepping out of the elevator, Briar slipped quickly into Edgar¡¯s office. Once the door was shut behind her, she restored the surveince signal in the hallway and inside the room. Edgar had just moved into this office, so aside from his original desk, everything else had been newly furnished by the logistics department So, if Edgar was hiding anything in here, the only possible hiding ce was the desk. Briar turned on her shlight, walked over to the desk, and pulled a pair of medical gloves from her pocket. After slipping them on, she started her search. She went over every inch with care, not leaving out a single suspicious spot¨Cnot even the shredder next to the desk. But nothing turned up. The surface of the desk was spotless, with not a single item unrted to work. Then Briar¡¯s eyes drifted to the drawers, each secured with a different kind of high¨Cgrade custom lock. Holding the shlight in her mouth, Briar took out a thin wire and quickly picked the first lock. The drawer popped open to reveal a stack of technical documents belonging to thepany¡¯s upper management¨Cconfidential stuff. The second drawer was more mixed: contracts, reports, and several handwritten ledgers. Briar picked up one of the ledgers and flipped through a few pages. It recorded various household expenses for the Jennings family, none of them particrlyrge. Especially those rted to Halle and Beatrice¨Cevery expense, big or small, was meticulously listed. Tens of thousands or just a few bucks¨Cevery page had matching receipts and invoices attached. Briar frowned. ¡®Seriously? Edgar¡¯s been married to Halle for years, and he still guards her like she¡¯s a thief? If Halle ever finds out about this, she¡¯d probably cry her eyes out. ¡®After all those years as his mistress, giving him kids, acting like the perfect wife at home and a submissive shadow in public¡­ And in the end, the only one she moved is herself?¡® But that had nothing to do with Briar. Honestly, she hoped Edgar and Halle would tear each other apart. She¡¯d just sit back and reap the rewards. The third drawer felt almost weightless when she pulled it open. But when she saw what was inside, her expression finally shifted. There was only one thing in the drawer¨Ca dated old phone, the kind of model phased out years ago, typically used by seniors. But judging by how new it looked, it hadn¡¯t seen much use. Briar thought, ¡®An old phone like that, barely touched, yet locked up in the bottom drawer with the most secure lock of the three?¡® Without hesitation, Briar cracked the password and began digging through the phone. Unfortunately, the limited storage didn¡¯t yield much.. What did catch her eye, though, was a single contact saved in the phone-¡°Mr. Garza.¡± ¡®Mr. Garza?¡® Briarbed through every known connection the Jennings family had but couldn¡¯t recall anyone with thatst name. JO However, checking the call logs showed that this contact had been in touch with Edgar for at least five years. Briar thought, ¡®Five years ago? That¡¯s a very interesting point in time. ¡®Five years ago, Tristan had been hunted down and forced to flee abroad. Five years ago, I met my connections in the underground and joined the organization. ¡®Five years ago, Grandpa had suddenly changed the Grant family¡¯s will and the designated heir. And five years ago was when I¡¯d first uncovered some hidden truths about Mom¡¯s death. Briar ced the phone back exactly as she¡¯d found it, her face now covered in ayer of cold frost, a flicker of murderous intent shing in her eyes. ¡®Edgar, you better pray I don¡¯t find out Mom¡¯s death was your doing. If I do, I swear I¡¯ll make you suffer a thousand times worse than what she went through,¡¯ Briar thought. Briar did another sweep of the office to make sure she hadn¡¯t missed anything. Once everything was back in ce, she closed the door without making a sound. This time, instead of taking the elevator, she climbed out through the break room window. Her movements were agile and fast. Two minutester, she was riding off on her motorbike. The window she¡¯d slipped out of remained slightly open, as if no one had ever been there. With rage still burning in her chest, sleep was out of the question. Briar ended up wandering into a lively bar. Dressed in ck from head to toe, her sharp features framed by a ck baseball cap, Briar drew every eye the second she walked in. Her presence wasmanding, her look striking and effortlessly cool. But Briar ignored all the stares, brushing past a few sleazy guys who tried to catch her attention by walking too close. Without sparing them a nce, she headed straight for the bar and ordered a Bloody Mary. Sitting there in the dim, flickering lights, Briar leaned one arm on the bar and sipped her drink slowly with the other. When she tilted her head back to drink, the curve of her pale neck and jawline was absolutely captivating. Just her sitting there was a picture¨Cunbothered and impossibly alluring. Even the people dancing wildly in the middle of the dance floor couldn¡¯tpete with the lone beauty drinking quietly by the bar. One by one, more and more eyes turned Briar way. Bold and greedy stares began to gather around her, unashamed and obvious. Briar kept swirling her drink slowly, the irritation and chill in her eyes hidden under the shing lights. After downing two drinks in a row, the fire in her chest was barely under control. She was about to order a third when two spoiled rich boys in shy outfits shoved the person next to her aside and took the seats on either side of her. Their smirks made it clear they weren¡¯t here for friendly conversation. The man asked, ¡°Hey gorgeous, hear all by yourself? Late night drinking alone isn¡¯t safe, you know. How about we take you home?¡± Briar didn¡¯t respond. Didn¡¯t even look up. Another man continued, ¡°Sweetheart, how about we get you a penthouse suite instead? We¡¯ll keep youpany. Or maybe take you for a ride up mountains?¡± ¡®Annoying.¡¯ Briar¡¯s cold, sharp eyes narrowed, a faint, dangerous smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She finally gave them a nce. ¡®God, they¡¯re hideous. Evenying a finger on them would feel like dirtying myself.¡® Her gaze turned icy, as deep and cold as a frozenke. Without moving, Briar let the word roll off her lips¨Cchilled and biting. ¡°Get out!¡± But to the two rich kids, was like watching a spoiled Persian cat puff up in anger¨Cadorable and tempting. the 713 23:58 Fil, 8 Aug ¡°Oh, bio, she told us to leave Think she meant to sleep with us?¡± ¡°Damn! Babe, how¡¯d you know that¡¯s exactly what I wanted?¡± One of themughed and reached out to touch her face, which had been faintly flusfied with alcohol AD Forsaken 29 In the chaotic, mixed crowd of the first floor of Blue Bar where pretty faces, spoiled heirs, and jaded bystanders were a nightly urrence i No one was ever truly surprised by anything, no matter how absurd it got. So when Briar found herself surrounded by two brats making obvious moves on her, not a single person stepped in. Stuff like this happened here all the time. Everyone knew that as long as the girl didn¡¯t agree to leave with them, those two couldn¡¯t actually force anything¨Cnot with Blue Bar¡¯s owner backing strict house rules. But tonight, things didn¡¯t go the usual way. Because the hand that had reached out to grope Briar was suddenly caught and twisted back. Right then, the music in the club came to an abrupt stop. Then a sharp scream tore through the first¨Cfloor lounge. No one caught exactly how Briar moved, but in the blink of an eye, the rich punk who had reached for her was lifted and mmed hard onto the floor with a wless over¨Cthe¨Cshoulder throw. Hey there groaning, unable to get up. A collective gasp spread through the onlookers. That move¨Cclean, efficient, and brutal¨Cscreamed professional training. The other guy¡¯s face twisted when he saw his buddy go down so fast. They were from rich families at worst¨Cusually, they were the ones pushing people around here, never the ones getting ttened. ¡°Bitch, you seriously don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you,¡± the guy snapped, seething with anger. ¡°You¡¯re not leaving this ce tonight.¡± Briar didn¡¯t even flinch. Even when the guy pulled out his phone and called in seven or eight big, muscle¨Cbound bodyguards, she just leanedzily against the bar with an almost boring expression. ¡°This is it?¡± Briar curled a finger at them, her voice cool and taunting. ¡°Come on, all of you. It¡¯s been a while since I had a real fight. Might be a little rusty, so don¡¯t me me if someone gets hurt.¡± The guards grit their teeth. ¡®She¡¯s tiny and slim¨Chow much trouble can she be?¡® They exchanged nces, then rushed her all at once, determined to teach her a lesson. Two fists came flying at her face. Briar caught both midair, twisted down, and jerked. A sickening pair of cracks echoed, followed by two howls of pain. She had just broken both their wrists. Before the rest of the guards could even react, Briar¡¯s figure blurred¨Cand one by one, each man was kicked away like a rag doll. Yes. Kicked. One by one. All six of them¨Ctwice her size¨Cwere knocked off their feet like bowling pins. ¡°Damn!¡± ¡°Shit!¡± Silence. The kind of dead silence that fills a room when everyone forgets how to breathe. The only sound left was the groaning from the guards on the floor, clutching their ribs and writhing in pain. Briar¡¯s eyes glinted red as she turned toward the rich guy who was still standing The guy instinctively sensed danger. He stumbled backward, his body stiff with fear. 1/3 Chapter 29 The second Briar locked eyes with him, he felt like the air around him had turned icy cold, Goosebumps shot up his spine. But Briar wasn¡¯t about to let him escape. She stepped forward, slowly, deliberately, while the guy¡¯s eyes widened in terror. He couldn¡¯t even tell how she moved just that suddenly, her hand was around his neck and he was lifted clean off the ground. It was unreal. Briar was a slender young woman, and the guy was a full¨Cgrown man¨Cbut somehow, she was holding him up with one hand like he weighed nothing. Air rushed out of his lungs. His vision blurred. His feet kicked helplessly in the air, but her grip never loosened. Sweat streamed down his face. Just as he thought he was going to die, his world spun¨Cand he was mmed onto the ground so hard his back probably hit someone behind him. But it didn¡¯t matter. He didn¡¯t care. All he wanted was to get away from this terrifying woman. He coughed violently, trembling, crawling backward on the floor, desperate to put distance between them. He thought, ¡®What the hell were we thinking? Who the hell said she looked sweet and easy to handle? This girl¡¯s a damn monster. ¡°Trying to run?¡± Briar stepped down on his ankle. From the outside, the motion looked casual, like it had no weight behind it¡ªbut to him, it felt like a mountain dropped on his leg. The guy was too freaked out to even pretend to be tough anymore. ¡°S¨Csorry,¡± he stammered, trembling like a leaf. Briar leaned down slowly, locking eyes with him. ¡°Still want to take me home?¡± The guy shook his head like crazy. ¡°No¡­ no way.¡± Briar: ¡°Still thinking about that presidential suite?¡± The guy: ¡°No! Definitely not!¡± Briar: ¡°Still wanna take me for a ride to the hilltop?¡± The guy: ¡°No more rides.¡± Briar: ¡°Still wanna get in bed with me?¡± The guy: ¡°No! No, I¡¯m sorry, it was all our fault. Please, I¡¯m sorr one, he was sobbing. Each question hit him like a hammer, breaking whatever nerve he had left. By thest Briar looked down at his pale, sweat¨Cdrenched face. ¡°Try acting human next time, got it?¡± The guy: ¡°Got it! Got it.¡± ¡°Then get lost.¡± Briar finally lifted her foot. The guy scrambled up like his life depended on it, dragging his friend with him. Without even trailing behind them. If their legs weren¡¯t still jelly, they would¡¯ve broken into a full¨Con sprint. ncing back, they rushed for the exit, the bodyguards Briar dusted off her hands as if brushing away invisible dirt, then calmly made her way back to her seat. She flicked the empty ss in front of her. Then she spoke up. ¡°Bloody Mary. Fresh one The bartender immediately brought her a new ss. ¡°Right away.¡± 23.50 TH BAUN Charte 28 The noise from the fight had one caught this weekend we Baribay Bilt by the ties they ared, Stor had ndynder om p Dee, the hai piener, kajipend date just in Hims to ene the whole dur ?? ??? ? ? ? ¡°Mr. Gondwin, that girl damun, she¡¯s Inesna¡± The wothan on reying the video she had just recorded freece pinched her cheek lightly. ¡°What, you into her now she tougher than mas Her face squished under his fingers, she shook her head the best she could. ¡°No way. You¡¯re still the best Those words weren¡¯t a lie. Reece was the youngest son of the Goodwin family in Shonsport, which was one of the city¡¯s ten He had been thrown into the military as a teen. And he¡¯d only returned this year after finally retiring. Word had t unit. So yeah¨Che could fight. Which was exactly why, the moment Briar made her move, Reece stopped to watch. Reece thought, ¡®From her precise technique and clean execution, it¡¯s obvious¨Cshe isn¡¯t just tough. She¡¯s trained AD Forsaken 30 Chapter 30 Reece thought, ¡®Interesting. That kind of skill is from such a young girl. With his sharp memory, Reece was sure Briar was a new face¨Cdefinitely not asan omeone who¡¯d ever shown up in Shoneport¡¯s inner circle. Just as he was heading upstairs with his girl, Reece said suddenly, ¡°Babe, send me the video you just recorded.¡± ¡°What? Reece, you don¡¯t want me anymore? Did I do something wrong?¡± the girl blurted, panicking instantly. She thought Reece had taken a liking to that other girl. Tears welled up in her eyes like flipping a switch. She clung to Reece¡¯s shirt, rubbing against him in a desperate attempt to save herself from being tossed aside. ¡°Knock it off,¡± Reece growled, a hint of irritation in his voice as her softness pressed against him. He grabbed her slim waist with a sigh, ¡°I¡¯m not dumping you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Her tear¨Cfilled eyes and pitiful face could¡¯ve melted stone. Whatever amusement Reece had felt watching Briar was gone now. Scooping the girl up in his arms, he carried her straight into his office. Meanwhile, Briar sat at the bar for another two hours. She drank a lot, but nobody darede near her again. Sure, the rose was beautiful¨Cbut the thorns could cripple you. By 4 a.m., Briar took herst sip of her drink, pulled out a wad of cash, tossed it onto the bar, and got up to leave. She¡¯d had plenty to drink, and though her steps were a bit unsteady, she wasn¡¯t drunk. A lot of men had been watching her all night. Now that she was finally leaving, their hungry gazes followed every move she made, eager to see where she might go next. The owner of Blue Bar didn¡¯t allow any forceful behavior inside the bar, but once someone stepped outside, it was no longer Blue¡¯s responsibility. Therefore, a woman like Briar¨Cgorgeous and wild¨Cmight still be fair game out on the street. Briar¡¯s alcohol tolerance was high, and she walked steadily enough/So when she noticed someone following her after she stepped outside, she didn¡¯t pay much attention. Not far away, Ashton had just been dragged out for drinks by Reece on a whim. When Ashton spotted the petite figure stepping out of the bar, his brow lifted in surprise. Then his gaze shifted to the shady¨Clooking men trailing behind her. Ashton¡¯s face instantly darkened. Maybe it was stuffy inside the bar, but Briar had taken off her jacket and was holding it in one hand. At that moment, Briar was wearing a ck camisole, her smooth shoulders half¨Chidden by her long hair. Her pale skin glowed under the dim streetlights¨Ca breathtaking sight. Brandon and Morton, walking behind Ashton, both swore under their breath. Brandon asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t that Ms. Jennings?¡± Morton said, ¡°Mr. Wade, it¡¯s sote and Ms. Jennings ising out of a bar. And those guys behind her are clearly up to no good.¡± Before either could finish, Ashton had already stormed over to Briar. 23.58 Fri, 8 Aug Chapter 30 When he got close, Ashton yanked the jacket out of her hand and threw it over her head,pletely covering her figure and hiding the enticing wa from behind. His eyes were sharp as knives when he turned to re at the group of men behind her. As a man himself, Ashton knew exactly what kind of thoughts thr were having: The creeps hadn¡¯t realized this thomy rose had already taken. But when they saw who it was word. They just turned and ran. So that¡¯s why the rose had thorns. Ashton was behind her. No wonder, She was off¨Climits. Shoneport¡¯s most untouchable man they didnt say Briar had noticed Ashton as soon as he¡¯d appeared, but before she could say a word, she was suddenly wrapped up in a coat, totally caught off guard. From under the jacket, her soft voice came out muffled, innocent¨Csounding. ¡°Mr. Wade? What¡¯s going on?¡± Ashton pulled the coat off, and when his eyes met hers¨Cwide and trusting, still a little dazed¨Chis chest tightened unexpectedly. His irritation evaporated instantly. Without a word, he started guiding her toward his car. Now that he was closer, Ashton could smell the alcohol on her. He wondered if she was already drunk and lowered his voice, speaking gently ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s me. Come with me to the car, okay?¡± Briar nodded and followed without fuss. The way she quietly obeyed made Ashton¡¯s eyes darken. After settling her in the car, the first thing Ashton asked was, ¡°Are you drunk? Why¡¯d you just follow me without question? What if I¡¯d been some creep?¡± Briar blinked at him. ¡°But you¡¯re not a creep. You¡¯re Mr. Wade.¡± Briar had plenty to drink, but her mind was still clear. Otherwise, Ashton couldn¡¯t have gotten away with snatching her coat. Ashton exhaled quietly. ¡®Okay. Fine.¡® That responsepletely defused his Sanger. ¡°What are you doing at a bar thiste?¡± Ashton asked, changing the subject. ¡°Trying to drink away your sorrows?¡± Briar nodded. ¡°Yeah, but I¡¯ve got a high tolerance. Can¡¯t get drunk.¡± Ashton raised an eyebrow. ¡°You sound proud of that.¡± Briar was speaking clearly and her eyes were steady¨Cdidn¡¯t look drunk at all. Briar nced at Brandon and Morton outside the car. ¡°You guys were drinking too, Mr. Wade?¡± Ashton leaned back in his seat, rxing a little. ¡°Yeah. Couldn¡¯t sleep. Met up with some friends.¡± Ashton tried hypnotherapy again tonight with Frederick, but it still didn¡¯t work. Just then Reece called him to hang out, so he came. And he didn¡¯t expect to run into Briar right outside the bar. ¡°Oh, I see. Well, I won¡¯t bother you then. I¡¯ll get going.¡± As she spoke, Briar reached for the door handle, but Ashton caught her hand. She loc confused. ¡°Hold on. I¡¯ll take you home,¡± Ashton said. There was no way he¡¯d let her go back alone thiste¨Cit wasn¡¯t safe. ck Briar smiled and pointed to the luxury hotel nearby. ¡°It¡¯s fine, really. I had too much to drink, so I couldn¡¯t take a car. I was nning to get a room over there.¡± Honestly, Briar didn¡¯t want to go back to the Jennings estate. She was afraid she¡¯d lose control and tie Edgar up for an interrogation, Chapter 30 But no she¡¯d held back this long. She finally had a lead on her mother¡¯s death. She couldn¡¯t blow it now. Ashton followed her finger to the hotel sign¨CSpring Hotel. One of the best in Shoneport. It happened to be one of his family¡¯s businesse Finally, he let go of her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll walk you in.¡± Seeing the insistence in Ashton¡¯s eyes, Briar did trefuse. Sh nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± As soon as they got out of the car, Brandon and Morton looked over. ¡°Mr. Wade?¡± ¡°Let them know I¡¯ll need my room prepped,¡± Ashton said. Morton understood instantly and took off toward the tel. Briar tilted her head. ¡°The hotel is yours too?¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ve got a private suite here. No one else stays
  1. it. It¡¯s clean,¡± Ashton replied as he led her toward the entrance.
O Forsaken 31 Chapter 31 Actually, all hotels under the Wade family name had private suites exclusively for Ashton. But even with those, Ashton still couldn¡¯t sleep well. If he couldn¡¯t rest properly in familiar surroundings, switching to a different bed only made it worse. So far, not a single one of those private suites had ever actually been used by the Wade family. Ashton took Briar straight up to the presidential suite via a private elevator. Morton was already waiting at the door. The hotel manager had personally led the staff to scent every room with a calming fragrance designed to ease guests¡® emotions. The soothing scent lingered as soon as they got close. Briar followed Ashton inside. Just as she opened her mouth to say something, her phone rang. Ashton nodded toward her, signaling her to take the call. He sat down on the couch, clearly not in a hurry to leave. Briar walked a few steps away and picked up. It was Tristan calling. It was daytime where he was, and the old man sounded fired up. She didn¡¯t dare chat for long, worried Ashton might overhear something and cause trouble. ¡°I can¡¯t talk right now. Just text me if it¡¯s urgent,¡± Briar whispered, trying to calm down whatever storm the old man was raging about this time. Brandon: ¡®Seriously? It¡¯s the middle of the night, and these two aren¡¯t talking or sleeping? Just sitting next to each other texting other people?¡® Morton could¡¯ve smacked his forehead. He muttered, ¡®This¡¯s such a good opportunity, and Mr. Wade isn¡¯t even trying to take advantage of it.¡® Still, since Ashton wasn¡¯t saying anything, Brandon and Morton could only keep guarding the door and wait quietly. Inside the suite, everything was still. The soft scent of the hotel¡¯s custom aromatherapy lingered in the air, mixed with the faint fragrance of the girl beside him. Ashton was replying to a message from Reece, telling him something hade up and he wouldn¡¯t be joining him. Then he nced sideways at Briar, who waspletely focused on texting. Maybe it was the first time Ashton shared a room with a girlte at night. Or maybe it was just something about Briar. But the mood felt calm and warm, and for some reason, a strange peace settled over Ashton. He kept staring, slowly zoning out. Tristan was relentless. Apparently, he¡¯d been arguing with Georgiana and George again and needed someone toin to. When Tristan finally finished venting, more than twenty minutes had passed. Briar put down her phone. ¡°Mr. Wade, sor-¡± She turned her head and froze when she saw Brandon and Morton frantically waving their hands, silently mouthing at her not to speak/ Following the direction of their wild gestures, Briar looked over¨Cand saw Ashton, head tilted to the side, fast asleep on the couch. She blinked. That¡¯s when she noticed the dark circles under Ashton¡¯s eyes were worse than before. ¡®Those aren¡¯t just from work¡­ Has this guy not been sleeping at all?¡® Briar thought. Briar caught the crushed expressions on Brandon and Morton¡¯s faces. Feeling a little guilty, she reached out and gently cupped Ashton¡¯s ears with both hands. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. You can keep sleeping. Shhh. Good boy. Sleep, okay?¡± Her voice was soft, coaxing¨Clike she was talking to a toddler, Brandon covered his face. ¡®He¡¯s not a kid. There¡¯s no way that he falls asleep again.¡® But the next second, something unbelievable happened again. Ashton had opened his eyes. Then he saw Briar¡¯s face just inches away. Under her soft coaxing, he closed his eyes again¨Cand actually fell back asleep. The whole thing was seamless. Ashton didn¡¯t even change his breathing. It was like being soothed by Briar was the most natural thing in the world. Morton¡¯s jaw almost hit the floor. ¡®What the hell? This actually works?¡® Brandon waspletely speechless. He thought, ¡®Mr. Knight has been trying to treat Mr. Wade for years and never gets this far. ¡®And now, Ms. Jennings says one sentence and gets better results? ¡®If Mr. Knigh finds out about this, he¡¯s probably gonna cry himself to death in the bathroom.¡® Briar hadn¡¯t expected Ashton to be this obedient either. He really went back to sleep. She looked at the two stunned men by the door, and slowly pulled her hands away from Ashton¡¯s ears. Then Briar popped in her earbuds, opened her game, and kept ying like nothing happened. On the outside, Briar was calm as a mountain. On the inside, she wondered, ¡®Okay, since when did I develop a magical luby touch?¡± Forsaken 32 Chapter 32 After ying two rounds of the game, Briar finally got over the shock. She looked up at Brandon and Morton standing by the door. They were still frozen in ce, staring intently at the sleeping Ashton. Briar rubbed her temples. It waste, and she was sleepy. Morton, observant and meticulous, immediately fetched two nkets and silently offered them to Briar, a clear attempt to please. ¡°Miss Jennings.¡± Briar looked at the nkets in Morton¡¯s hands. She was lost for words for a while. ¡®Fine then. I¡¯m just a glorified tool here,¡¯ she thought. Briar took the nkets and tossed one over Ashton. Her movement was so rough that the nketnded right over his head. Fortunately, it slid down on its own, settling into its proper ce. Despite the disturbance, Ashton only furrowed slightly without waking. Brandon and Morton breathed sighs of relief.¡± Ignoring their dramatic reactions, Briar moved to the other end of the couch with the nket. She found afortable spot, closed her eyes, and tried to sleep. A few minutester, the lights went out. Briar heard the footsteps of Brandon and Morton leaving and then entering the next¨Cdoor room. In the dark, Briar stared at the ceiling. ¡®Never thought I¡¯d have a moment of kindness like this,¡¯ she mused. ¡®Apparently, leaving that brutal environment had softened my heart.¡¯ Despite all the thoughts, sleepiness overwhelmed her. Briar closed her eyes again and finally sank into sleep. The presidential suite had excellent soundproofing. With the curtains drawn, it was easy to sleep soundly regardless of the time, especially when one had a soft andfy pillow. ¡®Wait. What pillow?¡® Briar¡¯s drifting consciousness snapped back. She jerked her eyes open, only to see a blur of white¡ªa warm chest d in a white shirt. ¡®A chest? Whose chest?¡® she mused. As Briar focused on the distinct logo on the shirt, she was wide awake. She jolted upright, her gaze meeting Ashton¡¯s half¨Clowered hazel eyes. ¡°Ashton?¡± she muttered. ¡®What the hell? I was miles away from him when I fell asleepst night. How did I end up in his arms when I woke up? This is beyond awkward -where¡¯s my legendary vignce?¡® she thought. Ashton¡¯s voice was as pleasant as ever. ¡°Morning, Briar.¡± ¡°Morning,¡± Briar mumbled, rubbing her head and awkwardly looking away. Her eyesnded on the two sitting across the couch, their faces beaming with joy. Seeing Briar awake, Brandon couldn¡¯t contain his excitement. ¡°Miss Jennings, thank you so much. You¡¯re truly Ashton¡¯s lifesaver. Do you know? ¡°After you got him to sleepst night, Ashton slept straight through until 9 o¡¯clock. Nine!¡± Thest part was a shout, his shock palpable. Briar was equally stunned. ¡°Wait. What do you mean ¡®got him to sleep¡®? I didn¡¯t, I mean, don¡¯t make stuff up!¡± Briar genuinely didn¡¯t possess any sleep¨Cinducing powers. Ashton¡¯s restful night was pure exhaustion after pulling too many all¨Cnighters. But Brandon and Morton, having witnessed the ¡°miracle,¡± elevated Briar to savior status. Their eyes shone with admiration as they looked at her. 1/3 Briar turned to Ashton. ¡°Ashton, aren¡¯t you going to do something?¡± Ashton poured Briar a ss of water. ¡°I think they might be onto something. It was you who got me to sleepst night.¡± Briar was speechless. ¡°I know Miss Jennings¡® consultation fee,¡± Ashton continued, pulling out his phone and transferring a sum to Briar¡¯s ount. Watching Briar¡¯s confused expression, he asked sincerely, ¡°If I need help again, could I request Miss Jennings¡¯s services again?¡± Briar¡¯s phone buzzed with a notification. She nced down instinctively¨Ca text alerting her to a deposit of $30,000. Ashton exined, ¡°That¡¯s the standard fee I pay my therapist per session. Last night, I slept exceptionally well. I believe you deserve it.¡± Ashton had yed it smart on Briar¡¯s love for money¨Cframing it as a straightforward transaction. In this way, Briar couldn¡¯t bring herself to refuse. As expected, Briar¡¯s refusal died on her lips. Gazing at the screen, she chirped, ¡°Thanks, Ashton.¡± Ashton looked at Briar with sincere and expectant eyes. ¡°If there¡¯s a next time-¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be on call anytime.¡± Briar shed a grin. ¡®Who turns down a gig that pays 30 grand for a good night¡¯s sleep? Only a fool,¡® she thought. ¡°Consider it settled,¡± Ashton replied with an equally warm smile. Briar finished her water. ¡°Well, it¡¯s gettingte. I should go.¡± ¡°Right. Morton, see her out,¡± Ashton instructed, watching as Briar walked away without a backward nce. Briar¡¯s motorbike was still parked at the bar. Morton escorted her all the way to the parking garage, only returning to report after seeing her safely depart. Briar stayed out all night. And while the maids thought it strange that she had left so early that day, no one else in the Jennings family noticed. They all assumed she¡¯d gone out at daybreak. The roar of the motorbike engine cut through the quiet as Br¨ªar pulled into the courtyard. Maids emerged at the sound. ¡°Miss Jennings, you¡¯re back.¡± Briar nodded. ¡°Fix me a te¨CI¡¯m starving.¡± ¡°Right away, Miss Jennings,¡± Sara replied. With Edgar and Camden at the office, only Halle and Beatrice were home. At the sight of Briar striding in wearing a sleek ck suit, Beatrice¡¯s eyes flickered with resentment. ¡°Briar,¡± Beatrice sneered, ¡°where have you been? All dressed up this early in the morning¨Clucky Dad¡¯s not here, or-¡± ¡°Or what?¡± Briar halted on the stairs, fixing her with a stare. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with how I¡¯m dressed? I¡¯m fully covered¨Cunlike someone who got exposed in public but still acts high and mighty. Where¡¯d you get the nerve?¡± ¡°You!¡± Beatrice¡¯s chest heaved with fury. If Halle hadn¡¯t held her back, she might have lunged at Briar. Briar scoffed, ¡°Me? If you leave me alone before school starts, I might go easy on you. But keep pestering me, and I¡¯ll make sure you spend college in a wheelchair.¡± The threatnded effectively. Beatrice visibly paled. ¡°Y¨Cyou wouldn¡¯t dare! Briar, don¡¯t forget, this is Shoneport, not Qathana, where you can run wild.¡± ¡°Then try me.¡± Briar turned to Halle, still restraining Beatrice. ¡°Beatrice might not know what I¡¯m capable of, but you do. I¡¯m nothing like my- mother¨Cpush me, and my temper¡¯s not something I can control.¡± Forsaken 33 Chapter 33 Halle froze. Briar¡¯s words struck her like a physical blow. She didn¡¯t even dare to meet Briar¡¯s eyes. After a long while, she stammered, ¡°D- don¡¯t worry, Briar. There won¡¯t be a next time.¡± Briar nodded. She gave Beatrice, who still looked utterly confused, onest nce before turning and heading upstairs. As the start of term inched closer, the Jennings¡® suddenpliance threw Briar off. Whether her threats had worked or they were waiting to see her fail, their silence felt odd. Shoneport University¡¯s term began on August 25th. That morning, Beatrice was up early, dressed in a pristine white dress, her hair perfectly styled. As Briar came downstairs, Beatrice deliberately raised her voice. ¡°Dad, Mom, I¡¯m heading to campus for orientation!¡± Watching Beatrice¡¯s hyped¨Cup stride, Briar arched an eyebrow, utterly baffled. She was left speechless for a while. ¡®Is she nuts? Did she forget the party show? Thinks everyone¡¯s forgotten? Fine¨CI¡¯ll remind them,¡® she thought. At the breakfast table, Briar scrolled through her phone between bites. Halle and Edgar exchanged knowing looks at her unhurried demeanor. ¡®See? Beatrice just said she¡¯s going to school right in front of Briar, and she doesn¡¯t react. Guess her shot at Shoneport Unviersity was a bluff,¡± they both figured. It made sense to them. Briar had spent the month either partying or gaming¨Cthey¡¯d never seen her hustle for a Shoneport Unviersity hookup. The idea of her enrolling was absurd for them. Edgar asked, ¡°Briar, are you heading out today?¡± Briar nodded without looking up. ¡°Yep, going to school.¡± Halle couldn¡¯t resist a sneer. ¡°Nice try. We haven¡¯t gotten any transfer letters¨Cwhere exactly are you nning to enroll?¡± Briar finally looked at Halle. ¡°Looking for another p?¡± Edgar cut in, ¡°She¡¯s just worried, Briar. You haven¡¯t done anything this month. What university would take you? Let me pull some strings and get you into a decent college for now.¡± Briar logged out of Shoneport University¡¯s forum and deleted her history. Ignoring his fake concern, she stuffed a forkful of eggs in her mouth. Edgar¡¯s tone turned cold when Briar brushed them off. ¡°Briar, everything I¡¯m doing is for your own good-¡± ¡°Spare me,¡± Briar snapped, dropping her fork. ¡°We barely have a father¨Cdaughter bond. Stop seeking attention here.¡± She stood up, grabbing her backpack. ¡°I said I¡¯m getting into Shoneport Unviersity, and I will. Save your crocodile tears.¡± With that, Briar strode out. In the courtyard, she found the driver, Simon ckwood, eyeing her awkwardly by the car. The Jennings household only employed two drivers. One had already left, taking Beatrice to campus. Simon was assigned exclusively to Edgar for hismute to the office. Simon said uneasily, ¡°Miss Jennings, I¡¯m supposed to drive Mr. Jennings-¡± Briar waved a dismissive hand. ¡°Rx. I¡¯ll ride my bike.¡± Minutester, she roared out of the driveway on her motorbike. The second she left, Halle called Beatrice. ¡°Briar¡¯s on her way to Shoneport Unviersity, iming she¡¯s enrolled. Go greet her at the main gate¡± Forsaken 34 Beatrice understood exactly what Halle meant by ¡°greet her.¡± Beatrice said, ¡°Okay, Mom. I¡¯ll wait for Briar at the school gate.¡± ¡°And I can even show her around campus,¡± she added. Both of them smiled, sharing the unspoken understanding. Meanwhile, Briar, weaving through traffic on her motorbike, received a call from Ashton. ¡°Briar, don¡¯t forget to register at school today.¡± ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m on my way now,¡± Briar answered, her gaze fixed ahead. Her voice came soft and low from inside her helmet, surprisingly gentle. Realizing Briar was riding, Ashton asked, ¡°Going alone?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Briar answered. ¡°Poor thing, need a ride?¡± Ashton inquired. The rift between Briar and the Jennings family wasmon knowledge. He knew Edgar wouldn¡¯t bother seeing her off. ¡°Nah, I¡¯m not that fragile.¡± Briar chuckled, turning down his offer. Ashton didn¡¯t push. ¡°Alright, dinner tonight then?¡± This time she didn¡¯t refuse. ¡°Sounds good. You pick the spot.¡± ¡°Deal. I¡¯ll text you the addresster,¡± Ashton confirmed. After a brief exchange, they ended the call. Briar was nearing the entrance of Shoneport University. Shoneport, a century¨Cold institution spanning nearly a thousand acres, had six main entrances. Instead of the crowded front gate, Briar rode her motorbike through a quieter side entrance, pulling right up to the president¡¯s office. Beatrice, who¡¯d arrived earlier, waited at the main gate until registration closed, never spotting Briar. As she chatted with passing ssmates, she texted Halle: [Mom, registration just ended. I¡¯ve been at the gate this whole time¨Cno sign of Briar, Maybe she¡¯s stuck in traffic?] Halle replied instantly: [Then stop waiting.] And she was simultaneously rying Briar¡¯s no¨Cshow to Edgar. They concluded Briar had been all talk. Without a transfer eptance letter from Shoneport University, there¡¯s no way she could get in. Briar had just parked her motorbike when she spotted a man in a grey suit, with white hair but a vigorous demeanor, emerging from the building. Marvin looked Briar up and down, then offered a warm, kindly smile. ¡°You must be Briar? m Marvin Goodwin.¡± Briar wore a casual tracksuit, low ponytail, and ck¨Crimmed sses. Apart from her imposing ck motorbike, she looked every bit the model student. ¡°Mr. Goodwin, nice to meet you. I¡¯m Briar,¡± she said politely, tucking her keys into her backpack and hugging it close. Such an 18¨Cyear¨Cold girl with a soft, pleasant voice and impable manners¨CMarvin¡¯s impression of Briar improved further. Though introduced by Ashton, Briar has real talent in traditional medicine¨Cand she seems so well¨Cbehaved. Surely she won¡¯t stir up trouble everywhere like he did, he thought. ¡°Very well. Come with me. Let¡¯s process your transfer first, then I¡¯ll take you to the traditional medicine department to meet your advisor.¡± Marvin led Briar into the building. As their figures disappeared, Beatrice and her ssmates headed toward the admin building to pick up semester materials from their advisor. Beatrice caught a familiar figure. Her steps hit the brakes, staring dumbfounded towards the president¡¯s office. ¡°Beatrice? What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Nancy Galler, Beatrice¡¯s best friend, noticing her sudden stillness. Beatrice pointed towards the building. ¡°I think I just saw Briar. She went inside with Mr. Goodwin.¡± Nancy frowned. ¡°But you said you waited ages at the gate and never saw her? Maybe you mistook someone?¡± Another ssmate chimed in, ¡°Heard Mr. Goodwin is on campus today, though.¡± ¡°Still, that can¡¯t be your sister,¡± someone else added. ¡°Registration closed hours ago. Rules say you need a rescheduled appointment to enroll now.¡± Beatrice felt the tightness in her chest ease. ¡°You¡¯re right. Maybe I was just so worried about her, I started seeing things.¡± Forsaken 35 Chapter 35 Nancy, always quick to back Beatrice in public, nodded vigorously. ¡°Exactly! You¡¯re such a softie¨Cafter how she treats you, you still worry about her?¡± The others, clueless about the truth, agreed Beatrice was too kind, ushering her along. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go before all the materials get swiped.¡± Beatrice maintained her worried expression but conceded. She pushed her lingering doubt aside for now and followed the group towards the office. ¡®Maybe I really did imagine it? How could Briar get into Shoneport without Dad¡¯s pull?¡® she mused on the way. With Marvin handling it personally, Briar¡¯s transfer procedures went smoothly. In less than half an hour, all her enrollment information was recorded. Handing her the Shoneport U student ID, Marvin beamed. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll take you to meet your advisor. I¡¯ve told him about you¨Che¡¯s pretty interested and wants to test your skills.¡± Briar smiled but stayed quiet. She had no idea how Ashton convinced Marvin to ept an unknown transfer student. She¡¯d forgotten to ask before, but now, hearing Marvin, she was curious. ¡®Did Ashton just throw his weight around to make this happen?¡® she mused. Briar was ced in the Traditional Medicine department. Her assigned advisor was the renowned Professor Joshua Swift, now in his seventies. He was a national treasure¨Clevel figure rehired by Shoneport after retirement. At his age, Joshua rarely taught lectures, preferring to mentor promising students in the department¡¯sb. So Marvin led her straight to theb. At the closed door, he buzzed the inte and boomed, ¡°Josh,e check out your new student!¡± ¡®Josh?¡® Briar suppressed a twitch of her lips. ¡®I bet Mr. Goodwin is the only one at Shoneport who dares call him that.¡® Soon, the door slid open. A man with white hair but eyes sparkling with vitality stepped out¨Cclearly someone who took meticulous care of his health. This had to be ¡°Josh¡± Marvin had mentioned. Joshua wore a whiteb coat. As he stepped out, he instinctively pushed up his reading sses, shot Marvin a re, then turned his attention to Briar beside him. Briar met Joshua¡¯s assessing look with aposed, respectful smile. ¡°Mr. Swift, nice to meet you. I¡¯m Briar, a new transfer student to TM. Looking forward to your guidance.¡± Her tone was humble, eyes clear¨Cno hint of arrogance. Joshua¡¯s first impression was positive. He pointed to a half¨Copen door behind him. ¡°Briar, please wait for me in the office inside.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Briar nodded to Marvin. Hugging her backpack, she stepped inside and closed the door behind her. Even with the door closed, Joshua kept his voice low. ¡°That¡¯s the girl? The acupuncture prodigy Ashton forced on you?¡± Marvin nodded. ¡°Griffin confirmed it¨Cshe¡¯s the one who¡¯s been treating him. And get this, she can write prescriptions independently. She made him some medicinal bath, said it worked wonders.¡± Joshua¡¯s excitement grew. ¡°If that¡¯s true, an 18¨Cyear¨Cold with that level of skill? Briar could be our traditional medicine¡¯s living showcase,¡± ¡°You¡¯re telling me. That¡¯s why i handled her enrollment myself, bringing her straight to you without telling anyone. Promise me you¡¯ll nurture this talent¨Ccan¡¯t let her get led astray by those fools.¡± Marvin¡¯s face darkened at thest part. Joshua patted Marvin¡¯s shoulder, his voice filled with conviction. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I want to ensure the legacy of traditional medicine lives even more than you do.¡± Forsaken 36 Chapter 36 Joshua and Marvin, well past middle age, fell into heavy silence after broaching such a somber topic. Finally, Marvin sighed and urged, ¡°Alright, our old bones can still hold up. ¡°Let¡¯s give youngsters more time. When the momentes, they¡¯ll definitely do better than we did back in the day. Go on in, don¡¯t keep Briar waiting.¡± Joshua nodded, waving Marvin off. ¡°Go on, scram before our close contact draws attention.¡± With that, he shut theb door, Bored of waiting in Joshua¡¯s office, Briar got up to check out the space. The room was simply furnished¨Cjust a desk and bookshelves lining the wall. Alongside traditional medicine texts, the shelves held countless specimens of rare herbs, some of which Briar had only seen in Tristan¡¯s private vault. But what truly caught her eye was an old picture frame nestled amongst the specimens. The photo showed five young men. The one in the center was clearly a younger Joshua. A To his left stood Marvin, whom she¡¯d just met. To the right, she recognized Griffin in his youth. The man next to Griffin was unfamiliar to her. But the real shock came from the long¨Chaired, ck¨Crimmed man on the far right¨Che was the spitting image of a young Tristan. ¡®Whoa, she thought, ¡®didn¡¯t know Tristan was such a trendsetter back then.¡® When Joshua walked in, he caught Briar staring at the photo frame. ¡°Briar,¡± he chuckled, ¡°bet you can¡¯t guess who¡¯s the hottest in this pic. Briar turned with a smile. ¡°Obviously you, Mr. Swift.¡± Joshua burst outughing. ¡°Excellent taste! For that alone, I¡¯ll make sure you get the best training.¡± Briar hadn¡¯t expected this seemingly stern, old¨Cfashioned Joshua to be so witty. ¡°I¡¯ll study hard, I promise.¡± ¡°Come on,¡± Joshua said, ¡°let me show you around theb first and introduce you to your seniors. In our traditional medicine program, we don¡¯t stick to textbooks¨Creal learning happens in practice.¡± As Briar trailed behind, nodding along, his warm demeanor sparked a flicker of genuine anticipation for school. She thought, ¡®Who would¡¯ve thought I¡¯d ever look forward to attending sses?¡® Most traditional medicine students were men, many from hereditary practitioner families. With Dasmieca cracking down on traditional practices recently, most aspiring doctors opted for modern medicine. While other universities had a brutal 8:2 male¨Cfemale ratio, Shoneport¡¯s ratio was rtively bnced byparison. Even so, enrollment in Shoneport¡¯s Traditional Medicine department rarely topped a hundred students per year. The number Joshua deemed exceptional enough to join hisb was rare. Including two new additions this year, theb housed only eleven students. Among these eleven students, there are ten males and only one female. So this youngdy instantly became the beloved one in theb. The moment Joshua led in the pretty, doll¨Cfaced Briar, every guy in theb stopped what they were doing. Their eyes were glued to her like mas. Joshua pped his hands and announced, ¡°Alright, let me introduce¨Cthis is Briar, our new transfer student in first year. She¡¯s 18, but don¡¯t let her age fool you¨Cshe can already see patients on her own.¡± ¡°Bravo!¡± James Garcia was the first to apud enthusiastically. ¡°Hey there, I¡¯m James, head of theb and this year¡¯s project lead¨Csenior, fourth year.¡± Karl Mosby chimed in, ¡°Hey, Briar. I¡¯m Karl, also a fourth¨Cyear in TM.¡± Ted Wilson added, ¡°Hey there. I¡¯m Ted.¡± Frank Liame followed. ¡°Briar! My name¡¯s Frank.¡± Mason Juno cut in, ¡°Mason, what¡¯s up.¡± Joseph Andrew smiled. ¡°Joseph here.¡± Charle Harris added, ¡°Charle, wee to join us.¡± Richard Davis waved. ¡°Richard, nice to meet you.¡± Thomas Cooper said with a big smile, ¡°Thomas.¡± Nichs Reed finished, ¡°Nichs.¡± After ten guys introduced themselves, Mia Marmen shuffled out from the back, extending her hand. ¡°I¡¯m Mia, third¨Cyear. Pleased to meet you.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you too, Mia,¡± Briar replied, reaching out to shake her hand. The second their hands sped, Briar felt Mia yank her wrist, squeezing viciously when no one was looking. ¡®Seriously? Showing hostility right off the bat?¡® she thought. Briar arched an eyebrow, letting Mia crush her hand. As Mia released her, Briar ¡°identally¡± brushed against Mia¡¯s radial nerve. She smiled sweetly at Mia¡¯s pained grimace, all innocence. Forsaken 37 Chapter 37 Mia clutched her arm, wincing as sharp pain shot through her. Her face twitched, muscles tightening, but she bit back any sound. No way was she going to let Briar see her falter. To cover up her moment of weakness, Mia edged closer to Briar, hoping the movement would mask the grimace twisting her features. Inside, though, Mia¡¯s feelings toward Briar had long since curdled. What started as petty jealousy over Briar¡¯s striking looks had festered into something darker, sharper¨Cresentment. She stole a nce at Briar, her eyes glinting with barely concealed spite. When she caught the guy she liked gazing at Briar with that smoldering intensity, Mia¡¯s dislike red into something close to hatred. Briar, though, couldn¡¯t care less about Mia¡¯s inner turmoil. Shezily turned her head to look at Frank. She had already noticed him sneaking nces at her multiple times, so she raised an eyebrow at him, silently asking what he wanted. Frank¡¯s cheeks flushed, and he quickly looked away, mentally kicking himself for getting caught. Still, he had to admit Ashton was right¨CBriar was¡­ special. She was stunning, no question¨Cher arrival in theb had every guy¡¯s head turning. Frank figured Ashton must¡¯ve sensed the threat early on. ¡°Alright, now that you¡¯ve all met, I¡¯m leaving Briar in your hands,¡± Joshua said with a warm chuckle. ¡°You¡¯ve all been at this longer than she has, so make sure to show her the ropes!¡± James nodded eagerly. ¡°You got it, Professor Swift! We¡¯ll take good care of her, don¡¯t worry.¡± It was Briar¡¯s first day, and unlike the other freshmen who had to start from scratch, she¡¯d been handpicked by the dean himself to join theb team. Now, she was the twelfth member of the group. She soon proved herself¨Cshe was blowing everyone away with her uncanny knack for medicine. Everyone, that was, except Mia. She muttered under her breath, ¡°Tch. So she¡¯s got a bit more hands¨Con experience. Big deal. No need to show off about it.¡± Briar¡¯s sharp ears caught every word. She whipped her head around, locking eyes with Mia. In a low, cool tone only they could hear, she said, ¡°You¡¯re right¨CI am kind of a big deal. Got a problem with that? Keep it to yourself.¡± Inwardly, Briar was baffled, thinking, ¡®What¡¯s this girl¡¯s deal? ¡®I haven¡¯t messed with her life or stolen her crush. Why¡¯s she acting like I¡¯m her personal enemy?¡® These days, Briar had mellowed out, so she let it slide. Back in her wilder years abroad, though? Someone like Mia, picking fights for no reason, would¡¯ve gotten a much less polite response- probably a ck eye. The morning flew by in a blur ofb work. Briar peeled off her white coat and joined the group heading to the campus cafeteria for lunch. Frank saw his chance to talk to her alone and slowed his pace, falling back a few steps. ¡°Hey, Briar,¡± he said quietly, ¡°if you ever need help with anything, just say the word. Ashton¡¯s my brother, you know.¡± Briar¡¯s head snapped toward him, eyes wide. ¡°Wait, you¡¯re Ashton¡¯s brother?¡± Frank shed a grin, showing off a set of dazzling white teeth. ¡°Yup! Don¡¯t we both have that unbeatable, world¨Css charm?¡± Briar rolled her eyes, biting back augh. ¡°Frank, what are you two whispering about?¡± Mia¡¯s voice cut in as she wedged herself between them. She reached for Briar¡¯s arm, trying to y it off as friendly, but Briar sidestepped smoothly. Mia¡¯s smile froze, her hand hovering awkwardly before she pulled it back, pretending nothing happened. She couldn¡¯t lose her cool¨Cnot in front of the guy she liked. Frank¡¯s grin faded, his tone t. ¡°Nothing much. I¡¯m heading out.¡± Growing up in the tangled web of the Wade family¨Ca world of scheming and power ys¨CFrank had a nose for hidden motives. He¡¯d clocked Mia¡¯s hostility toward Briar back in theb, and now, with her trying to cozy up to him, he wasn¡¯t biting. Mia wasn¡¯t his type, in and simple. And even if she were, Frank wouldn¡¯t y along. In families like his, marriage was just another chess move, and love was only a luxury they rarely bothered with. So, he had no time for her games. Forsaken 38 Chapter 38 Briar shoved her hands in her pockets and quickened her pace, eager to put some distance between herself and Mia¡¯s sour expression as she headed toward the cafeteria. Shoneport University, a prestigious century¨Cold institution, boasted an impressive dining scene. With four cafeterias, you could find just about any cuisine your heart desired. Being new, Briar yed it safe and made a beeline for the Zakian cuisine counter, her go¨Cto choice. She wasn¡¯t picky about vors¨Cgive her enough spice, and she was happy. Zakian cuisine was a campus favorite, and when Briar got to the counter, the line was already snaking long. Lucky for her, a few familiar faces from theb were near the front, having gotten there early. Spotting her alone, they waved her over with warm smiles and let her cut in. ¡°Briar,e with us! They¡¯ve got Ceviche and Anticuchos today -limited supply. You don¡¯t want to miss out,¡± one of them called. Briar didn¡¯t hesitate. She gave a small nod and stepped in without the slightest trace of guilt. ¡°Sweet, thanks.¡± Just like that, she scored Ceviche and Anticuchos. Frank and James, ever the weing crew, invited her to join them at their table. Briar settled in with her tray, surrounded by herb mates. Frank, with his striking looks, privileged background, and the fact that he¡¯d been specially recruited into Joshua¡¯sb, was already a bit of a legend at Shoneport. Among the traditional medicine crowd, he was the undisputed campus heartthrob, and plenty of girls nursed quiet crushes on him. But Frank had always kept his distance. Cool and aloof, he gave off an air of being unapproachable, and it was rare¨Cnearly unheard of¨Cfor a girl to sit close to him, let alone chat orugh with him. So, when the campus¡¯s famous cool guy was seen cozying up to a stunning new girl, sharing a table and splitting his beloved Anticuchos with her, jaws hit the floor. It was nothing short of shocking. Heads turned, and whispers spread like wildfire. Everyone was curious about that new girl. No one seemed to know her, but the fact that she was eating with the Traditional Medicine crew led to one conclusion: she had to be a freshman in their department. The crowd was buzzing with curiosity¨Cand a touch of pity. ¡°Such a gorgeous girl, and she picks Traditional Medicine? What was she thinking?¡± someone muttered. ¡°She¡¯d have been better off in Computer Science, Finance, or Law,¡± another chimed in, shaking their head. Someone even snapped a photo of the scene and posted it on the school¡¯s online forum with the headline: [Campus Hottie Dines with Mystery Beauty.] The otherb guys sitting nearby? Completely cropped out. Meanwhile, Beatrice and her friends were in line at the Zakian counter, only to find¨Cjust as James had warned¨Cthat the Ceviche was sold out. ¡°Ugh, this is the worst! First day of school, and I can¡¯t even get the food I want,¡± Nancy grumbled, pouting, Beatrice, clutching an empty tray, stood frozen, her gaze fixed on something in the distance. ¡°Beatrice, what are you staring at?¡± Nancy asked, following her line of sight. There, at a nearby table, sat Frank¨Cnext to a striking girl with an air of effortless cool. Judging by the other Traditional Medicine guys around them, they figure that girl was probably one of them. The group exchanged stunned nces. ¡°A girl in Traditional Medicine? In this day and age?¡± one of them whispered. Everyone knew the department had long been considered a dead end¨Chard to find a job after graduation, with few opportunities tied directly to the degree. Getting into Shoneport was no small feat. Choosing a major that practically spelled unemployment? That seemed like a deeply questionable life choice. But none of that really mattered now. What truly captured their attention wasn¡¯t her major, but the quiet elegance of the girl herself. Already, a few bold guys had noticed Briar and mustered the courage to approach, asking for her number. Each one was shot down, politely but firmly, with a look that said she wasn¡¯t here to y games. Ìï AD Comment Forsaken 39 Chapter 39 ¡°That pretty girl everyone¡¯s talking about is actually my sister,¡± Beatrice finally said, unable to hold it in any longer after the eighth guy who went up to ask Briar for her number came back looking defeated and embarrassed. Her voice was low but clear enough for those nearby to catch. Nancy pped a hand over her mouth, wide¨Ceyed. ¡°Wait¨Cshe¡¯s the one you told me about? She¡¯s the one who got your dad to donate five entire buildings just to barely squeeze into Shoneport University?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the deal?¡± Beatrice¡¯s and Nancy¡¯s exchange had piqued the curiosity of the crowd, and a few eager eavesdroppers leaned in, hungry for the tea. Nancy nced at Beatrice, hesitating. ¡°Beatrice, is it okay if I spill?¡± Beatrice bit her lip, her face a perfect mix of awkwardness and reluctance. ¡°Nancy, please don¡¯t. My dad went through so much to get Briar into Shoneport. If she hears this, it¡¯ll crush her.¡± Her words, though brief, were loaded with implications. First off, everyone knew who Beatrice Jennings was. She wasn¡¯t just a standout student in the university¡¯s Dance Department but also the star prot¨¦g¨¦ of Jolene, a renowned figure in the field. Her name was already well¨Cknown on campus. Second, they now knew the stunning girl was Beatrice¡¯s sister. And from the sound of it, that girl didn¡¯t have the grades to get in on merit. ording to Beatrice¡¯s words, it took a hefty sum of money and family connections just to get her admitted. Now they found a solid reason for her to end up in Traditional Medicine. The field was fading fast, barely anyone¡¯s first choice. It was the kind of major you could slide into without a ster academic record. Lastly¨Cand perhaps most obviously¨Cthe way Beatrice spoke hinted that the sisters weren¡¯t exactly close. Those who connected the dots shifted their gazes toward Briar. The starry¨Ceyed admiration from earlier was gone, reced by a cooler, more critical appraisal. After all, what good was a pretty face if it masked an empty head? Some girls, already envious of Briar¡¯s looks, now shot her smirks tinged with disdain. Beatrice, having stirred the pot just enough, tugged Nancy away. But as she turned, her expression darkened, a storm brewing behind her eyes. ¡®Briar got into Shoneport University?¡® she thought, incredulous. Who helped her? ¡®Was it¡­Dad?¡® She dismissed the idea almost instantly. If her father had had the clout to charm the Shoneport board, Beatrice¡¯s own admission wouldn¡¯t have been such a grueling ordeal. She¡¯d only gotten in thanks to Javier¡¯s connections and her status as Jolene¡¯s prized student. Beatrice wondered, ¡®So who could¡¯ve pulled strings for Briar? ¡®She barely knew anyone at Shoneport.¡® Over lunch, Beatrice fired off a message to her mother, urging her to probe her father and find out whether he had secretly pulled some strings for Briar. Halle was floored by Beatrice¡¯s text. She called Edgar immediately, probing delicately but persistently. After a few rounds, it was clear: Edgar had no idea Briar had gotten into Shoneport University. With her father out of the picture, Beatrice was stumped. Who could Briar have leaned on?¡® she wondered. Back in the cafeteria, Briar had already noticed the subtle shift in atmosphere. The way some students were looking at her had changed- there were sideways nces, eyes filled with judgment, and veiled sneers. The air around her had turned prickly. She finished her lunch calmly, wiped her mouth, and began scanning the room for the source of those looks. What¡¯s with these Shoneport kids?¡® she mused. ¡®Staring at people like they¡¯re ready to start a fight. Weird hobby.¡± ¡°Hey, check the campus forum,¡± Mason said suddenly, snapping Briar¡¯s attention to her phone. She opened the app and saw thetest post, pinned to the top, timestamped just fifteen minutes ago. It was a photo of her and Frank at lunch. Whoever took it had gone out of their way to edit out everyone else at the table, crafting the illusion that she and Frank were on some cozy cafeteria date. Forsaken 40 Chapter 40 Frank, the undisputed heartthrob of Shoneport University¡¯s Traditional Medicine Department, was a campus celebrity. His fanbase was massive, spanning both guys and girls who couldn¡¯t get enough of his charm. So when news broke that some girl was cozying up to him on the first day of the semester, the campus rumor mill went into overdrive. Whether Briar had actually made a move or not, the looks she got from passersby wereced with judgment. The campus forum was aze, thement section a chaotic battlefield split into two camps. One side tore into Briar, branding her shameless for ¡°throwing herself¡± at their beloved Prince Frankie. Students who¡¯d been in the cafeteria when the photo was taken spilled more tea on the forum. They revealed Briar was from the Jennings family but had mediocre grades, only getting into Shoneport because her family allegedly shelled out for five new buildings. Thements came fast and furious, dripping with scorn. [What a joke! Does she think her fancy background makes her worthy of Prince Frankie?] one user sneered. Another chimed in: [She¡¯s been at Shoneport for, what, half a day? And she¡¯s already bold enough to take on Frankie¡¯s rabid fan club?] Someone posted a mock¨Cseriousment: [I will ask my assistant to dig up every detail on this Briar girl in the next sixty seconds. No way I¡¯m letting some pretty face waltz in and mess with our Prince Frankie.] Others piled on: [Let¡¯s not go too far, though. Her dad donated five buildings to get her in. Maybe we just teach her a lesson¡­ you know, rich kid and all.] [Screw that! Why should we be scared of someone who bought their way into Shoneport?] another scoffed. One user called out: [Where¡¯s Le, our Finance Department queen? Has anyone tagged her? If she doesn¡¯t hurry, Prince Frankie¡¯s gonna get snatched by some random freshman!] A reply shot back: [Not on our watch! The Fra fan club¡¯s still here, and we¡¯re not letting any other girl snatch him.] The post spiraled further into absurdity, skyrocketing to the top of the forum¡¯s trending list. Like most college forums, Shoneport¡¯s was a free¨Cfor¨Call. No real¨Cname registration meant everyone could let loose, spewing whatever came to mind without fear of consequences. It was a cesspool of wild takes and unfiltered chaos. But not everyone was out to crucify Briar. Some were firmly in her corner¨Cmostly because of her looks. At Shoneport, where beautiful faces were a dime a dozen, Briar¡¯s stood out. Her sweet features paired with those cool, detached eyes had a maic pull, Guys weren¡¯t the only ones smitten. Even some girls, catching a glimpse of her, were floored. [Okay, okay, forget the drama¨Ccan we talk about how this Briar girl isn¡¯t even wearing makeup in that photo?] onementer gushed. Another, iming to be just ten feet away, confirmed, [Not kidding. I¡¯m literally ten feet away from her right now. Not a trace of foundation. That¡¯s her real skin.] [Seriously? A natural beauty like that in this day and age? Mind blown,] someone else marveled. One user mused: [If you think about it, can you me Frankie for being into her? If a girl that gorgeous came onto me, I¡¯d be weak in the knees too.] Someone dered: (She¡¯s stunning! Doe¡¯s Briar have a forum ount? I¡¯m ready to be her biggest fan!] Another jumped on the bandwagon: [Count me in! She¡¯s stunning. I¡¯m hopping on her fan train before this whole inte pile¨Con ruins her.] Briar scrolled through thements under the photo of her and Frank, her finger flicking across the screen with practiced ease. When she was done, she set her phone down, her face nk, unbothered. To her, this petty drama wasn¡¯t worth her time. Frank, misreading her calm as hurt, shifted ufortably. ¡°Briar, don¡¯t let the forum nonsense get to you. It¡¯s just people talking trash. Ignore it.¡± In his head, he was already nning to pull some strings and get the post deleted before it snowballed further. Most importantly, he had to keep this from reaching Ashton. If his brother found out, Frank might not survive the fallout. Briar had barely been at Shoneport for half a day, and already she was getting attacked online¨Call because of him. Well, if the words got out, that wouldn¡¯t look good. Briar just nodded. ¡°I get it. I¡¯m not sweating it. Besides, I never had that kind of interest in you, so none of this fazes me.¡± She wasn¡¯t some starry¨Ceyed romantic who lived for drama. This kind of gossip was like water off a duck¡¯s back. Frank¡¯s shoulders slumped, a pang of disappointment hitting him. He forc¨¦d a small smile, thinking to himself, ¡®Ouch. I know you¡¯re right, but did you have to say it like that?¡® Forsaken 41 Chapter 41 After lunch, the group headed back to theb building, the air thick with awkwardness thanks to the forum drama. Mia was practically glowing with smug satisfaction, but the others worked hard to lighten the mood. Briar was the youngest in their crew, after all, and they felt a protective urge to look out for her. Plus, the way the forum was piling on Briar felt like a jab at the entire Traditional Medicine Department. Their department was small enough as it was¨Cwhen push came to shove, they had to stick together and face the world as a unit. Richard steered the conversation to safer ground. ¡°Hey, Briar, have you checked in at the dorms yet?¡± Briar blinked, caught off guard. She¡¯d been whisked straight to theb by Marvin upon arrival, and if she hadn¡¯t done her homework on Shoneport University beforehand, she¡¯d have no clue where anything was. ¡°I actually bought a ce off¨Ccampus. Wasn¡¯t nning on staying in the dorms.¡± Richard wagged a finger at her, grinning. ¡°Nuh¨Cuh, doesn¡¯t work like that. Even if you¡¯re not living there, you still gotta register. Traditional Medicine students get their own little safes for storing rare herbs and stuff.¡± That was news to Briar. A dedicated safe for medicinal supplies? She hadn¡¯te across that in her research. Since it was a school requirement, she wasn¡¯t about to make a fuss. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll head over to register now.¡± Mia seized the moment, her voice syrupy sweet. ¡°Briar, do you even know where our department¡¯s dorms are? Want me to show you the way?¡± Briar met Mia¡¯s overly cheerful smile, catching the glint of mischief in her eyes. ¡°Sure, that¡¯d be great. Thanks.¡± Frank was surprised Mia volunteered, but when he saw the way Briar seemedpletely unfazed¨Cas if she could already see through whatever Mia was nning¨Che rxed. After all, Briar didn¡¯t look like someone who would get taken advantage of. ¡°Alright then. Let Mia take you.¡± As the two turned to leave, Frank called out, like he¡¯d just remembered something. ¡°Oh, hold up, Briar! Let¡¯s swap contact info. We¡¯re all in the sameb group, and I¡¯ll add you to our chat.¡± ¡°Cool, add me.¡± Briar didn¡¯t hesitate, pulling out her phone and letting Frank find her on WhatsApp. Once she epted the friend request, Frank sent her a smiley emoji. Then he pulled her into theb group chat, tossing in a ¡°Wee, new teammate!¡± sticker. The group chat lit up with messages, everyone chiming in with warm wees. Even Mia dropped a generic ¡°Wee!¡± emoji, ying along. The vibe loosened up,ughter and banter picking up steam. Briar gave a casual wave. ¡°Alright, we¡¯re heading out.¡± The Traditional Medicine dorms were tucked at the very back of the campus housingplex, their building slightly than the others.plete with a small extra room forb¨Crted storage. Mia led Briar to the dorm office, where they picked up Briar¡¯s room key and safe key before heading to her assigned floor. Mia stopped in ¡ú front of a door marked 2015, dangling the key with a sly grin. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t this a coincidence? Looks like we¡¯re roommates, Briar Briar arched an eyebrow, her lips curling faintly. ¡°Small world.¡± With Traditional Medicine being Shoneport¡¯s smallest department¨Cand female students in the program even rarer¨Cit wasn¡¯t exactly shocking that she and Mia, both in the sameb, would end up sharing a room. Besides, considering how enthusiastic Mia had been just now, Briar had already guessed that. She¡¯d bet anything Mia had already seen the new roommate list at the dorm office that morning. AD Forsaken 42 Chapter 42 Mia, with a mischievous glint in her eye, gestured toward a bedbeled with Briar¡¯s name. ¡°That¡¯s your spot,¡± she said, her voice dripping with feigned sweetness. Briar nced at it, her stomach turning. The bed was shoved into the dimmest corner of the room, far from the window¡¯s reach, where even the midday sun barely touched it. Scuff marks around the bed¡¯s legs betrayed its recent relocation, and the name tag, curling at the edges, looked like it had been hastily swapped. Worse, the bed was littered with trash¨Cthree hole¨Criddled socks and a grimy pair of underwear. They¡¯re trying to get under my skin,¡® Briar thought, her jaw tighte It didn¡¯t take a genius to figure out who was behind this. ¡°Is that our new roommate?¡± a voice called from the hallway, be with barely concealed glee. ¡°Let¡¯s check her out!¡± another chimed in, equally eager. ¡°Hurry up and clean your bed, set your safe¡¯s code, and let¡¯s get back distinctly gleeful voices floated in from outside, cutting off Mia befoto theb. We don¡¯t want to keep the others waiting¡­ Those two she could offer any more fake help. Briar and Mia turned toward the door as two girls sauntered in, arms linked, smirks stered across their faces. Briar knew these had to be her other roommates. Their eyes, sharp with hostility, sized her up. Clearly, they weren¡¯t rolling out the wee mat either. ¡°Lydia, Abbie, you¡¯re back!¡± Mia said brightly, seizing the chance to stir the pot. ¡°Meet our new roommate, Briar Jennings, a freshman in Traditional Medicine. Oh, you know, the one everyone¡¯s been buzzing about on the forum this afternoon¨Cthe gorgeous girl in the spotlight.¡± She shed Briar a sharine smile before continuing. ¡°Briar, this is Lydia Ponce and Abbie Cooper, both sophomores in Traditional Medicine. Lydia¡¯s from the Ponce family, one of Shoneport¡¯s elite. And Abbie? She¡¯s Thomas¡¯s little sister. You¡¯ve met him. He¡¯s one of ourb teammates. The Cooper family¡¯s practically royalty in Astravia¡¯s Traditional Medicine scene.¡± Mia¡¯s words were a calcted jab, a not¨Cso¨Csubtle reminder that these girls came from big names. The message was clear: watch your step, Briar. For a typical well¨Cmannered heiress, this would¡¯ve been the cue to y nice, at least on the surface. The Jennings family, like the Ponce family, was second¨Ctier Shoneport elite¨Cneither outranked the other. But Briar had never been one to back down from a challenge. If someone came for her, she hit back, no hesitation. Meeting their scornful stares, she didn¡¯t flinch. Instead, she raised an eyebrow, her voice cool andzy. ¡°Oh, cool. And?¡± The room froze. ¡®And?¡® Lydia¡¯s mind reeled. ¡®And you¡¯re supposed to be polite and know your ce!¡® Briar¡¯s gaze locked onto Lydia, who was practically puffing up with self¨Cimportance. ¡°So, you¡¯re from the Ponce family? The ones who im to deal in premium herbs but get caught peddling fakes? Or maybe the Ponce family that¡¯s been cklisted in Traditional Medicine for five years running for shady business practices?¡± 10.48 MONI, ug Lydia¡¯s face went nk, her confidence evaporating. fairly familiar with the Jennings family. She and Beatrice had grown close, or?n As someone from a second¨Ctier family in Shoneport, she was hitting the town together, and most of what she knew about Briar came straight from Beatrice¡¯s mouth¨Cnone of it ttering. That alone was ¨C enough to spark her dislike. Then came the forum post at lunch, the one with the photo of Briar and Frank looking cozy. It was the final straw for Lydia. Everyone at Shoneport knew Le had a thing for Frank. As a daughter of the Haynes family¨Cone of Shoneport¡¯s top four elite¨Cshe and Frank were seen as a perfect match, so no one dared challenge Le¡¯s im. But now, out of nowhere, here came Briar¨Cthis stunning freshman stealing Frank¡¯s attention. For Lydia, who had nursed a secret crush on Frank for years, even choosing to enter the traditional medicine department for his sake, the jealousy was impossible to hide. AD Forsaken 43 Chapter 43 Lydia¡¯s face flushed crimson with anger. ¡°What are you bbering about? My family¡¯s been in the herb business for decades, with clients alf over the world. Why would we risk our reputation selling fakes?¡± Briar tilted her head, feigning confusion. ¡°Really? That¡¯s odd. I could¡¯ve sworn I saw a news story about Ponce Group getting caught with counterfeit drugs in Qathanast year. My mistake, maybe?¡± Lydia¡¯s confidence wavered, a flicker of unease crossing her face. There had been a scandal involving her family¡¯s business abroadst year, but she wasn¡¯t involved in thepany and had no idea where the story broke. ¡®Could it really have been Qathana? ¡®What are the odds?¡® she wondered, her bravado faltering. That casual little jab of Briar¡¯s had left Lydia with noeback. She stood there awkwardly, her earlier arrogance evaporating. Abbie¡¯s hostility toward Briar, on the other hand, was simpler, rooted in a quiet crush she harbored for Frank. As Thomas¡¯s little sister, she had more chances to be around Frank than most, and over time, her heart had started to flutter. She¡¯d kept her feelings under wraps, especially since Mia and Lydia were also smitten with him. Abbie knew she was outmatched¨CLe was the perfect match from an elite family, Lydia moved in Frank¡¯s high¨Csociety circles, and Mia had the advantage of proximity. All Abbie had was her brother¡¯s friendship with Frank, which wasn¡¯t much to lean on. Bing Frank¡¯s girlfriend felt like a distant dream, one she¡¯d have to fight for, And now, Briar¨Cgorgeous and dangerously close to Frank¨Cwas a new threat she couldn¡¯t ignore. Her venomous re at Briar matched the others¡® intensity, yet Mia and Lydia assumed she was just backing them up. ¡°Briar, we¡¯re all roommates now, so let¡¯s try to get along, okay?¡± Abbie said, her tone dripping with false warmth. ¡°Since you¡¯re thest one to move in, we tidied up your bed for you. That empty one over there? It¡¯s all yours.¡± Her words painted Briar as the outsider, subtly isting her from the trio. Briar let out a dry scoff. ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯ll pass on this dump. You three can enjoy it.¡± With that, she strode toward the small side room, found her assigned safe, and unlocked it with her key. The inside was surprisingly clean- no random junk. She reset thebination, locked it back up, and turned to leave. ¡°Hold on, Briar!¡± Mia snapped, blocking her path. ¡°We cleaned this dorm this morning. How dare you call it a dump?¡± She¡¯d brought Briar here to team up with Lydia and Abbie to put Briar in her ce¨Cthere was no way she¡¯d let her walk away so easily. As Briar moved for the door, Mia stepped in front of her, with Lydia and Abbie quickly joining to form a human barricade, Lydia even reached out, trying to shove Briar, but Briar sidestepped with effortless grace. Blocked, Briar¡¯s eyes narrowed, her tongue pressing against the back of her teeth. It was a telltale sign to anyone who knew her that she was teetering on the edge of losing her cool. Her expression turned icy, a storm brewing behind her calm facade. But the three girls, oblivious to the warning signs, mistook her pause and lowered gaze for fear. They thought they¡¯d intimidated her. Lydia, emboldened, jutted her chin out smugly. ¡°Word is your dad had to donate five buildings to get you into Shoneport. Instead of ying nice with your roommates and ssmates, you¡¯re getting cozy with some guy. What¡¯s your deal¡­¡± 1040 Mon Aug Chapter 43 Before she could finish, Briar grabbed Lydia¡¯s cor in a sh, yanking her forward and mming her against the wall, Lydia¡¯s back hit with a thud, and she let out a shrill yelp. ¡°Owl¡± 1 Comment Send gift Forsaken 44 Abbie and Mia were momentarily stunned by Briar¡¯s sudden outburst, but they quickly sprang into action, rushing to help Lydia, who was clearly in pain and barely able to stand. ¡°Lydia, you okay?¡± they asked, voices thick with worry. ¡°Briar, how could youy hands on her? That¡¯s so low!¡± Abbie snapped, pointing an usatory finger at Briar. ¡°We were trying to talk to you like civilized people. You brush us off and start throwing punches the second you don¡¯t like what you hear? Seriously, how could you be so rude?¡± Mia piled on, her tone sharp with indignation. ¡°My back hurts so bad,¡± Lydia whimpered, tears streaming down her face. She wasn¡¯t faking it¨CBriar¡¯s shove had left her rattled, her back throbbing like it was already bruising. She thought to herself, ¡®Is this Briar even a woman? What kind of girl hits that hard?¡® ¡°Let¡¯s take a look,¡± Abbie said, lifting Lydia¡¯s shirt with Mia to check her back. Then, they gasped in unison. ¡°Oh my, your whole back¡¯s red, and it¡¯s turning purple in spots!¡± Abbie eximed, wide¨Ceyed. ¡°This is serious! You need to go to the infirmary right now. What if something¡¯s seriously hurt?¡± Mia added, her voice urgent. ¡°I¡¯m reporting this,¡± Lydia said through clenched teeth, pointing at Briar in fury. ¡°You think you cane in here, start fights, and walk away? I¡¯m going to tell our advisor. You¡¯ve crossed the line!¡± Briar stood there, arms crossed, watching their melodramatic performance with a mix of amusement and disdain. When Lydia threatened to tattle, she shrugged. ¡°Go for it. Take it straight to Mr. Goodwin. Maybe he¡¯ll kick me out on the spot.¡± She wasn¡¯t scared of trouble or of escting it. These girls hade at her with their petty games, and Briar wasn¡¯t about to let small¨Ctime scheming run her out of a ce like Shoneport University. ¡°You¡­you¡¯ll regret this!¡± Lydia sputtered. The trio could only re and bluster. They didn¡¯t darey hands on her again¨Cresorting to a catfight would only bring them down to her ¡°level,¡± and they had too much pride for that. So they turned, helping Lydia limp away toward the infirmary, plotting their next move. Briar watched them hobble off, leaning on each other like they¡¯d survived a war. She smirked, shaking her head. ¡°Pathetic.¡± It was lunch break, and the dorm door had been wide open the whole time. The noise had drawn attention, but no one dared get too close. As Lydia was dramatically escorted out, sobbing, a few nosy students lingered near Room 2015, peeking inside. They quickly spotted Briar- the star of today¡¯s forum gossip¨Cstanding alone. Briar had no interest in sticking around to be gawked at like some zoo exhibit. She locked the dorm door with a scowl and strode out, ignoring the whispers trailing behind her. With time to kill before afternoon sses, she didn¡¯t head back to theb. Instead, she slung her backpack over her shoulder and made her way to the campus gates, bound for her ce at Moonspring Estate. A quick nap sounded like the perfect way to shake off the morning¡¯s nonsense. However, she¡¯d barely drifted off for half an hour when her phone buzzed insistently. The screen shed an unknown number. Groggy and annoyed, Briar silenced it without a second thought. To her surprise, the caller was relentless, ringing again and again. By the fourth call, Briar¡¯s patience was gone. She answered with a growl, ¡°Hello? Who is this? You better have a good reason for this.¡± 10:48 Mon, 11 Aug o Her sharp tone threw the caller off, and after a brief pause, a sweet, hesitant voice responded. ¡°Um, hello? Is this Ms. Briar Jennings from Shoneport University?¡± Briar could tell her harsh greeting had rattled the girl. She shut her eyes, tamping down her irritation from being woken up. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s me. Who are you, and what¡¯s this about?¡± She didn¡¯t give out her number to many people, and the fact that the caller knew she was a Shoneport student suggested it was university rted. The morning¡¯s drama shed through her mind, reigniting her frustration. ¡°I¡¯m Arlene Moran, your advisor from the Medical Department,¡± the girl said, choosing her words carefully. ¡°I¡¯ve had reports about a conflict in Room 2015 this afternoon. Someone was injured. Could youe to my office to exin what happened?¡± It was clear they¡¯d tried finding her on campus and failed to reach her, so they just called her again and again. Briar clenched her jaw, muttering under her breath, ¡°This is such a hassle.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what was that?¡± Arlene asked, not catching her words. Briar¡¯s sleepiness had been chased away by annoyance. ¡°Fine, give me twenty minutes. I¡¯m still at home.¡± ¡°Great, thank you. Just head to the infirmary when you get here,¡± Arlene said, sounding relieved before hanging up. K AD Comment Forsaken 45 Chapter 45 A few minutester, Briar slung her backpack over her shoulder, popped in her earbuds, and headed out the door. It only took five or six minutes to get to campus if she cut through the side streets, but walking from the university gates to the infirmary took over twenty minutes. Still, Briar strolled along slowly, hands tucked in her pockets, taking her time. She hadn¡¯t even known which direction the infirmary was in and had to pull up the Shoneport University map on her phone to figure it out. The infirmary wasn¡¯t far from the Traditional Medicine girls¡® dorm. Briar pieced it together: Lydia and her crew must¡¯ve gone straight to the infirmary to get her back checked out before ratting her out to the advisor. But she doubted they¡¯d take it to Joshua, the only Traditional Medicine advisor around today. After all, they¡¯d have noticed by now that Joshua had taken a shine to her. Not wanting to let the issue slide and hoping to teach her a lesson, they¡¯d gone to the advisor instead. ¡®Clever move, but pretty low, Briar thought. As she neared the infirmary, her phone buzzed with a call from Frank. Briar considered ignoring it¨Cher nap had been cut short, and the day¡¯s drama had left her in a foul mood¨Cbut she picked up anyway, her voice t and tired. ¡°Hey?¡± Frank¡¯s tone was cautious, almost nervous. ¡°Briar, where are you? I heard you got picked on?¡± Briar raised an eyebrow, surprised he was taking her side right off the bat. She decided to mess with him a bit. ¡°What if I¡¯m the one who started it?¡± ¡°No way,¡± Frank shot back without missing a beat. ¡°Ashton says you¡¯re tooid¨Cback to go picking fights. Someone must¡¯vee at you first, right?¡± Briar¡¯s opinion of Frank ticked up a notch. ¡°Yeah, I got jumped, I¡¯m heading to the infirmary now to sort it out with the advisor.¡± ¡°What?¡± Frank¡¯s voice spiked with panic. ¡°Don¡¯t go alone¨Cyou¡¯ll get ganged up on! Tell me where you are. I¡¯ming right now.¡± Briar could hear hurried footsteps through the phone, like Frank was already sprinting out the door. Briar brushed it off, her tone calm but firm. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s just a little drama. They wouldn¡¯t dare try anything serious.¡± ¡°No way, this is serious! If Ashton finds out, he¡¯ll kill me,¡± Frank insisted, practically begging her to share her location. Briar rolled her eyes, biting back augh. ¡®Is he worried about me or just scared of getting chewed out by Ashton?¡® she wondered. In the end, she relented and told him where she was. Frank made her promise to stay put until he got there. But the one who showed up first¡­ wasn¡¯t Frank. It was Ashton. As Briar stood under a tree, she spotted a tall figure striding toward her. At first, she thought her eyes were ying tricks. As Briar stood under a tree, she spotted a tall figure striding toward her. At first, she thought her eyes were ying tricks. When that man got closer, she looked up, stunned. ¡°Ashton?¡± To Ashton, she looked so small and alone standing beneath that tree¨Clike someone trying hard to hold it together after getting knocked down. His heart twisted at the sight, and he said gently, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s me. I heard you were getting picked on, so I swung by to check on you? Briar¡¯s lips twitched, barely holding back a smirk. ¡®Swung by?¡® she thought, ¡®That was themest excuse in the book.. She knew the Wade Group¡¯s offices were nowhere near Shoneport University. Even if he was in the area, ¡°swinging by¡± the middle of campus was a stretch. But none of that mattered as much as this¨CAshton actually knew. He knew someone had tried to bully her. ¡®Did Frank spill?¡® she wondered. But Frank was just whining about how he was afraid Ashton would beat him up if he found out. G Forsaken 46 Chapter 46 65% Brandon trailed behind Ashton like a shadow, holding a cup of bubble tea in his hand. He offered it to Briar with a polite nod. ¡°Miss Jennings, Mr. Wade picked this up for you on his way.¡± Criar rolled her eyes, biting back augh. She wasn¡¯t one to turn down a kind gesture, so she took the cup and muttered a quick ¡°Thanks.¡± Ashton nced at his watch, as if waiting for someone. Noticing Briar hadn¡¯t touched the drink, he nudged her gently. ¡°Give it a try. How¡¯s it taste?¡± Briar lowered her gaze, poked the straw into the cup, and took a sip. The chilled bubble tea was refreshingly sweet, with chewy, bouncy pearls that hit all the right spots. ¡°It¡¯s really good,¡± she said, her voice softening. ¡°d you like it,¡± Ashton replied, a satisfied nod apanying his words. Just then, hurried footsteps echoed nearby. His gaze shifted from Briar¡¯s lips, still damp with bubble tea, to the direction of the sound¨Cjust in time to see Frank barreling toward them. The warm smile on Ashton¡¯s face vanished, reced by a steely re. Frank, seeing Ashton¡¯s intense stare, stumbled, almost falling. He even started mentally preparing for how he¡¯d call an ambnce after Ashton inevitably beat him up. Trembling, he stood before Ashton and managed a shaky greeting. ¡°Ashton¡­¡± Ashton didn¡¯t respond, just let out a cold huff before turning to Briar. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Frank shot a desperate nce at Brandon, hoping for a hint, but Brandon kept his eyes fixed straight ahead, giving nothing away. Briar assumed Ashton was taking her to the infirmary, but instead, he led her straight to the principal¡¯s office. Briar sat on the sofa in the principal¡¯s office, sipping her boba tea and enjoying the air conditioning. She watched, utterly bewildered, as Marvin and Frank stared awkwardly at each other. Ashton sat nearby, overseeing Frank as he recounted the events. Frank hadn¡¯t been there when it all went down, but that didn¡¯t stop him from painting a version of events that would y well with Ashton. He emphasized the parts Ashton would want to hear and glossed over the rest. Even so, the general outline of the incident was clear enough. When Arlene, the advisor, got Marvin¡¯s call and rushed over with Lydia, Mia, and Abbie in tow, the atmosphere in the office hit her like a wall. Arlene didn¡¯t recognize Ashton or Briar, but she knew Frank, the department heartthrob, and Principal Marvin. She frowned, puzzled¨CMarvin rarely got involved in petty student squabbles. ¡°Mr. Goodwin, I¡¯ve brought them,¡± she said cautiously. Lydia, Mia, and Abbie froze, their confusion deepening when they saw Frank looking defeated. Their eyes darted to the man sitting next to Briar on the sofa. Even if they didn¡¯t know who he was, the air around him screamed power and authority. His presence was impossible to ignore. Mia and Abbie exchanged uneasy nces. The haughty confidence they¡¯d wielded against Briar earlier evaporated, reced by a sinking feeling. The two of them didn¡¯t know Ashton, but his aura alone was enough to rattle them. Lydia, however, recognized Shoneport¡¯s infamous titan. Her heart sank as a terrifying thought hit her. ¡®Why is he here? And why is he sitting next to Briar? ¡®Could it be¡­ that Briar had Ashton backing her?¡® Her face paled at the realization. 10.49 Mon, 11 Aug If that was true, she was in deep trouble. The Ponce family was a second¨Ctier yer in Shoneport, nowhere near the league of the Wade family. If she¡¯d crossed Ashton by targeting Briar, her father would have her head. Ignoring Marvin, Lydia, still wincing from her sore back, gave Ashton a shaky bow. ¡°Mr. Wade¡­¡± Ashton didn¡¯t even spare her a nce. He turned to Marvin and gave a subtle nod, signaling that everyone was present and it was time to get on with it. Marvin rubbed his temples, already feeling a headacheing on. He¡¯d known Ashton¡¯s prot¨¦g¨¦ wouldn¡¯t be a wallflower, but half a day in and she was already stirring up trouble? That must have broken some record. But, ording to Ashton, his girl was the one who¡¯d been wronged. Forsaken 47 Chapter 47 Marvin rubbed his temples, trying to wrap his head around the situation. ¡®So, Ashton¡¯s saying Briar was bullied by these three? ¡®However, the so¨Ccalled victim is lounging an injury in the infirmary? on my sipping bubble tea like she owns the ce, while one of her so¨Ccalled bullies is nursing ¡®If this is bullying, then the victim¡¯s got some seriou ws.¡® He was tempted to ask Ashton to open his eyes and take a look at who was really bullying whom here, but he knew better. The Wade family was fiercely protective, and Briar just any student¨Cshe¡¯d saved Griffin¡¯s life, earning his glowing praise. To Ashton, she was one of his own, and he guarded her like a dragon guarding his treasure. Trying to reason with him now would likely get Marvin a lesson in ¡°reason¡± first. Marvin cleared his throat, turning to the trio. ¡°Lydia Mia, Abbie, right? Do you know why I called you to my office?¡± he needed to know about the trouble she was in. Lydia was trembling, her face pale. Ashton¡¯s and Frank¡¯s expressions told her everything Gone was her earlier bravado about demanding an apology or medical fees from Briar. All she wanted now was to get through this without dragging the Ponce family down with her idiocy. ¡°Yes, sir, we know. It was our fault. I owe Briar an apology, and I hope she can forgive me.¡± With that, she gave a deep, respectful bow to Briar. Briar didn¡¯t even flinch. She didn¡¯t say a word. She just calmly kept sipping, slurping up thest few pearls like she hadn¡¯t heard a thing. Lydia stayed bent over, the position aggravating the pain in her bruised back, but she didn¡¯t dare straighten up without a response. She stood frozen, caught in an awkward limbo. Ashton, unfazed, leaned back in his chair, making no move to nudge Briar into acknowledging her. Frank, meanwhile, kept his head down, trying to blend into the wallpaper. This whole mess had started because of him. Ashton had specifically told him to look out for Briar, and he¡¯d botched it spectacrly. Mia and Abbie stood there, jaws practically on the floor. This was not how they¡¯d expected things to go. Mr. Wade? Is that person Ashton Wade?¡® they thought, piecing it together. ¡®The Ashton Wade from Shoneport? No one else could carry that kind of presence. ¡®So Briar¡¯s got him in her corner? Why didn¡¯t she say so sooner? If we¡¯d known she had Ashton backing her, we wouldn¡¯t have dared mess with her, not in a million years!¡® Their earlier arrogance evaporated, reced by nervous nces. Seeing Lydia grovel, they quickly followed suit, bowing to Briar. ¡°Briar, we¡¯re so sorry!¡± they said in unison. Briar still didn¡¯t bite. She nced around for a trash can to toss her empty bubble tea cup, only to realize Marvin¡¯s fancy office didn¡¯t have one. 10:49 Mon, 11 Aug o O ¡°Put it there,¡± Ashton said, pointing to a nearby coffee table. Briar nodded and flicked her wrist, sending the cup sailing onto the table. Itnded perfectly, steady as a rock, not a wobble in sight. Their casual, almost oblivious exchange pushed the room¡¯s tension to a breaking point, like a scene from a y where everyone else was just a prop. Marvin sighed inwardly. When ites to ying people like fiddles, these two are virtuosos.¡¯ But he was stuck. He knew Ashton was clearly letting the trio stew in their difort on purpose. Arlene, standing off to the side, felt a pang of sympathy and started to speak up, but Frank subtly shook his head, signaling her to stay quiet. He knew Ashton was still angry, and anyone who tried to ¡°mediate¡± right now would only end up getting caught in the crossfire. ? Forsaken 48 Chapter 48 The trio was lucky¨CBriar wasn¡¯t looking to blow things out of proportion. Seeing Lydia, Mia, and Abbie sufficiently spooked, she finally spoke up. ¡°Since you¡¯ve all apologized, I¡¯ll let it slide. I guess I¡¯ll forgive you. My heart¡¯s just too soft, you know?¡± She turned to Ashton, her icy tone melting into a sweet, almost yful lilt. ¡°What do you think, Mr. Wade?¡± Ashton couldn¡¯t help butugh at how adorabl do it your way.¡± Well¨Cbehaved she suddenly became. He raised a hand and gently ruffled her hair. ¡°Sure. We¡¯ll Then he looked over at Marvin. ¡°Mr. Goodwin, since Bria decided to be merciful, I won¡¯t push the matter either. Let¡¯s leave it at that. But f hope this is the first andst time something like this happens.¡± Marvin gave a strained smile. ¡°Of course, of course.¡± In his head, he was rolling his eyes, thinking, ¡®Can you hear yourself? ¡®Briar, merciful? The sun would rise in the west first! ¡®She sent one of her roommates straight to the infirmary, and you¡¯re not even going to mention it? ¡®And you? Acting like you¡¯re being reasonable? Who are e you trying to fool? ¡®You¡¯re a Wade¨Cyour presence alone makes the rules bend to you. ¡®If I so much as breathe wrong and you get annoyed, I swear my poor old heart will give out right here on this carpet! ¡®Hmph.¡® Marvin knew full well that with Briar around, his final years as Shoneport¡¯s principal were going to be anything but peaceful. Worried Ashton might change his mind, Marvin quickly gave the three girls a brief lecture, warning them to keep their mouths shut, and ushered them out of his office. Arlene, who¡¯d been watching the whole ordeal with her heart in her throat, took her chance to slip away when Marvin wasn¡¯t looking. After all, she was the one who¡¯d called Briar back to campus. Briar stood up, ready to head out. It was almost time for afternoonb session. ¡°Ashton, if that¡¯s all, I¡¯m gonna go.¡± Ashton pressed a hand to her shoulder, stopping her. ¡°Hold on. There¡¯s one more thing to settle.¡± Briar blinked, confused. ¡°What else is there?¡± Then she caught Frank¡¯s panicked expression, his face a mix of fear and forced cheer. Stifling augh, she tried to vouch for him. ¡°Ashton, this really doesn¡¯t have much to do with him.¡± Ashton wasn¡¯t having it. ¡°I specifically told him yesterday to keep an eye on you while you were on campus. And see what happened.¡± Frank looked like he might cry. If the setting allowed, he¡¯d probably be clinging to Ashton¡¯s leg, begging for mercy. ¡°Ashton, I messed up. Give me one more shot, please! I swear I¡¯ll keep Briar safe from now on¨Cno one¡¯s gonna mess with her.¡± He hadn¡¯t expected Briar to be such a ma for trouble. Half a day at school, and she¡¯d already made headlines on the forum. By the time he got someone to pull the post, he heard she¡¯d gotten into a dorm¨Croom brawl during a quick visit. She¡¯d taken on three girls, walked away unscathed, and sent one to the infirmary. He was just about to clean up the mess when¡­ O 10:49 Mon, 11 Aug O If no one had tipped Ashton off, Frank was sure he could¡¯ve handled it before Ashton found out. Thinking about that, Frank froze. He turned to Ashton and asked, ¡°Wait, how¡¯d you even know Briar was getting picked on? I didn¡¯t get a chance to tell you.¡± Marvin, who¡¯d been quietly enjoying the show, slowly raised his hand. ¡°That would be me. I called Ashton over. No need to thank me When a little powerhouse like Briar caused trouble, the best move was to bring in the big guns. And only in front of the big boss could everything be resolved smoothly, without coteral damage. Frank stared, speechless. Briar¡¯s eyes flicked to Marvin, who¡¯d yed the peacemaker from the sidelines. She couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®This old guy¡¯s sharper than he lets on.¡® AD Forsaken 49 Chapter 49 Frank let out a dramatic wall. ¡°Mr. Goodwin, you¡¯re totally throwing me under the bus!¡± Marvin snorted, unimpressed. ¡°If I didn¡¯t speak up early, I¡¯d be the one getting chewed outter!¡± Briar watched the two bicker in front of Ashton, their yful back¨Cand¨Cforth a clever distraction. She bit back augh and turned to Ashton, her eyes sparkling with mischief. ¡°Come on, Ashton, I¡¯m fine. Let¡¯s just drop it, okay?¡± Catching the clear, teasing glint in her gaze, Ashton smiled, his expression softened, a faint warmth in his eyes. ¡°Alright, fine.¡± Frank whipped around instantly, relief flooding his face. ¡°Thank you, Ashton! You¡¯re the best!¡± Briar couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore and let out a shortugh. Frank, still grinning, turned to her. ¡°Thanks for sticking up for me, Briar! I owe you one¨Chow about I treat you to something tastyter?¡± Briar waved him off casually. ¡°No need.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m heading out,¡± she said, ncing at Ashton. ¡°Ashton?¡± He nodded. ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯ll be at the front gate after ss to pick you up.¡± Briar remembered she¡¯d agreed to have dinner with him tonight. ¡°Sounds good.¡± She gave a quick nod to Marvin and the others before heading out. As the door swung shut behind her, she caught Ashton¡¯s voice, praising her to Marvin. ¡°See how polite she is, Mr. Goodwin¡­¡± His words might¡¯ve been a stretch, but Briar knew he was backing her up, making sure everyone knew she had his support. From the principal¡¯s building, it was almost time for afternoon sses. Briar headed straight to the Traditional Medicineb. Swiping her student ID to unlock the door, she hadn¡¯t even stepped into the small office when she overheard voices buzzing about her. Mason¡¯s voice carried a mix of awe and disbelief. ¡°For real? Briar¡¯s that badass? She got Ashton to show up?¡± Ted chuckled. ¡°You have no idea. I was gonna tag along with Frank, but when I saw Ashton standing next to Briar, I bolted faster than you can blink.¡± Masonughed. ¡°Ha! Bet Frank¡¯s getting an earful from Ashton right now.¡± ¡°Hey, Charle, didn¡¯t you go with Thomas to check on his sister?¡± Ted nudged Charle with his shoulder. ¡°How¡¯s Lydia doing? Is it bad?¡± Charle shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s her back¨Ccouldn¡¯t really see. But Abbie said it¡¯s all bruised up, so it¡¯s probably not light.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Thomas, though? He¡¯s not back yet?¡± Mason craned his neck toward the door and froze when he spotted Briar leaning against the frame, arms crossed. He gave an awkward wave. ¡°Oh, uh, hey, Briar!¡± The other two peeked out, surprised. ¡°Briar, why are you just standing there? Come in!¡± Briar sauntered over, greeting them casually. ¡°Hey, guys.¡± The trio hesitated, words catching in their throats, but Briar didn¡¯t give them a chance to pry. She imed an empty chair, sprawling into it with amanding, almost regal air. Something about her cool, unshakable vibe made their questions die unspoken. The room fell silent, the atmosphere shifting. Mason and Ted exchanged a nce, both thinking the same thing Briar¡¯s presence was intimidating as hell. Ted broke the quiet first, his tone cautious. ¡°So, Briar, any idea where Frank¡¯s at?¡± She was back, but Frank wasn¡¯t. Did Ashton really drag him off for a beating? Briar shed a sly smile. ¡°He¡¯s with Ashton in the principal¡¯s office.¡± Mason gasped dramatically. ¡°What? Did Ashtony into him?¡± Briar shook her head, her grin widening. ¡°Not when I left, at least.¡± Just then, Thomas walked in. As Abbie¡¯s brother, he looked visibly ufortable when he saw Briar, the tension from her sh with his sister hanging heavy in the air. AD Forsaken 50- Chapter 50 Briar didn¡¯t feel the least bit awkward. She nced at Thomas but kept her thoughts to herself. Abbie was Abbie, and Thomas was Thomas. She wasn¡¯t the type to take out her frustration with one person on someone else. Still, the way Thomas looked at her suggested he was holding a bit of a grudge. Mason, relieved to hear from Briar that Frank wasn¡¯t getting a beating, pulled out his phone and shot Frank a quick message, asking when he¡¯d show up since ss was about to start. Their afternoon sses were with Jewell Morphew, a younger professor with a much shorter fuse than Joshua. Jewell¡¯s sses were no joke¨Che took attendance every session and loved piling on assignments that were way beyond their skill level. You had to take meticulous notes just to have a shot at finishing his brutal homework. It was a nightmare. Frank replied almost instantly, saying he was on his way. Sure enough, less than five minutester, Frank walked in, trailed by a sulky Mia, her head down and her face sour. Ted and Mason greeted him, with Mason shing a cheeky grin. ¡°Well, well, Prince Frankie! You in one piece? Any bruises I need to check?¡± Frank shoved Mason¡¯s teasing face away, rolling his eyes. ¡°Get lost. Can¡¯t you wish me well for once?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that Ashton¡¯s rep is too terrifying!¡± Masonughed, unfazed by the push. Ted, more perceptive than the boisterous Mason, jerked his chin toward Mia, who had her back to them, silently asking Frank what was up with her. Frank shot them a look that screamed, Don¡¯t ask. He walked over to Briar, fishing two pieces of candy from his pocket and holding them out to her. ¡°Here, Briar, have some candy on me.¡± Briar blinked, caught off guard by his tant attempt to butter her up. ¡°Uh, thanks?¡± room to hear. ¡°No problem. Ashton told me to look out for you, so I¡¯m not Frank winked, lowering his voice just enough for everyone in the letting anyone give you grief. From now on, you¡¯ve got a problem? Youe to me, got it?¡± Briar¡¯s lips curved into a faint smile, her cool,manding posture slipping just a bit. ¡°Got it. Thanks, Frank.¡± Seeing her so agreeable, Frank suddenly got why Ashton had called her ¡°polite.¡± But he wasn¡¯t about to pat her head like Ashton did. Growing up in a cutthroat elite family, Frank knew how to read people, Briar might seem easygoing, but he¡¯d heard about her roommate¡¯s ordeal. A few shoves, and she¡¯d left someone¡¯s back a mess of bruises? Yeah, Frank was a little intimidated now. ¡°Time¡¯s ticking. We better grab seats,¡± Charle piped up. ¡°Both afternoon sses are with Jewell Bombhew.¡± Jewell had earned the nickname ¡°Bombhew¡± for his habit of dropping impossibly tough assignments and chewing out students at the drop of a hat. His sses were like navigating a minefield. ¡°Right, Thomas, you¡¯re the fastest¨Cgo save us some spots!¡± Mason said, eager to keep the vibe from getting awkward again. 10:49 Mon, 11 Aug Thomas nodded. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll head to the third floor and hold seats. You guys hurry up; don¡¯t bete.¡± ¡°Will do.¡± As the only freshman in theb group, Briar didn¡¯t have to join them for ss. Soon, the small office emptied out, leaving just her, Mia and Joseph. Their sses didn¡¯t start until two¨Cthirty, so they were in no rush to leave. Forsaken 51 Chapter 51 The small office was left with just Briar, Mia, and Joseph, the silence heavy with awkward tension. Mia¡¯s eyes flickered nervously, dodging Briar¡¯s gaze like it might set her on fire. Whenever their looks crossed, Mia¡¯d jerk her head away. Her pulse hammered. She was afraid that Briar might snap and turn on her next. In all her years at school, Mia had seen her share of student spats, but nothing like Briar¡¯s terrifying showdown in the dorm. Besides Lydia, who¡¯d taken the full force of Briar¡¯s ire, Mia was probably the only one who¡¯d caught that chilling glint in her eyes. It wasn¡¯t anger¨Cit was colder, more unsettling. Briar¡¯s stare was calm, almost serene, as if she saw right through them, brushing off their taunts with icy contempt. It felt like staring into the eyes of a movie assassin, detached and untouchable. If they dared push her again, Lydia¡¯s bruised back would be the least of their problems. Joseph, stuck in the ufortable middle, looked helpless. He said, ¡°Uh, Mia, why don¡¯t we head to the library? Didn¡¯t Professor Swift assign that brutal practice test? We still need to track down the sources and answers.¡± Desperate to escape the stifling vibe, Joseph cleared his throat, offering a foolproof excuse. Mia seized it like a lifeline. ¡°Yeah, totally! I¡¯m on it!¡± She grabbed her books and bolted, her exit screaming of someone fleeing a crime scene. Briar¡¯s gaze followed Mia¡¯s frantic retreat, then shifted to Joseph. ¡°You should go too, Joseph. I¡¯ve got a ss soon, so I¡¯ll lock up.¡± Joseph nodded quickly. ¡°Got it, Briar. Just make sure you lock the door when you leave, alright? I¡¯m out.¡± In his head, he was groaning. If word of this mess got to Joshua, their whole group would catch heat. A freshman getting targeted right at the semester¡¯s start? That was a stain on the Traditional Medicine Department¡¯s pride. Once Joseph left, Briar was alone in the office. As a freshman on her first day, she didn¡¯t actually have sses that afternoon. New school, new chapter, and yet here she was, tangled in petty drama from the get¨Cgo. She sighed inwardly, ¡®How boring.¡¯ Briar pulled out her phone and, with a few deft moves, dismantled it, reassembling it into a sleek miniputer. She summoned a virtual keyboard and logged into a well¨Cknown hacker website. The second she went online, a message popped up. Alex sent: [Hey, Briar! How¡¯s life in Dasmieca treating you?] Briar tapped out: [It¡¯s fine. A bit boring, though.] Alexia fired back: [Babe, if you¡¯re bored, check the job board! People are dying to get you on their gigs!) Briar replied: [I¡¯m on a break.] Alexia shot over: [A break? Come on, Hacker Alliance jobs are easy money¨Ca few clicks and you¡¯re done. Weren¡¯t you just saying you¡¯re short 10:49 Mon, 11 AugD on cash? Take a peek!) Briar typed: [Hard pass.] Alexia messaged: [Alright, alright, you¡¯re the boss. Oh, by the way, that underground auction city you asked us to keep an eye on just dropped a new event. It¡¯s in five days. Check the address yourself.] Briar switched tabs, her fingers flying as she entered a series of hidden URLS. After a few ck¨Cscreen flickers, a stark, minimalist webpage loaded. Alexia pinged again: [That thing you were looking for¨CFrostbug, was it?-it¡¯s on the auction list.] Briar responded: [It¡¯s Frostworm. The starting bid is 3 million dors. My guess? It¡¯ll be close around 15 million. Alex¨ªa, find me a high¨Cpaying job. I¡¯ll handle it in the next few days.] AD Comment Forsaken 52 Chapter 52 Alexia: [No problem. Let¡¯s take the order with the highest heat on the list¨Cthe one to find Tristan. They¡¯re starting the price at 9 million dors, and it can be increased based on the uracy of the information provided.] Briar: [Are you serious?] Alexia chuckled. [Of course. Come on, the person who ced the order is Dasmiecian. You¡¯re the best person to earn this money.] Briar rubbed her temples. [You know Tristan is my master. How could I sell his information?] Alexia: [That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong. As his apprentice, you¡¯ve got the best leads. Anyway, the information you provide won¡¯t be Tristan¡¯s final whereabouts. Once you get the money, you can split it with Tristan. He¡¯ll thank you.] Briar: [You¡¯re really cunning.] ¡®What a typical slick merchant. She¡¯s way too good at this,¡¯ Briar thought to herself. In the end, Briar still didn¡¯t agree and chose another order instead. It was a software security tracking job¨Ceasy, simple, and not time- consuming. She would help the client sort it out tomorrow. ¡°Which department are you from? Why are you alone in ourb?¡± A voice suddenly rang out. Theb door was pushed open from the outside, and a man in his fifties with half¨Cgray hair and wearing old¨Cfashioned ck¨Crimmed sses walked in. He probably came to get something but was surprised to see a stranger here, and a stranger at that. He looked at Briar warily. Everyb had rules, and it was not allowed for just anyone to enter. The various instruments and research data in theb were until the experiments were sessful. confidential As soon as the man spoke, Briar quickly closed the webpage and restored her phone to its original state. She looked at the name on the badge hanging from his chest, Jewell Morphew, the professor Frank and the others had mentioned. ¡°Professor Morphew, I¡¯m a freshman in the Traditional Medicine Department this year. My name is Briar Jennings, and I¡¯m a new member of the research group.¡± Briar stood up and showed him her badge, which had the same design as Jewell¡¯s. Jewell pushed his sses up his nose, checked the number and name on the badge, and nodded. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you in ss?¡± Briar replied, ¡°I don¡¯t have any sses this afternoon, so I stayed here.¡± Jewell said, ¡°Alright, then take out the experimental data reports from the cab behind you and familiarize yourself with them. Spend less time on your phone.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Briar obediently took out a stack of reports and ced them on the office desk under Jewell¡¯s watchful eye. Jewell was satisfied with Briar¡¯spliance, got what he needed, and left. As soon as Jewell was gone, Briar tossed the reports aside and picked up her phone again. There was no way she was going to read those reports. The traditional medicine experiments the research group was working on were all old news to her. She might as well y some games. In the evening, after school, Beatrice sat at the dining table and casually mentioned, ¡°Mom, Briar really made a ssh on our school forum today.¡± Mon, 11 Aug ¡°She¡¯s only been at Shoneport University for one day. What kind of ssh could she make?¡± Halle was almost exasperated. They still couldn¡¯t figure out who had helped Briar get into Shoneport University. Anyone with connections to get someone into Shoneport University must have assets worth at least billions of dors or be a powerful figure. There was no way Briar would know anyone like that. Forsaken 53 Chapter 53 Today at thepany, Edgar received the news that Briar had actually enrolled at Shoneport University, and he was more shocked than Halle. He was more aware than Halle that getting admitted to Shoneport University wasn¡¯t just a matter of having money. The shareholders of Shoneport University had plenty of wealthy individuals, and there were even more rich people eager to coborate with them. Only they knew that students who were admitted to Shoneport University on special terms were either geniuses and talents from all over the country or had connections with powerful political forces. Setting aside those political connections, Briar definitely didn¡¯t have any influential rtionships to rely on. The Jennings family didn¡¯t have that kind of power, and the Grant family, who were far away in Qatharia, were even less likely to have such influence. For someone as uneducated as Briar to be admitted, the wealthy individual who pulled strings for her must have had truly substantial financial resources. Yet, the reality was that Briar had been admitted, and even personally received by the principal, Marvin. Edgar was pragmatic about the situation. If he wanted to gain any advantage from this, he had to extract it from Briar. So, Edgar put on a facade of a caring father concerned about his daughter¡¯s studies and asked, ¡°How is Briar doing at school?¡± Beatrice¡¯s expression froze for a moment. She had deliberately brought up the news about Briar at Shoneport University, but not to draw her father¡¯s attention to Briar. She looked at Edgar, her smile a little forced. ¡°Dad, Briar¡¯s performance at school isn¡¯t very good,¡± she said. ¡°As long as she doesn¡¯t get into fights or skip sses, that¡¯s good enough,¡± Edgar added, setting low expectations for Briar. He knew his daughter well; Briar hadn¡¯t been a diligent student while abroad, and he didn¡¯t expect her to suddenly be outstanding just because she was at Shoneport University. Beatrice pursed her lips, as if making a significant decision, and took out her phone. She opened a screenshot she had taken earlier and showed it to Edgar. ¡°Dad, you should see this for yourself,¡± she said. Edgar took Beatrice¡¯s phone, puzzled, and within seconds, his voice rose in fury, apanied by a loud bang as he mmed his hand on the table. ¡°Who does this girl think she is? ¡°Does she think that just because she¡¯s pretty, she can catch the eye of a member of the Wade family? What on earth has she been learning all these years abroad? On her very first day of school, she¡¯s already causing such an embarrassing scandal.¡± Edgar was genuinely furious. What Beatrice had shown him was a post on the Shoneport University forum about how shamelessly Briar had tried to seduce the heir of the Wade family. The Wade family was no ordinary family. Not only were their standards for choosing a daughter¨Cinw extremely high, but the idea that Briar could use a vulgar method to get close to or attach herself to their member was nothing short of a pipe dream. ¡°Dad, don¡¯t be angry. Briar is still young, and it was her first day at Shoneport University. She might not have known who the guy sitting across from her was. ¡°Once she gets familiar with the school and meets her ssmates, she won¡¯t make such a fool of herself again.¡± Beatrice quickly got up, poured a ss of water for Edgar, and tried to calm him down. 10.49 Mon 11 Aug However, Edgar¡¯s anger only intensified after hearing Beatrice¡¯s words. ¡°She¡¯s already 18 years old. How can she still be considered young She doesn¡¯t even know who she¡¯s messing with? This isn¡¯t about going to school; it¡¯s about bringing trouble to me and the Jennings .¡± AD Comment Forsaken 54 Chapter 54 Beatrice, of course, had no intention of telling the truth. She carefully chose words that would only fuel Edgar¡¯s anger. ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m not exactly clear on the details. ¡°It was just that we were eating together in the cafeteria, and then I saw Briar carrying her tray and walking right over to Prince Frankie¡¯s table, chatting andughing with them.¡± Edgar clenched his fists, his eyes bloodshot with rage. ¡°And then what?¡± She exined, ¡°Well, someone didn¡¯t like Briar¡¯s forward behavior and took a picture, posting it on our school forum. Eventually, someone dug up Briar¡¯s grades and the fact that she got into Shoneport University through connections. ¡°Some people spected that it was you, Dad, who secretly pulled some strings with Marvin. Others said Briar got in through some underhanded means.¡± ¡°Dad, don¡¯t get angry. All these rumors on the forum are just wild guesses. Don¡¯t take them seriously. I believe Briar wouldn¡¯t do something like that,¡± Beatrice murmured. Beatric¨¨ didn¡¯t say anything explicitly bad about Briar, but every word was like salt in the wound, making Edgar so furious he almost overturned the table. ¡°I didn¡¯t pull any strings for her, and she suddenly got into Shoneport University. It must be because someone else is secretly helping her. What other exnation could there be?¡± Edgar didn¡¯t want to think poorly of Briar, but the whole situation was suspicious. Any reasonable person would think the same way. Beatrice exchanged a triumphant nce with Halle. The next second, Halle stepped in again to mediate. ¡°Oh,e on, don¡¯t get angry again. All these things are just jealousy talking. People are making wild guesses about Briar. ¡°When she gets back, we can ask her directly. The truth wille out. We¡¯re Briar¡¯s family; we need to trust her.¡± Edgar was still angry, but Halle had a point. As Briar¡¯s family, they had the right to know the truth. Ideally, they could get Briar to reveal who had been secretly helping her. Deep down, Edgar was convinced that Briar¡¯s admission to Shoneport University had something to do with that powerful figure in Shoneport. He didn¡¯t care what Briar had done to get in; he just wanted to use her to get closer to that person¡¯s influence. After all, in Edgar¡¯s mind, a daughter was a chip to maintain the family¡¯s interests. Briar looked like his ex¨Cwife and was much prettier than Beatrice. Now that Beatrice¡¯s rtionship with Javier was strained, if Briar could contribute to the Jennings family, he wouldn¡¯t mind giving her the right of the Jennings family heiress. Even if Briar had taken his position as CEO and their father¨Cdaughter rtionship was currently tense, in Edgar¡¯s mind, Briar¡¯s actions were just those of a neglected child trying to get attention. Once he started treating her better and showing more care, Briar would surely be touched and be a well¨Cbehaved, obedient child. ¡°We¡¯ll wait until she gets back. I want to hear what she has to say.¡± Edgar decided internally, but he kept up a tough front. However, they waited and waited, all the way until ten o¡¯clock at night, and Briar still hadn¡¯te home. Edgar¡¯s face was as gloomy as it could be. ¡°Dad, Briar hasn¡¯te home thiste. Could it really be like everyone says?¡± Beatrice wondered if Briar really ran off with some other guy. But Beatrice knew she couldn¡¯t say that out loud. She could only slowly guide Edgar to think in that direction. AD Forsaken 55 Chapter 55 Beatrice knew Edgar well, and as she hinted, his expression shifted from gloomy to furious. ¡°How dare she?¡± he muttered. But deep down, he was worried. So, Edgar called over his bodyguards and ordered them to track Briar¡¯s whereabouts after school that afternoon. By sheer coincidence, the bodyguards followed Edgar¡¯s instructions and checked the surveince footage from the entrance of Shoneport University. They found Briar, with her school bag on her back, getting into the backseat of a limited¨Cedition ck Bentley after being invited by a tall man in a suit. Due to the angle of the surveince camera, they couldn¡¯t see the face of the man who opened the car door for Briar, but judging from his silhouette and the luxury of the limited¨Cedition Bentley, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess where Briar had gone after school. ¡°How dare she?¡± Edgar fumed as he watched the footage sent by the bodyguards. He couldn¡¯t believe Briar had the audacity to get into a strange man¡¯s car so brazenly right at the school gate, especially after the scandal that had erupted on the forum just this morning. Now, everyone at Shoneport University knew she was the heiress of the Jennings family. And now, she had just left the school gate with an older man. Edgar was convinced that Briar had left with an older man without even seeing the man¡¯s face. It was obvious. An unloved heiress like Briar wouldn¡¯t be able to attract a suitable young man. It was more likely that some wealthy older men, who liked young girls like Briar, had approached her. Edgar, being a man himself, knew exactly why wealthy older men targeted powerless young girls. They were easy to deceive and easy to discard. And afterward, there was no need to worry about them causing trouble. A girl like Briar, who had relied on an older man¡¯s mone dumped. to get into Shoneport University, would be even less likely to make a fuss if she got Edgar closed his eyes, almost able to envision the future humiliation and mistreatment Briar would endure, with no choice but to swallow her pride and suffer in silence. ¡®What a disgrace to the family,¡® he wondered. Halle, beside him, clutched her chest in anxiety. ¡°Edgar, what are we going to do? We have to send someone to find her. It¡¯s sote already. If we wait any longer, something really bad might happen.¡± Edgar sighed and called over the bodyguards again. ¡°Find out where that car is now and bring Briar back home,¡± he instructed. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the bodyguards replied, though they were inwardly dreading the task. A Bentley like that wasn¡¯t just expensive; it was a global limited edition. Only someone with significant influence could get their hands on it. So, the owner of this car was likely another hidden tycoon from Shoneport, Mon, 11 Aug Halle, supporting the furious man, stood at the door. ¡°Edgar, don¡¯t worry too much. Briar isn¡¯t a child anymore. She know night from w Maybe things aren¡¯t as bad as we think?¡± ¡°I hope so,¡± Edgar snorted. But deep down, he wasn¡¯t holding out much hope. AD Forsaken 56 Chapter 56 Briar, the subject of the Jennings family¡¯s concern, was currently enjoying a candlelit dinner with Ashton in the rooftop garden of the Spring Hotel. With the gentle night breeze blowing, top notch cuisine on the table, and thepany of a handsome man and a beautiful view, there was nothing more blissful than this moment. ¡°Did the incident on the school forum today cause you any trouble?¡± Ashton asked, cutting Briar¡¯s steak for her in a gentlemanly manner. He struck up the conversation as he watched her eat with relish, finding her adorable. Briar shook her head. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t even take it to heart.¡± Later, when she remembered to check the forum, the message had already been deleted. It was probably Frank who had it removed. Ashton nodded. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. If anyone bullies you in the future, just give me a call. I¡¯ll handle it for you.¡± Briar swallowed the sulent steak in her mouth and looked at Ashton with a smile. ¡°Ashton, why are you so nice to me?¡± Ashton¡¯s hand paused mid¨Cair as he held the fork, then he nonchntly took a bite of steak and looked at Briar across from him. Briar¡¯s eyes sparkled withughter, and Ashton¡¯s heart skipped a beat again. ¡°Is it bad to be nice to you?¡± Ashton replied, his voice tinged with amusement. It seemed that whenever he was with Briar, her youthf¡­ I vivacity always managed to make him smile. Briar feigned realization. ¡°Ah, that is pretty nice. With you as my backing, I can pretty much do anything I want at Shoneport University.¡± Ashtonughed, ¡°Be more ambitious. With my current reputation, I can definitely protect you from any trouble in the entire city of Shoneport.¡± ¡°Wow, Ashton, you¡¯re amazing.¡± Briar pped her hands in praise. What could have been a teasing remark was delivered with her mischievous and lively manner, giving it a unique vor. Ashton just smiled without responding. After finishing their candlelit dinner, Briar wasn¡¯t in a hurry to go home, so Ashton took her for a leisurely stroll around the rooftop garden to digest their meal. The entire space had been reserved by Ashton. In the vast area, it romance that Ashton kept hidden. was just the two of them¨Cquiet, cozy, and subtly romantic, with a touch of When they reached the observatory, Briar moved between several telescopes, looking through them at the angles Ashton had adjusted for her, searching for and observing the stars. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s Jupiter,¡± she eximed. ¡°So that¡¯s what the surface of Mercury looks like,¡± she marveled. Ashton stood beside Briar with his hands in his pockets, listening to her asional cute exmations and smiling. At that moment, Brandon approached quietly and whispered into Ashton¡¯s ear, ¡°Ashton, someone is checking our car. The people looking for Miss Jennings are the bodyguards from the Jennings family.¡± 10:50 Mon, 11 AUT DI Chapter 56 Brandon¡¯s voice was very low, but Briar, who was half bent over looking at the stars, had sharp hearing and caught it Out of Ashton¡¯s line of sight, Briar¡¯s lips curled up quickly, and then she returned to her normal expression when Ashton looked over ¡°Just send them away. Don¡¯t disturb Briar¡¯s fun,¡± Ashton said, his eyes suddenly turning cold. Brandon nodded and left. Briar pretended not to have heard or seen anything. After Brandon walked away, she pulled Ashton to help her find the angles for the other stars. Seeing that she genuinely enjoyed it, Ashton asked, ¡°Do you like astronomy?¡± Briar shook her head. ¡°When I was little and first taken to Qathana by my grandfather, I would cry for my mom in the middle of the night. My grandfather told me that whenever I missed my mom, I should look up at the sky. The brightest star is where my mom is watching over me Ashton¡¯s expression softened. He quickly adjusted the angle, and with Briar¡¯s surprised look, he bent down with her. ¡°Briar, you can see the brightest star in Dasmieca, too.¡± AD Forsaken 57 hapter 57 Chapter 57 Ashton had a very pleasant voice. Every time he lowered his tone, it always tugged at the corners of Briar¡¯s mouth. The two of them stood shoulder to shoulder, squeezed together as they gazed at the stars. Whether it was the refreshing breeze or the intoxicating scent of each other, Briar¡¯s ears were turning red without her even realizing it. Down in the hotel lobby, Brandon didn¡¯t show up in person. Instead, he called over the hotel¡¯s general manager and asked him to get rid of the few people lingering around Ashton¡¯s car. By sheer coincidence, the general manager was a forty¨Cfive¨Cyear¨Cold middle¨Caged man with a receding hairline, though he wore a toupee to cover it, a slightly protruding belly held in by a belt, and a sharp, businesslike suit. His appearance was almost identical to the man in the video that the Jennings family¡¯s bodyguards had obtained from the Shoneport University gatekeeper earlier that day. When the Jennings family¡¯s bodyguards saw this middle¨Caged man striding toward the Bentley¨Cno, toward them¨Cthey immediately understood. There was no need for the man to say anything. The bodyguards left without a fuss. If the big boss himself hade out to chase them away, there was no way they could take Briar back. They¡¯d better hurry back and report. The guests staying at the Spring Hotel were all prominent figures in Shoneport. So, the Jennings family¡¯s bodyguards, armed with this usible truth, recounted everything they had seen to Edgar verbatim. Edgar was speechless. He had known it all along. He had known that Briar wouldn¡¯t find any good support. A middle¨Caged man, just because he had some money and a bit of power, was enough for Briar to willingly degrade herself. After waiting for so long, this was the news he received. Edgar sat in the living room, unable to calm down for a long time. He didn¡¯t even notice when Beatrice came over. ¡°Dad, Briar really- Dad, don¡¯t get angry. It¡¯s not good for your health. When Briares back, Mom and I will have a serious talk with her,¡± Beatrice said, having overheard the entire conversation between her father and the bodyguards from the stairway corner. She came down now, pretending to care about Edgar¡¯s health, but in reality, she was just adding fuel to the fire about Briar, Edgar waved his hand. ¡°I know. You¡¯re always the most well¨Cbehaved one, never causing me any worry.¡± As he spoke, Edgar suddenly remembered the wee party he had thrown for Briarst time. Beatrice had been framed. She wasn¡¯t trouble¨Cfree either. Beatrice, unaware that Edgar had associated her with Briar, said a few more things to drive a wedge between Edgar and Briar before leaving, satisfied. She still had to make a video call to Javier. She hadn¡¯t seen him when she went to register at Shoneport University earlier in the day and had been distracted all day. She wondered why Javier hadn¡¯t gone to school. It was after ten o¡¯clock in the evening when Ashton and Briar walked out of the Spring Hotel. The general manager followed behind, respectfully seeing Ashton off. Ashton personally opened the back door of the car for Briar. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯ll take your home,¡± he said. Briar didn¡¯t refuse. Her motorcycle was parked at Moonspring Estate and she hadn¡¯t ridden it over. ¡°Okay,¡± she said. Once inside the car, Briar gave the address of Moonspring Estate to the driver, Brandon. ¡°Yes, Miss Jennings,¡± he replied promptly. Ashton, who got in the car afterward, overheard this and feigned surprise. ¡°Is that where you¡¯re living now?¡± Briar didn¡¯t hide it. She nodded. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a vi I bought before school started. It¡¯s really close to the university¨Cjust a few minutes walk. AD Forsaken 58 Chapter 58 Ashton¡¯s gaze suddenly turned a bit enigmatic. Briar raised an eyebrow in confusion and asked, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°I actually have a ce there, too. I had Brandon send some people to clean it up a while ago,¡± Ashton said, giving the address of his vi in Moonspring Estate. This time, Briar¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°What a coincidence. My ce is right next door to yours.¡± Ashton simply replied, ¡°Quite the coincidence indeed.¡± Brandon, who was driving, couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®Men and their lies. Ashton, you can only fool someone as innocent as Miss Jennings. There¡¯s no way things are that coincidentat in this world. ¡®Besides, Moonspring Estate and the Wade Group are on opposite ends of town. Are you living there on purpose to make trouble for yourself?¡® Briar, being innocent, didn¡¯t catch on. ¡°I was nning to head to Moonspring Estate after dropping you off at the Jennings residence tonight anyway,¡± Ashton said,ing up with a perfect excuse for staying at Moonspring Estate. Briar nodded. ¡°That works out perfectly. We¡¯ll be home together. You can get some rest early.¡± Ashton gave a slight nod. Briar, remembering that she was also supposed to help Ashton fall asleep, asked, ¡°How was your sleepst night? Did you manage to get some rest?¡± As she spoke, she looked closely at Ashton¡¯s face, trying to see if there were any dark circles under his eyes. Ashton stayed still as Briar leaned in to inspect his face. ¡°Same as usual. Just dozed off for a bit,¡± he said. ¡°So you didn¡¯t really sleep again?¡± Briar said with a sigh. Her words clearly meant he hadn¡¯t slept at all. Ashton had to nod. ¡°Alright, I didn¡¯t sleep. I haven¡¯t been able to fall asleep since that night we slept together.¡± Briar was speechless. If it weren¡¯t for the people present who had witnessed that night, his words could be taken the wrong way. ¡°Well, how about I charge you another 30 thousand dors tonight and try to get you to sleep again?¡± she offered. Briar actually wasn¡¯t confident about being able to get Ashton to sleep. But for some reason, she sensed a hint of desperation in his calm words. Briar shook her head. ¡°What am I thinking? He¡¯s Ashton, the powerful guy who can change Shoneport¡¯syout. He can¡¯t possibly be pitiful,¡± she wondered. ¡°Sure,¡± Ashton agreed without hesitation, even pulling out his phone and transferring 30 thousand dors to Briar on the spot. ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to you, Briar.¡± Briar said, ¡°You could wait to pay me until after you wake up. What if I fail to get you to sleep this time?¡± Ashton put his phone away. ¡°My psychiatrist has sessfully put me to sleep only a handful of times over the years, but the fee is always paid upfront.¡± Briar had to hold back augh. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do my best tonight and try not to disappoint you.¡± ¡°Deal,¡± Ashton said. Since Briar had epted Ashton¡¯s 30 thousand dors for her services, she followed him into his house at Moonspring Estate as soon as they got out of the car. After they went inside, a slender figure emerged from behind a tree across the vi¡¯s courtyard. The moonlight shone on the person¡¯s face, revealing it to be Abbie, Briar¡¯s roommate. Abbie looked down at the blinking red light on her phone, indicating that the camera was still recording, and a sly, malicious smile crossed her face. ¡°Briar, you¡¯re really shameless, aren¡¯t you? Going out with a guy at night and then going back to his ce. Hmph,¡± she sneered. Moonspring Estate was a ce rented by her family for Abbie and her brother, so Abbie usually moved between the dormitory and the vi It was just by chance that Abbie happened to see Briar meeting a mante at night. AD Forsaken 59 Chapter 59 ug Even though she didn¡¯t get a clear look at the man walking ahead, Abbie didn¡¯t need to guess who he was. Anyone who could afford a luxury car and a prime property like the penthouse in Moonspring Estate had to be wealthy and influential. ¡®And given the age range of such people, he is probably in his forties or fifties. Maybe even an old man in his fifties or sixties, As she walked toward her home, Abbie thought maliciously. Earlier that day, the news about Briar on the school forum had been deleted by the administrator. When Abbie tried to go online and curse Briar out, she found that the post was gone, which left her feeling quite disappointed. But once she anonymously posted the photos of Briar with the older man on the forum, she was sure those who had previously criticized Briar would be delighted. Lost in her thoughts, Abbie walked into her home without noticing her brother Thomas sitting in the living room. It was only when Thomas called out to her that she snapped back to reality. ¡°Thomas, it¡¯s sote. Why haven¡¯t you gone to bed yet?¡± Thomas¡¯s face was etched with worry and helplessness. ¡°You know it¡¯ste, right? As a young girl,ing home sote at night, how could I not worry?¡± If he hadn¡¯t seen her location on the shared phone tracker moving toward home, he would have gone out to look for her. Abbie plopped down on the couch and put on a coquettish tone. ¡°I was looking for materials in the library today and lost track of time. I promise I won¡¯t do it again. I¡¯m sorry, Thomas.¡± Thomas ruffled Abbie¡¯s hair. ¡°Alright, juste home earlier next time.¡± In the Cooper family, only the siblings had a knack for traditional medicine. The family had sent them to Shoneport University not just to build on the family¡¯s expertise in traditional medicine, but more importantly, to help the Cooper family establish a foothold in Shoneport. Most of the power and connections in Dasmieca were held by the four major families in Shoneport, with the Wade family at the top. Their business interests were spread far and wide. The quickest way to get established in Shoneport was to get close to the Wade family. So, when the Cooper family learned that Frank, a young member of the Wade family, was around Thomas¡¯s age and also studying medicine at Shoneport University, they used all their influence to send the siblings there. Thomas didn¡¯t disappoint. Within a year, he became friends with Frank and even joined the traditional medicineb with him. Their n was falling into ce, but then there was Abbie, who had a crush on Frank and kept showing up at theb to get close to him. This caused Thomas some distress. But Abbie was good¨Clooking, and the Cooper family wasn¡¯t insignificant in traditional medicine. In Thomas¡¯s mind, Abbie had a chance to end up with Frank. Of course, that was all forter. For now, their priority was to hold on tight to Frank. ¡°Thomas, guess who I ran into on my way home?¡± Abbie asked Thomas. The siblings were close, and Abbie always kept Thomas in the loop, even when she was nning something mischievous. Thomas looked at her warily. ¡°What are you up to?¡± Abbie smiled innocently. Chapter 59 Back at the vi, Ashton emerged from the bedroom after a shower, wearing only a ck silk robe. Even with his hair tousled and just a pair of slippers on his feet, he couldn¡¯t hide his natural elegance and sophistication, especially when he looked at her with such focused attention. Briar, who had always found it hard to resist Ashton¡¯s charm, coughed lightly and asked, ¡°Ashton, shall we get started?¡± AD Forsaken 60 Chapter 60 Ashton sauntered over to the sofa like peacock disying its feathers, plopped down next to Briar, and leaned back into the sofa¡¯s embrace, stretching out his limbs and tilting his head back with a rxed expression. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get started,¡± he said, closing his eyes on his own without any prompting from Briar. They were sitting so close that Briar could catch the faint, pleasant scent of freshly showered skin emanating from Ashton. ¡®I wonder what kind of body wash Ashton uses. It smells really good. I should ask him tomorrow and get the same one for myself,¡® she thought to herself. Uncertain about what had made Ashton fall asleepst time, Briar decided to mimic what she had done in the hotel. She took out her phone, nning to y a few rounds of a game to see if that would help induce sleepiness. Of course, a quiet environment was necessary for creating a sleepy atmosphere, so she plugged in her earphones, nced at Ashton¡¯s thin lips pursed in a rxed manner to make sure he wasn¡¯t bothered, and thenunched the game. Brandon, standing in the corner of the living room, couldn¡¯t help but twitch his lips at Briar¡¯s seemingly half¨Chearted attempt at keepingpany while trying to sleep. ¡®There¡¯s no way Ashton could fall asleep like this,¡® he thought. But to everyone¡¯s surprise, fifteen minutester, when Briar finished a game and looked over at Ashton, he was fast asleep. It seemed like Ashton was in a deep sleep, as even his furrowed brows had rxed. Briar¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment. ¡®Could it really work?¡® she thought. What was even more incredible to Brandon was that he had been keeping an eye on Ashton the whole time. He couldn¡¯t believe what he was seeing. He wondered, ¡®Did Ashton just fall asleep like that? No hypnosis drugs, no physical hypnosis, not even any soothing sounds from Briar to help him drift off? He just naturally, quietly, and quickly fell into a deep sleep? ¡®Wow, this is nothing short of a miracle. I have to capture this moment and share it in the group chat. I can¡¯t be the only one blown away by this.¡® So, with Briar looking on in disbelief, Brandon began snapping photos of Ashton from every angle, his excitement and fervor causing him to momentarily forget that he might wake up the sleeping Ashton with all themotion. Briar stood there for a moment, dumbfounded, before letting out a sigh of resignation. Too preupied with chatting in the group, Brandon didn¡¯t notice Briar¡¯s expression, nor did he see her slowly inching closer to Ashton. Briar leaned in closer to the sleeping Ashton, who was now . It was an instinctive reaction. € However, since he recognized the famir scent of the person approaching, he didn¡¯t budge, allowing Briar to scrutinize him from head to to and then retreat. It seemed that Briar had some feelings for him after all. Sleepiness enveloped Ashton once more. Breathing in the soothing scent of Briar that filled his nostrils, he surrendered to sleep without any resistance, his smile deepening at the corners of his lips. ¤¤ Forsaken 61 Chapter 61 Two hourster, Brandon respectfully escorted Briar back to her ce next door. He didn¡¯t turn back until he saw the lights on the second floor of Briar¡¯s vie on. Briar tossed her phone and Bluetooth earphones carelessly onto the bed, grabbed her pajamas, and headed to the bathroom. Since her phone was still connected to the earphones, she didn¡¯t hear it ringing from inside the bathroom. Half an hourter, Briar emerged, d in a cute nightgown and toweling her hair dry. She noticed the phone screen lighting up and walked over to pick it up. There were five or six missed calls and several text messages, all from Edgar. Briar raised an eyebrow and wondered, ¡®Has he finally realized I didn¡¯te home, so he¡¯s calling me? Or is it because of the news on the Shoneport University forum, and he¡¯s been waiting for me to get home to lecture me? ¡®But since I still haven¡¯t arrived, he couldn¡¯t help but call?¡® Regardless of the reason, Briar wasn¡¯t interested. She didn¡¯t even bother to check the content of Edgar¡¯s texts. Instead, she casually pulled her damp hair back, turned on herptop on the desk, and quickly got to work on the new task she had just received. An hourter, the task waspleted. After submitting the order information and seeing the additional 3 million dors in her ount, Briar stretched, closed herptop, and climbed into bed, feeling quite pleased with herself. She didn¡¯t spare another nce at the phone, which had been flickering on and off at the foot of the bed. It was already 3:30 a.m., and she needed her sleep. That night, Briar sleptfortably at Moonspring Estate, while Edgar at the Jennings residence was nearly driven mad by her refusal to answer his calls. The next morning, Edgar stormed off to work without even eating breakfast, still fuming. At seven in the morning, Briar, who had slept for less than four hours, was woken up by the doorbell ringing downstairs. She grumbled irritably, wriggled out of her cozy bed, and grabbed the phone she had abandoned the night before. She opened the video surveince to see who had the nerve to disturb her early morning slumber. However, all her irritation vanished the moment she saw Ashton¡¯s handsome face on the screen. Woken up so early by such a pleasant sight, Briar softened her voice and asked, ¡°Ashton? Good morning?¡± Ashton detected the grogginess in Briar¡¯s voice and paused, looking somewhat apologetic through the camera. ¡°Briar, did I wake you up?¡± ¡°No, I should be getting up for school anyway,¡± Briar replied, rubbing her face. ¡°What do you need?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve prepared breakfast at my ce. Would you like to join me?¡± Ashton asked. Briar was taken aback for a moment. She thought to herself, ¡®He¡¯s inviting me for breakfast. Why didn¡¯t he just call? Oh, I see. My phone was on silent. He couldn¡¯t get through, and that¡¯s why he came over in person?¡® ¡°Sure, give me ten minutes,¡± Briar replied, not wanting to turn down Ashton¡¯s invitation. ¡°No rush,¡± Ashton said with a nod, before turning back and heading away. Chapter 61 Briar sat there in a daze for a couple of minutes, waiting for her mind to fully wake up. Then, she got out of bed, got dressed, went downstairs, put on her shoes, opened the door, closed it behind her, and walked through the open gate next door¨Call in one smooth, efficient sequence, perfectly within the ten minutes she had promised, When she entered the dining room, Ashton was already seated at the table. Seeing Briar walk in, dressed in jeans and a white T¨Cshirt, he smiled and waved her over, ¡°Briar,e and have breakfast.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Briar said as she took her seat. Immediately, a servant ced her breakfast in front of her. It was a delicious seafood stew, some refreshing side dishes, and a few exquisite pastries, all dishes that Briar loved. G Forsaken 62 Chapter 62 This was really thoughtful. Briar, who wasn¡¯t very hungry at first, suddenly felt her stomach rumble at the sight of all the delicious breakfast dishes. She immediately buried her head and began to eat heartily. At that moment, Brandon, who had been waiting nearby, received a phone call. After just a few words from the caller, his expression turned gloomy. Ashton took a sip of his coffee and nced at Brandon. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Brandon met Ashton¡¯s gaze, first casting a discreet look at Briar, who was still eating with her head down, before briefly saying into the phone, ¡°I¡¯ll check with Ashton. Don¡¯t make a move yet.¡± Then, he walked over to Ashton, bent down, and tapped something on his phone before handing it to Ashton. ¡°Ashton, our people just saw Ashton took the phone, and his brows quickly furrowed, but his face remained unchanged, and even his tone stayed as calm as ever. ¡°Investigate thoroughly and deal with it severely.¡± However, the sternness in Ashton¡¯s words and the shift in his aura were enough to make Briar look up in surprise. ¡°Who¡¯s trying to get on his bad side now?¡® she wondered. But Briar didn¡¯t say anything. Maybe it was something going on within Ashton¡¯spany. Brandon quickly replied, ¡°Yes, Ashton. I¡¯ll have Xavion take care of it right away.¡± Briar knew Xavion; he was also one of Ashton¡¯s trusted confidants, a top¨Cnotch hacker specializing in cybersecurity for the Wade Group. Many of Ashton¡¯s behind¨Cthe¨Cscenes business dealings were handled by Xavion. Briar didn¡¯t pay much attention to this little incident and, after finishing her breakfast, slung her school bag over her shoulder and got ready to head to school. Ashton got up at the same time. ¡°I¡¯m heading to Shoneport University to take care of some business anyway. Let¡¯s go together.¡± His tone was so natural that Briar couldn¡¯t find any reason to refuse. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡®That¡¯s why Ashton stayed at Moonspring Estatest night,¡® she thought to herself. It was only a few minutes¡® walk from Moonspring Estate to Shoneport University, so the two decided to go on foot. The handsome and beautiful duo attracted attention wherever they went, especially since Ashton was quite famous. Therefore, when Briar and Ashton arrived at the entrance of Shoneport University, many people threw excited nces at Ashton. Some even tried to sneakily take photos with their phones, but Brandon¡¯s stern look stopped them in their tracks. Even journalists dared not take candid photos of Ashton; these college students were really bold. Briar keenly noticed that the looks people were giving her were a mix of shock and disdain. Briar narrowed her eyes. She could understand their excitement; after all, Ashton¡¯s presence always drew a crowd, ¡®But why the disdain when they look at me? What are they looking down on me for? Do they think I¡¯m not worthy of standing next to Ashton? Come on, I¡¯m just his doctor. Are these people overthinking this?¡® she wondered. 10:35 Tue, 12 Aug Just then, Beatrice got out of her eat. Uhh *GINE to see you¡¯re okay hile by son ??? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ??? ???? Then, as if just noticing the crowd gathered in the pittens Bannica boude kap 1230 * gut sebad ¡°Why didn¡¯t youe home all night? Dad called opp i ya Muun But whether intentional or not, Beatrice¡¯s lowered voice was justme aviduagh day the dudents gathe Instantly, the looks people gave Briar shifted from disdain to contempt. If Briar didn¡¯t realize someone was scheming against her at this point, she¡¯d be rastly dense Just as she was about to lose her temper, someone gently put an arm around her shoulder Before Briar could chef sang kabine voice. ¡°Briar, didn¡¯t you say you¡¯re going to bete?¡± Ashton spoke while leaning down and murmuring softly into Briar¡¯s ear, ¡°Leave it to me to handle de god The low, gentle sound of his voice brushed against her earlobe, sending a tingling sensation that seemed to making her feel a mix of numbness and sweetness. Briar looked up at Ashton, trying to read something from his expression, but his face was as indifferent as ever, giving morting umay Briar still felt that something must have happened, and it might have something to do with her. Recalling the conversation between Brandon and Ashton at the breakfast table, Briar took in the reactions of everyone at she said. Ashton loosely draped his arm around Briar and led her through the school gate. Even after the two disappeared from sight, th entrance was still in shock. ¡®How could Ashton be with Briar? And they¡¯re so close?¡® everyone thought. In Shoneport, it wasmon knowledge that Ashton was the most unapproachable when it came to women, in his twenty¨Cs only had there never been a single wealthy heiress by his side, but even his personal secretary and top executives at the Wade Group were ad men. Some had even reasonably spected that Ashton might prefer men, though no one dared to confirm it with him directly But today, right here and now, Ashton had walked into the school gate with his arm around Briar, in front of everyone at the entrance, Although everyone saw that Ashton hadn¡¯t really ced his entire hand on Briar¡¯s shoulder, it was enough to drop jaws. This was even more shocking than the explosive news they had seen on the forum this morning. Quickly, the more astute ones had already sent messages to their families. Who the woman by Ashton¡¯s side was and what her background was didn¡¯t matter. What mattered was that they could liked women. All the eligible youngdies from the wealthy families in Shoneport suddenly had a chance. Forsaken 63 Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Briar wasn¡¯t sure what the expressions of the other people at the school gate were, but she knew that Beatrice, who had been ignored by her ¨C and Ashton, must have looked pretty gloomy. Briar had seen the Jennings family¡¯s arriving from a distance, but Beatrice only got out of the car when she saw Briar and Ashton walking to the school entrance. Beatrice must have been waiting And Ashton, who was as shrewd as he on purpose. Briar wasn¡¯t buying that for her lies. Ca was even less likely to give Beatrice a chance to get close. He probably had already marked her as someone to keep at a distance the moment she started heading their way. ¡°Just go to ss. Don¡¯t overthink it. By the time you¡¯re done with your lesson, everything will be fine,¡± Ashton said, escorting Briar all the way to the Traditional Medicine Department¡¯sb building and trying to usher her inside. Briar chuckled, ¡°Ashton, I¡¯m not a kid anymore. If there¡¯s really something going on, you don¡¯t have to hide it from me.¡± Ashton¡¯s tone was just like the way her two uncles used to coax her when she was little. ¡°Is there anything more important than your studies? Just listen and go to ss,¡± he insisted, still trying to push her into the building and standing there as if he wouldn¡¯t leave until he saw her go in. Briar couldn¡¯t argue, so she waved at Ashton and went inside. Through the closed ss windows, she could still see Ashton¡¯s determined gaze fixed on her. A faint sense of warmth and gratitude welled up in her heart. It felt really nice to be cared for and looked after like this. She waved back at Ashton through the window and received a smile in return before quickly heading into the office. She wasn¡¯t early, and most people were already there except for Mia. A few of the guys were huddled together, so engrossed in whatever they were looking at that they didn¡¯t even notice Briaring in. Then she heard Mason m the table and curse, ¡°Those damn busybodies with nothing better to do. This kind of message is obviously fake, and they still dare to post it on the forum? Are they looking for/trouble?¡± ¡°We all know it¡¯s fake, but you never know who might believe it. Scroll down to thements; some people are already starting to stir things up,¡± said Ted, who had his arm around Mason. Charle sighed, ¡°Yeah, the public opinion has already been swayed. By the time we get back from our 8 a.m. ss, thements section is going to be a mess again.¡± Thomas, who was also with the group, had a more indifferent reaction. ¡°If it gets really bad, we could ask Prince Frankie to talk to the student council president again and get it removed.¡± Frank, who was surrounded by everyone, coughed ufortably. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely talk to him, but I just saw him yesterday. If I go again today, it might seem a bit-¡± he trailed off, but the difficulty in his tone was clear. James and Karl stood together, not joining in the discussion. Briar made a bit of noise on purpose to get their attention. When they turned to look at her, she asked, ¡°Good morning, what are you all looking at? So many people gathered here.¡± Frank instinctively locked his phone screen and stuffed it into his pocket. The look he gave Briar was almost sympathetic. ¡°Good morning. It¡¯s nothing, just chatting casually.¡± Briar had it pretty rough. She had just arrived at Shoneport University and was already being targeted by so many people. And thinking that all this was because of him, Frank felt even more guilty. ¡°Yeah, just chatting. Briar, you¡¯re pretty early today,¡± Nichs said awkwardly, waving at Briar, Briar¡¯s gaze swept over their faces, and she saw the embarrassment in their eyes. She just nodded. ¡°Yeah, I came right on time to avoid being .¡± Mia walked in at that moment, and without even sparing Briar a nce, she walked past her and said, ¡°Good morning, everyone. ¡°Good morning,¡± everyone replied, effectively moving past the awkward atmosphere. Their 8 a.m. ss that day was a practical session in theb building with Jewell. Jewell had a habit of arriving five minutes early to take attendance. Anyone who was absent orte would be noted, and if anyone was noted three times in a row, they would lose the chance to take the exam for that course this semester. So, they all quickly grabbed their books and notebooks and headed to theb. It was Briar¡¯s first day in Jewell¡¯s ss, and she had brought everything she needed and even took the time to organize some notesst night. Her attitude was very serious. But Briar never expected that shortly after Jewell started taking attendance, he began to pick on her, asking her a bunch of advanced professional academic questions that were way beyond the sybus. If she had been a typical freshman who didn¡¯t know anything, she would have beenpletely fooled. When Briar was called on for the sixth time by Jewell, who had just finished asking a question meant for a senior majoring in the subject and was waiting with a smug expression for her answer, she couldn¡¯t help butugh in frustration. Briar fearlessly met Jewell¡¯s gaze and called him out. ¡°Professor Morphew, if you have a problem with me, just say it. There¡¯s no need to use these childish tactics to try to bring me down.¡± Frank, who had been about to step in to help Briar, looked at her in surprise. He hadn¡¯t expected her to be so bold and confront Jewell head-
  1. on.
¡®Doesn¡¯t she worry that Jewell will take it personally and dock her grades?¡® he thought. AD Forsaken 64 Chapter 64 Jewell hadn¡¯t expected Briar to speak to him so rudelyly. He looked at the chubborn ght. ¡°Br, do you dara divine my dansi bu qan respect me at all? Get out¡± Brisi wasn¡¯t intimidated by Jewell¡¯s cold demeanor. She sat there with her arms crossed, her face expressionists, chewing on intentointed leaving, and she didn¡¯t even bother to reply. Briar was deeply skeptical. ¡®Did I lose my mind aftering back to Dasmieca? Why did choose this troublesome new ibrdity on a core! student for myself? With my abilities, I could easily be a specially appointed professor at Shoneport University. But that would raise supletons among the Jennings family members.¡± This new identity was really frustrating. She hadn¡¯t even started investigating what she wanted to know, yet she was alrearly summanded by ¨¢ bunch of annoying people and trivial matters. As she sat there, Briar¡¯s expression grew gloomy, and her aura became colder. The students sitting around her unconsciously rubbed their arms. ¡®Who turned the air conditioning temperature down? Why does it suddenly feel so cold?¡± some of them wondered But soon, everyone noticed Briar¡¯s increasingly menacing gaze, and the whispers among the students stopped. Briar¡¯s look was kind of scary. Frank had been keeping an eye on Briar ever since Jewell started making things difficult for her. It wasn¡¯t that he was afraid Jewell would bully Briar into tears, but he knew that anyone who could be friends with Ashton was usually pretty formidable. Briar had seemed perfectly normal before today¨Cjust a gentle, pretty, and well¨Cbehaved girl. But Frank hadn¡¯t dared to let his guard down. Especially after he found out that Ashton had personally escorted Briar to school this morning, his heart had been pounding Ashton was the busiest person in the Wade family, with a million things to do every day. He wouldn¡¯t just wander around Shoneport University for no reason. Although the Wade Group was thergest investor in Shoneport University, Ashton had never personally visited the campus before. Ashton, whom he thought hade to stir up trouble, had been quiet all this time. But now, it was Briar, the seemingly docile student, who was stirring up trouble. Upon seeing Briar¡¯s aura growing stronger and stronger, and realizing she was about to lunge at Jewell, Frank¡¯s heart sank. He was all too familiar with this terrifying and fierce aura. It was the same expression Ashton had when he dealt with the unruly members of the Wade family branches. All the younger members of the Wade family had been soundly disciplined by Ashton at some point. Knowing that things were about to get bad, Frank instinctively took out his phone, quickly snapped a photo of B id sent a message to Ashton for help. [Ashton,e quick. Briar is about to lose it.] Tue, 12 Aug [Ashton, here¡¯s your chance to be the hero and save the day.] [Ashton, are you there?] [Ashton?] By the time Frank sent his fourth WhatsApp message, Ashton finally replied: [Shut up. I¡¯m on my way.) Frank wisely kept quiet and felt relieved. In Frank¡¯s mind, Ashton was like a god. There was nothing and no one he couldn¡¯t handle. Upon seeing Briar still sitting there, Jewell¡¯s anger intensified. He even lost hisposure and mmed his hand on the podium, pointing at Briar. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what I said? I don¡¯t wee troublemakers and students with improper conduct in my ssroom. Leave right now.¡± It wasn¡¯t clear which of Jewell¡¯s words finally pushed Briar over the edge, but her thin lips pursed, and her gaze shifted from cold to openly murderous. She ced her hands on the desk and slowly stood up. Everyone thought Briar was intimidated by Jewell¡¯s aura and was about to obediently leave the ssroom. Indeed, Jewell looked pretty intimidating at the moment. But only Frank inwardly groaned. ¡®Briar isn¡¯t going to go over and punch Jewell, is she? No wonder someone who could be friends with Ashton wouldn¡¯t be a pushover.¡® Frederick, who was officially a psychologist, was actually a forensic expert secretly hired by the Shoneport police. The yboy, Hamish, was actually a former special forces soldier from an elite unit and held an unbeaten record as the king of soldiers. Most importantly, they all listened to Ashton and often disappeared together, only to reappear after doing something that left people in awe. Now Briar had caught Ashton¡¯s attention. ¡°Briar, don¡¯t be impulsive. Ashton will be here soon. He¡¯ll definitely back you up. Just sit down and calm down.¡± Frank quickly walked over to Briar and stood in front of her protectively. Frank thought to himself, ¡®Don¡¯t get me wrong, I¡¯m not protecting Briar; I¡¯m protecting Jewell. What¡¯s gotten into Jewell today? Why is he picking on Briar? ¡®And what did he mean by thatstment? Briar has only been at school for less than two days¨Cwhere has she caused trouble or acted improperly? Wait a minute. Could it be that Jewell saw the forum posts too?¡® He continued thinking, ¡®Those photos and messages on the forum are clearly someone trying to stir up trouble and distort the truth for attention. As a traditional medicine professor hired by Shoneport University, Jewell should be able to see through such nonsense. ¡®Besides, a respected old professor wouldn¡¯t bother to pick on a freshman, right? There must be some other reason behind this. In just a few seconds, Frank analyzed the situation and its potential consequences. As he came back to reality, he felt someone gently push his shoulder aside, and Briar had already stepped past him and was walking toward Jewell. ¡°Briar, don¡¯t be impulsive. Huh? Ashton, you¡¯re here,¡± Frank¡¯s scalp tingled as he was about to rush over to stop her, but then he saw Ashton striding over with Marvin and immediately called out loudly, as if he had seen a savior. 51 Forsaken 65 Chapter 65 Frank sessfully shifted everyone¡¯s attention. It was only then that people noticed Marvin and two tall men had appeared at the door at some point. As soon as Ashton entered theb building and saw Briar¡¯s gloomy expression, his face turned cold. Marvin, fearing that Ashton would spear up and frighten the other students, quickly took the lead. ¡°Professor Morphew, what¡¯s going on here?¡± Marvin desperately gave Jewell meaningful nces, signaling him to exin. Jewell, in the midst of his anger, didn¡¯t recognize Ashton. Moreover, in his view, Briar was just an unpopr daughter of the Jennings family Given Marvin¡¯s easygoing nature, he wouldn¡¯t take any action against him. Besides, the issue of Briar¡¯s improper conduct had been witnessed by students. Even if Marvin were here, Jewell believed he was in the right Therefore, when Marvin kept winking at Jewell, Jewell didn¡¯t catch on. Instead, he indignantly said to Marvin, ¡°Marvin, you¡¯ve arrived just in time. When did our school¡¯s standards be so low that students with poor moral character can just walk in?¡± Marvin immediately knew things were going south. He felt like he could vanish on the spot. ¡®What is Jewell thinking? Does he realize who he¡¯s criticizing in front of? I¡¯ve been giving him obvious hints. Is he blind or something? Marvin thought to himself. After Ashton¡¯s arrival, hepletely ignored Jewell, who was standing arrogantly at the podium. His gaze was firmly fixed on Briar. Briar probably felt extremely wronged. The defiance and confidence in her beautiful eyes were reced entirely by coldness. She looked like a little animal that had been bullied and was ready to fight back. Ashton walked up to Briar and blocked her line of sight toward Jewell. ¡°Briar, don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m here,¡± he said. Briar¡¯s aura was freezing. With Ashton in her way, she had to stop. Her legs were half¨Cstretched, in apletely defensive and offensive stance. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid, Ashton. I can handle this myself,¡± she said. Ashton raised his hand and ced it gently on top of Briar¡¯s head. Her hair was of excellent quality, soft and voluminous, and it felt very pleasant to the touch. ¡°I know you can, but since this is my fault, can you give me a chance to make it right? Hmm?¡± he asked. Briar reluctantly looked up and met Ashton¡¯s gaze. There was no me or dissatisfaction in his eyes. His eyes were soft, with a hint of soothing intent,bined with his noble and handsome face. Briar waspletely charmed and couldn¡¯t bring herself to refuse. After a while, she finally nodded reluctantly, took a step back, and freed her head from Ashton¡¯s palm. ¡°Fine, you go ahead,¡± she said. Ashton¡¯s lips curled down slightly at the corners, indicating that he would deal with it first, but she could still pursue the matterter. However, he didn¡¯t seem displeased at all. He turned to Frank, who quickly and tactfully walked over to Briar, shielding her as they moved toward the door. He whispered to her in a coaxing tone, ¡°Briar, let¡¯s go outside and wait, okay?¡± His tone was like that of someone soothing a kindergartener. Since it was still ss time, causing a scene in the ssroom would be inappropriate and would disrupt everyo. arning After Frank coaxed Briar out, Brandon also escorted Jewell outside. Jewell¡¯s feelings were not a consideration for Brandon at all. So Tue 12 Aug Chapter 65 Marvin, noticing the curious and excited eyes of the students, coughed lightly. ¡°Professor Morphew and we have some tatters to harma temporarily. The rest of your can study on your own and don¡¯t run around,¡± has cafe, Marvin had a high level of authority at Shomeport University, and as soon as he spoke, even the most mischievous studente pan sear curiosity and sat quietly to read, However, not many were actually focused on their books. Once everyone had moved far enough away and couldn¡¯t be overheard, the whispers resumed The research group was particrly astonished. Mason nudged Ted beside him and whispered, ¡°Hey, did you see that? The way Ashton spoke to Briar Ted nodded. ¡°Yeah, it was like he wasforting his sister, even better than how he treats Frank.¡± Mia, who had quietly watched Briar being targeted by Marvin, felt a sense of satisfaction. She thought to herself, ¡®She deserves this. So what if Ashton helped her out yesterday? Today, she¡¯s on the bad side of Professor Morphew. ¡®She¡¯s definitely not getting any credits now. Even if Frank wants to protect her, can he really go against the professor? Or will shene to Briar¡¯s rescue again today?¡® But to her surprise, Ashton did show up. Judging by his attitude, it seemed he was going to protect Briar without asking any questions, just like yesterday. ¡®What on earth does Briar have that makes the men of the Wade family so protective of her?¡® Mia wondered. AD Comment Forsaken 66 Chapter 66 But no matter how jealous Mia was, it was useless. With Ashton stepping in, things naturally took the best possible turn, especially once Ashton was a benefactor of Shoneport University. Marvin couldn¡¯t afford to offend him, and Ashton was precisely the reason Marvin had been called to the school that mething to discuss matters concerning Briar. While others might not be aware of Briar¡¯s capabilities, Marvin, who had personally admitted her into the university, knew all too well. Although he hadn¡¯t witnessed Briar treating Griffin firsthand, he had seen how Griffin¡¯s condition improved day by day. They should cherish such a talented student. Yet here she was, having been at the school for less than two days, already facing nder and bullying, and now even her mentor was picking on her. It was clear that Jewell had chosen his moment poorly, especially with Ashton on campus. He was being used as a pawn, in and simple. After Briar was coaxed out of the ssroom by Frank, she was gently persuaded back to the office, where Frank tried to calm her down by making her a cup of coffee. ¡°Briar, here, have some coffee. I made it myself. Do me a favor and drink it?¡± he said, hoping to ease her mood. Briar took the cup. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said, her tone softening as she epted the gesture. Frank smiled in relief, ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Marvin led Ashton into the office, followed by Jewell, who had been invited by Brandon. The four of them entered and looked at Briar, who was sitting quietly, holding her coffee cup. Briar¡¯s anger had subsided, and she looked calm. Her wrist, highlighted by the ck cup, tapped the rim gently with her index finger. When she heard them enter, she nced over, catching sight of Jewellst. A sly, almost feral smile yed on her lips, With no other students around, Briar no longer concealed her cold and aloof aura. She put down her cup, shifted her posture, and draped her arm over the back of the chair, leaning back casually. Her beautiful left hand now held a few golden needles, which she twirled idly. The tips of the needles were bright and cold, mirroring her current defiance and arrogance. Frank swallowed hard. He was genuinely worried that if Briar got upset, she might identally fling those needles like darts. Clearly, the target would be Jewell. Frank was grateful that Briar had kept her temper in check back in the ssroom. Ashton walked straight up to Briar, ignoring her casual posture, and squatted down. His deep eyes shifted from the golden needles in her hand to her eyes. His tone was slow and deliberate. ¡°Briar, we agreed that I¡¯d handle this first.¡± Briar frowned slightly, suppressing her anger. She nced at Jewell for a few seconds before slowly putting away the needles. ¡°Alright. You go ahead.¡± Only then did everyone notice the small acupuncture kit in Briar¡¯s pocket, containing a set of eight gold nee This was the most basic set of tools for traditional medicine¨Cacupuncture, but it was also the most demanding in terms of the practitioner¡¯s experience. Nowadays, very few people could skillfully use the Golden Eight Needles. 10:36 Tue, 12 Aug 101 Chapter 66 And here was Briar, a mere freshman in the Traditional Medicine Department, carrying them around, it was quite surprising. Having agreed to let Ashton take the lead, Briar resumed her docile demeanor. Jewell, on the other hand, had only just begun to sense the danger. He opened his mouth to defend himself. ¡°Achton, ¡± Ashton stood up, turned his head, and fixed Jewell with a piercing, intimidating gaze. traditional medicine professor of Shoneport University to the spot. With just one look, he pinned the specially appointed Jewell, meeting Ashton¡¯s cold, abyss¨Clike eyes, felt his pores prickle and his breath catch, but he still forced himself to speak. ¡°Ashton, even if you don¡¯t want to hear it, as an educator, there are some things I have to say.¡± 14 Marvin almost wanted to apud Jewell¡¯s brave, righteous stance. ¡®Does he have any idea that the person in front of him can strip him of his title as an educator in the blink of an eye?¡® he wondered. But Ashton wasn¡¯t angry. Instead, he raised an eyebrow and gestured for Jewell to continue. Jewell, thinking that even someone as formidable as Ashton could be reasoned with, began to exin, ¡°She used connections to get into Shoneport University and became a student in the Traditional Medicine Department. ¡°Marvin handled the admission, so naturally, out of trust and respect for Marvin, I had no objections. Poor academic performance can be improved through hard work. However, as a future healer, having improper conduct and an unprincipled character is extremely dangerous. ¡°In less than two days at Shoneport University, her reputation has spread throughout the entire school, and it¡¯s all about scandalous things.¡± He continued, ¡°Today in my ss, I merely wanted to test her foundation in traditional medicine, but she not only had a bad attitude but also openly challenged me in front of the ss. Shouldn¡¯t I criticize her seriously for this? What do you think, Ashton?¡± Jewell finished speaking in one breath, carefully observing Ashton¡¯s reaction. Ashton¡¯s stunningly beautiful eyes were cold and sharp, sending a chill down one¡¯s spine. ¡°Finished?¡± he asked. Jewell nodded. Instead of responding to Jewell, Ashton turned to Marvin. ¡°Mr. Goodwin, when did I be so easy to deal with in your eyes?¡± Forsaken 67 Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Ashton¡¯s presence seemed to generate an oppressive low¨Cpressure zone, sending chills down the spines of everyone in the room Jewell, who had been speaking confidently just moments ago, froze. ¡°Ashton- Ashton¡¯s sudden outburst nearly gave Marvin a heart attack, but Marvin had no choice but to step in and mediate. ¡°Hey, Ashton, let¡¯s talk this through calmly. We don¡¯t want to scare the kids, do we?¡± Frank nodded frantically in agreement. He was already terrified and didn¡¯t want any more scares. ¡®It¡¯s all Jewell¡¯s fault. Why has he targeted Briar in the first ce? Now he angers Ashton,¡® he wondered. Ashton nced at Briar, who hadn¡¯t budged an inch and remained in hernguid, nonchnt posture. Considering Briar¡¯s feelings, Ashton reluctantly reined in his cold demeanor. Whether Frank got scared was of no consequence. ¡°Brandon, bring out the evidence we¡¯ve gathered and show it to this educator,¡± Ashton said, pulling up a chair to sit next to Briar Brandon, who had been standing quietly by the office door, finally moved. He took out his phone, opened a few photos, and ced them on the desk. He exined, ¡°These are the pieces of evidence we¡¯ve gathered regarding the defamation of Miss Jennings on the forum. ¡°Upon investigation, the person who deliberately posted distorted facts, fabricated stories, and intentionally tarnished Miss Jennings reputation is a student here at Shoneport University. Her name is Abbie Cooper, a sophomore in the Traditional Medicine Department.¡± He continued, ¡°Additionally, we found out that Abbie, along with two other students, Mia and Lydia, had a conflict with Miss Jennings in the girls¡® dormitory yesterday. ¡°Ashton dealt with it yesterday, and the three of them promised not to disclose the rtionship between Ashton and Miss Jennings to the public.¡± As Brandon flipped through the photos one by one, not only did Marvin start sweating profusely, but Jewell¡¯s face turned pale. He finally realized he had been used. But that wasn¡¯t all. There was more evidence on Brandon¡¯s phone. He continued, ¡°Furthermore, regarding the rumors about Miss Jennings that appeared on the forum this morning, Marvin, I think you should be able to recognize Ashton¡¯s car, right? ¡°Take a look at this photo posted on the forum, which falsely ims that Miss Jennings was picked up by an older man from society after school yesterday.¡± Marvin leaned in and examined it closely. ¡°This is Ashton¡¯s car, no doubt.¡± Marvin added, ¡°And this one, showing the location of the vi where Ashton and Miss Jennings had dinnerst night and where Ashton asked Miss Jennings to help him with his health. ¡°This is the penthouse at Moonspring Estate, isn¡¯t it? I remember Ashton bought this penthouse a few years ago.¡± Brandon nodded. ¡°Yes,st night Ashton went back to his home. Also, take a look at this photo of the documents. The owner of this vi, which is right next to the Wade family¡¯s residence, is Miss Jennings. ¡°Butst night, someone deliberately took separate photos of Ashton and Miss Jennings, blurred the concepts, and confused people¡¯s perceptions. She even incited others to create various campus bullying rumors about Miss Jennings. 10.36 Tue, 12 Aug Ou ¡°And guess who did this? It was that same student named Abbie! A bead of sweat slid down Jewell¡¯s forehead. This morning, he had been convinced by the very photo evidence provided by a female pric Abbie. Now he realized he had been duped. Brandon said, ¡°Ashton came to Shoneport University again this morning because of the new rumors against Miss Jennings on the schont forum. Initially, Ashton just wanted the school to resolve the issue quickly. ¡°But the situation escted so fast that even teachers got involved. This has led Ashton to question whether the faculty at shoneport University is truly up to the standards of the projects we the Wade Group have invested in.¡± Brandon, who was usually quiet, exuded an intimidating presence when it came to business. After he finished speaking, the entire office fell into an eerie silence. Everyone watched Ashton and Briar, waiting for Ashton¡¯s verdict. ¡°Briar, now that we¡¯ve gotten to the bottom of this, I¡¯ll have the student council remove the posts right away and severely warn and punish the person who posted them. Could you please talk some sense into Ashton?¡± Marvin pleaded. Briar flicked her hair back, revealing her delicate features. Her cold eyes were filled withnguid indifference. ¡°Marvin, why should I persuade him? Besides, Ashton is a big shot in Shoneport. Why would he listen to me?¡± ¡°Moreover, Ashton¡¯s ount with you is settled, but my score hasn¡¯t been settled yet.¡± Briar¡¯s beautiful eyes glinted with a hint of mischief ¡°This is the first time in my life I¡¯ve been bullied like this.¡± Forsaken 68 Chapter 68 Briar¡¯s words were delivered in a measured tone, yet each one struck a chord with everyone present. Jewell even caught a hint of approval in the smile that tugged at the corner of Ashton¡¯s lips. Marvin, noticing Ashton¡¯s indulgent expression, turned to Briar and said, ¡°Briar, this incident is indeed a result of our school¡¯s inadequate supervision. You have every right to make any demands.¡± As for Jewell, well, with Ashton in the room, he didn¡¯t dare to defend him. Especially since Ashton had already caught Jewell in the wrong. Jewell feared that pleading for mercy would only make things worse. Every time Marvin encountered Ashton, he found himself in a tough spot. Ashton was someone one couldn¡¯t scold or criticize, and even more difficult to deal with than Griffin. Yet, in the end, Marvin always ended up being dealing with him. It was quite perplexing. Most importantly, members of the Wade family were fiercely protective of their own, siding with family over right and wrong. So Marvin could only pin his hopes on Briar, hoping she wouldn¡¯t be too harsh and would show some mercy. Briar said, ¡°Professor Morphew, remember the questions you targeted at me in ss today? Let¡¯s not even discuss that they were from senior¨Cyear courses, yet you insisted on making things difficult for a freshman like me. ¡°Let¡¯s just say that your prejudice and usations, based solely on a few photos and some people¡¯s instigation, all stem from the assumption that I entered Shoneport University through special means, right?¡± Briar had been smiling at Jewell just a second ago, but by the end of her sentence, her cold and defiant aura left him with nowhere to hide. She emphasized the special means with her clear voice, while her eyes and expression remained somewhat gentle, creating a chilling yet captivating contrast. With the facts and evidence right there in front of everyone, Jewell, under the watchful eyes of Ashton, Marvin, and the others, stammered out an apology to Briar. ¡°I was too quick to judge and was overly prejudiced. Briar, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Jewell knew that the right was not on his side today. If he wanted to keep his position as a specially appointed professor at Shoneport University, he had to apologize to Briar. Although it was humiliating for him to apologize to a student, if Shoneport University dismissed him in such a manner, he would have no ce left in Shoneport. The various powerful families in Shoneport hadplex connections and influence. He had spent years painstakingly establishing a foothold for the Morphew family in Shoneport and couldn¡¯t let one mistake undo all his efforts. Briar¡¯s fingers idly tapped on the table, producing a light tap sound. ¡°Professor Morphew, you don¡¯t need to apologize to me. I won¡¯t forgive you anyway. ¡°However, since even the teachers have such prejudices against me, to ensure my peace in the future, arrange a public lecture.¡± After she finished speaking, everyone except/Ashton and Brandon was shocked. Frank¡¯s reaction was the most dramatic. He jumped up, his finger trembling as he pointed at Briar. ¡°Briar, do you know what you¡¯re saying? ¡°Shoneport University¡¯s public lecture is broadcast live to the entire school. There will be professional mentors a performance and grades will directly affect your semester evaluation.¡± perts present, and your If she didn¡¯t pass, she wouldn¡¯t graduate. In their Traditional Medicine Department, very few people had the confidence to take on clien a challenge. Most importantly, so far, no one in the Traditional Medicine Department had sessfully passed the public lecture evaluation with excellere results. Briar casually nced at Frank, her demeanorzy and indifferent, yet somehow suffocating. ¡°I know.¡± It was precisely because she knew the stakes that she wanted to silence those people once and for all. She didn¡¯t want to waste her time on such matters. Frank was stunned for a moment. Knowing the risks and still acting so arrogantly, she was truly confident. Jewell didn¡¯t expect Briar, whose academic performance was only average, to make such a bold demand. It was like she was asking for trouble. He felt his confidence returning. ¡°Marvin, since Briar has made this request, we must fulfill it, right?¡± Marvin looked at Jewell, whose confidence seemed to be rekindled and was quite speechless. But he had to admit that if Briar wanted to prove her abilities, a public lecture was indeed the most effective way to do so. However, it was a risky move with significant potential for failure. Marvin couldn¡¯t make this decision. If something went wrong during the public lecture, he couldn¡¯t be there to help Briar clean up the mess. So Marvin turned to Ashton, giving him meaningful nces. He was essentially saying, ¡°This is your girl; you need to back her up.¡± Ashton¡¯s expression remained unchanged, and there was even a hint of interest in his eyes. He tilted his head, looking at Briar, who had a cool expression, and asked with a smile, ¡°Briar, how confident are you?¡± Instead of saying it was impossible, he was asking her how sure she was that she could pass the public lecture. Ashton, of course, had faith in Briar¡¯s medical skills. But Shoneport University¡¯s public lecture wasn¡¯t just a test of individual ability, it also tested one¡¯s mental resilience and ability to handle pressure. Briar was still only 18 years old. There were other ways for her to prove herself without resorting to such an extreme method. If she was willing, he had plenty of ways to clear her name. But Briar was 18, at the peak of her youthful passion and ambition. She needed support. Briar mimicked Ashton, her eyes darkening with determination as she propped her chin up and replied confidently, ¡°Ten out of ten.¡± Ashton raised an eyebrow, looking at Briar¡¯s beautiful and delicate features, which remained stunning even with herzy expression. After a three¨Csecond pause, he nodded. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do it your way.¡± With AD Comment Forsaken 69 Chapter 69 Ashton¡¯s decision was beyond question, on that was how things were setting, pollen the delen beded that Brun was ding in hal Traditional Medicine Desitinent¡¯s putih tertia, the be sch in just two short days since the start of the echool year, Briar¡¯s naka had farine drewally a kegrahald went The Best day of school, she and Prince Frankie had made it to the top off the fansia¡¯s h Baraming the oldest of mary girls pratsetel The second day, someone anonymously exposed her supposed pertigaank ratationenis atti ae dhider manplete with irealveilmading photos of her going home with him in the middle of the right. Briar, a freshman, had made a bizarre yet rapid ssh on the Shomeport University campus Then, on the morning of the third day, the school¡¯s publicity department announced another gioca of haves about Pr Mat tett everyone¡¯s jaws dropping. People were buzzing with discussions. ¡°Has she gone mad? The Traditional Medicine Department¡¯s public lecture? How dare she?¡± ¡°Yeah, does she even realize how difficult the public lecture is? And it¡¯s not just any public lecture¨Cit¡¯s for the Traditional Medicine Department.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this just asking for trouble? Traditional medicine is already hard to master, and they say you need the right timing, loca harmony among people. What does she have?¡± ¡°Do you know Briar¡¯s SAT scores? Oh my god. It¡¯s all red lights. If it weren¡¯t for her family¡¯s money, she wouldn¡¯t even be able to touch ther threshold of Shoneport University.¡± ¡°And those are her scores from an overseas exam, which are way easier.¡± ¡°Exactly. If Briar wants to stand out, she shouldn¡¯t do it this way. If she fails the public lecture, she¡¯ll definitely regret it. ¡°It¡¯s not just that she¡¯ll regret it. I heard that if you fail the public lecture, you won¡¯t even be able to get your diploma from Shoneport University.¡± ¡°Right. I heard that the results of the public lecture are directly linked to the final graduation assessment. If you don¡¯t pass, you really won¡¯t graduate.¡± ¡°What is she thinking? Does she want to prove herself this way? It¡¯s not worth it.¡± ¡°Who knows what she¡¯s thinking? Maybe she thinks she¡¯s pretty enough to charm the judges and teachers the same way.¡± Unable to find Briar¡¯s social media ounts, people flocked to thetest post about her on the forum to discuss. Comments and messages exploded in just a morning, with everyone specting. Most people thought Briar was either crazy or foolish. No one would voluntarily apply to give a public lecture. However, some people changed their views of Briar because of this. ¡°I won¡¯t judge without knowing the full story. If Briar really proposed to give the public lecture herself, I think she must have some real skills.¡± ¡°I agree. After all, no one would joke around with their future. Besides, she has no need to do this.¡± Chapter 69 ¡°Yes, maybe Briar will surprise us all at the public lecture? While everyone was talking about her, Briar, the main subject of the discussion, was standing quietly in the office, listening to focus! lecture. ¡°How could you make such a big decision so rashly?¡± Joshua had been out of school yesterday, and as soon as he arrived today, he heard. about it. He was so worried that he immediately called Briar to his office for a heart¨Cto¨Cheart talk. Briar smiled, ¡°Mr. Swift, don¡¯t worry, I know what I¡¯m doing. It¡¯ll be fine.¡± Joshua red at Briar. ¡°What do you know? How old are you? No matter how talented you are, you can¡¯t gamble with your future. Confidence is good, but overconfidence can lead to big losses.¡± Afraid that further arguing might upset Joshua, Briar chose to keep quiet and listen. ¡°Also, you¡¯re the first student in the Traditional Medicine Department to challenge the public lecture. There¡¯s no specific reference for the course difficulty and questions. What if it goes beyond the sybus? How will you handle that?¡± he continued. Joshua had a point. Since Briar was aiming to prove herself, it was possible that someone might try to sabotage her behind the scenes. Especially now that she had made quite a few people unhappy at Shoneport University, it would be easy for them to cause trouble. Briar said softly, ¡°Mr. Swift, Ashton agreed to this. With him on my side, no one will dare to tamper with anything. You can rest easy on that.¡± Joshua was taken aback and momentarily stunned. ¡°Even if Ashton is involved, can you guarantee that you¡¯llplete all the tasks in the public lecture? The Traditional Medicine Department¡¯s public lecture involves actual operations,¡± he said. Briar replied in a very low voice, ¡°Mr. Swift, have you forgotten why Marvin recruited me in the first ce?¡± Joshua wondered, ¡®Oh, I see.¡¯ Come to think of it, in his haste and worry, Joshua had indeed ¡®forgotten that Briar had been brought in by Marvin because of her exceptional talent in traditional medicine. Forsaken 70 Chapter 70 Briar¡¯s single sentence left Joshua speechless. He looked at her with a mix of frustration andern, and after a long moment bn nodded. ¡°Alright, if you¡¯re confident, then I won¡¯t say more.¡± With that, Joshua turned around, reached into his ck briefcase, and pulled out a stack of documents, handing them in Anjar 196piled these case studies on short notice. Take a look at them in the next couple of days; they¡¯ll help you with the public lecture Briar epted the materials, smiling, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Swift. I¡¯ll study them carefully.¡± Joshua gave Briar another stern look, then waved her off. ¡°Go sit somewhere and start reading¡± Briar took the documents and sat down, diving into them with a focus that showed her obedience. Joshua seemed to genuinely care for Briar, watching over her for a full hour before finally leaving with his briefcase. As soon as Joshua was gone, Briar closed the documents, massaged her temples, and sent a message to Ashton. Briar: [Ashton, do you still need the hypnotist¡¯s sleep therapy tonight?] Ashton was likely busy, as he didn¡¯t reply immediately. After waiting a few minutes, Briar put her phone aside, sighed, and resignedly opened the documents again. Since Joshua had gone through the trouble of finding them for her, she didn¡¯t want to disappoint him. The two¨Chour morning ss ended at eight, and Frank and the others rushed back to the office. Seeing Briar there, they gathered around her. ¡°Briar, studying already?¡± Mason stretched his neck to take a look and was surprised. ¡°Hey, these materials look familiar.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this the homework Mr. Swift assigned us for the summer extension trainingst semester?¡± Ted realized. Thomasughed, ¡°It seems Mr. Swift really likes you, Briar. He even brought out his best extension materials.¡± As he spoke, Thomas couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of jealousy. All his efforts seemed worthless in the face of talent. He had once secretly asked Joshua for these materials but was refused on the grounds that he wasn¡¯t ready yet. Now, because Briar was preparing for the public lecture, Joshua had handed them over without hesitation. He didn¡¯t want to admit that Joshua was ying favorites, so he could only conclude that Briar really had exceptional talent. And her talent had won the appreciation of Joshua, Marvin, and even Ashton. ¡°Right, these are part of the materials Mr. Swift brought outst semester. Impressive, Briar. With these, you should be fine for the public lecture,¡± Frank said. With Joshua¡¯s help in selecting the topics, Brfar should at least be able to scrape by with a passing grade. While everyone¡¯s attention was on Briar, Thomas quietly stepped away and sent a message to Abbie. Thomas: [Abbie, are you sure no one knows about your forum ount?] Abbie¡¯s reply was quick. [I¡¯m sure, Thomas. Don¡¯t worry. No one can trace it back to me.] Chapter 70 Thomas felt relieved. (That¡¯s good. Be more carefultely. Things have gotten out of hand, and in perple are invol to get caught. Abble: [Got it.] Watching Briarchat calmly with the others, Thomas couldn¡¯t shake a feeling of unease. The reason was probably the posts about Briar on the forum, which were still prominently disyed and hadn¡¯t been removed or address This made Thomas feel an eerie, unsettling silence as if a storm was brewing Suddenly, Mason¡¯s voice brought him back to reality. ¡°Thomas, we¡¯re going to process some new traditional medicinal materials in theb today. You should help Briar out a bit, too.¡± Thomas snapped out of his thoughts, pushed aside his unease, and walked over with a smile. ¡°Sure, no problem¡± Briar smiled sweetly at Thomas, ¡°Thank you, Thomas.¡± Thomas was momentarily dazzled by Briar¡¯s smile. ¡°N¨Cno problem.¡± Forsaken 71 Chapter 71 Thomas was captivated by Briar¡¯s smile, so he didn¡¯t notice the fleeting coldness in her eyes. Briar¡¯s demeanor and appearance were so striking that anyone who looked into her eyes would see her bright, pure gaze if she intended it. Theziness, nonchnce, and defiance in her eyes were easily overlooked. However, Frank, who was closest to Briar, caught that glint of coldness. Frank furrowed his brows slightly. He had been in the office yesterday and knew who had posted the defamatoryments about Briar on the forum. He also knew why Briar hadn¡¯t asked for the posts to be removed. Although Frank was aware that Briar wasn¡¯t the type to take out her frustrations on others, he was still anxious about her reaction upon seeing Thomas. He was worried that if she was in a bad mood, she might take it out on Thomas. Frank knew Thomas well. If Frank found out that his sister had caused such a big trouble behind the scenes, he would definitely distance himself from Abbie and force her to apologize to Briar in person. Frank had been warned by Ashton not to mention yesterday¡¯s incident to Thomas, but since Thomas was his friend, he felt a bit guilty for not giving him a heads¨Cup. As the time for the public lecture drew closer, everyone was on edge for her, but it seemed that only Briar herself showed no signs of nervousness. She had spent the past few days holed up in the office, seemingly busy and focused on studying the materials. But Frank had seen her achieve ten consecutive wins in a game whenever he came to check on her. It seemed that the big shot wasn¡¯t nervous at all. Frank mentioned this to Ashton, but Ashton didn¡¯t seem to react. ¡®Well, the mental fortitude of the big shots is just different from, that of ordinary people. No need to worry anymore,¡® he wondered. Today at Shoneport University, the students had been unusually excited since early morning. Briar¡¯s personal public lecture was set to begin at eight o¡¯clock, and many had charged their phones andptops the night before, waiting to watch the live broadcast. Or rather, many were eagerly anticipating how Briar would end up embarrassing herself. It was the first public lecture in the history of Shoneport University¡¯s Traditional Medicine Department. Unlike other specialties, even if they were difficult, there were always references and possibilities for challenges. But the Traditional Medicine Department was notoriously tough. Moreover, Briar was known as a cker. She had only gotten into Shoneport University through her family¡¯s connections and money. ¡®How dare she challenge a personal public lecture? Has she gone mad?¡® many people wondered. ***** At Moonspring Estate, Briar returned from her morning, run to see Ashton standing in front of her house with his hand in his pocket seemingly walling for her. Ashton was wearing the simplest ck shirt today, and with his gold¨Crimmed sses and those captivating, cold eyes, he exited an air dis restrained desire. Briar had to admit, he looked perfect. She casually greeted him, ¡°Ashton, good morning.¡± ¡°Good morning. I had breakfast prepared. How about we eat together?¡± Ashton asked. Having breakfast with Ashton wasn¡¯t a new experience for Briar, so she didn¡¯t make a fuss and nodded. ¡°Sure. Let me go home and change first.¡± She just ran for half an hour, and her clothes are soaked with sweat. Ashton¡¯s gaze inadvertently swept over Briar¡¯s graceful figure. She was at the peak of her youth and beauty, and after exercising, her beauty was in stark contrast to her usual cold demeanor, as passionate as the sweat on her forehead. ¡°Alright,¡± Ashton said, turning away as if he hadn¡¯t just so tantly looked her over. Today¡¯s breakfast was delicious, too. The servant had even specially fried two perfectly shaped poached eggs and a baguette for Briar. The implication was clear, 100 points: Briar¡¯s lips twitched, and she looked at Ashton questioningly. Ashton covered his mouth with his fist and coughed lightly, his tone serious. ¡°I heard that parents often prepare this for their children before exams, to wish them good luck and good grades.¡± Briar, who hadn¡¯t returned to the Jennings residence, naturally didn¡¯t have anyone preparing such things for her. She was momentarily stunned. ¡®Well, it¡¯s Ashton¡¯s kind gesture, even though I¡¯m already a college student and far beyond that innocent age, she wondered. In the end, Briar did her best to finish everything. After putting down her fork, Briar received a satisfied smile from Ashton. It was almost time, so Briar slowly made her way to Shoneport University with her backpack, holding the materials that Joshua hadpiled for her. She had finished reading through them and nned to return them before the public lecture. Ashton didn¡¯t go to Shoneport University with Briar. Instead, after she went in, he drove directly to Marvin¡¯s office from the west gate. Ever since Marvin had taken on Briar as a promising student, he found himself drifting further and further away from hisid¨Cback Shoneport University life. He came to the office early every day, working so diligently that even his wife found it incredible. ¡°Ashton, you are here?¡± Marvin said as he had just arrived at the office and hadn¡¯t even had time to brew his coffee. The door to his office was pushed open, and he turned to see Ashton entering with his bodyguard, not to bully anyone, but to observe the scene. Brandon was perceptive and took the coffee beans from Marvin¡¯s hand. ¡°Mr. Goodwin, let me do it.¡± Marvin didn¡¯t mind. Ashton¡¯s bodyguards were all versatile and had excellent coffee¨Cbrewing skills. Ashton and Marvin sat down on the sofa together. ¡°Mr. Goodwin, are all the judges for the public lecture in ce?¡± Ashton asked. Marvin, who was able to rx in his office and enjoy tea, must have had everything arranged. Sure enough, he nodded. ¡°Everything¡¯s set. I¡¯ve invited experts from the traditional medicine institute and our traditional medicine professors from Shoneport University to grade and oversee the lecture. 10.36 Tue, 12 Aug ¡°You can rest assured that Briar won¡¯t be wronged.¡± If Marvin didn¡¯t know that Briar was still just an 18 year¨Cold, with Ashton¡¯s enthusiasm, he would have thought Ashton loved her ¡°Mr. Goodwin, you truly live up to your reputation as the head of Shoneport University. You are indeed impartial, Ashton praised insincerely. Forsaken 72 Chapter 72 Marvin pretended not to hear Ashton¡¯s ttery; it was just too insincere. ¡°The public lecture starts at eight in the morning and ends at ten. Of course, if there are any special circumstances, it can also end early, depending on when Briarpletes the assignment,¡± Marvin said, bing serious as he discussed the matter. He took a sip of coffee and asked earnestly, ¡°Ashton, how confident do you think Briar is about passing this public lecture?¡± Ashton¡¯s voice was steady. ¡°Briar says she¡¯s one hundred percent confident.¡± Marvin was taken aback for a moment. ¡®I don¡¯t ask about Briar¡¯s confidence?¡® he wondered. But before Marvin could inquire further, the TV screen on the wall lit up. It was 7:55, and the public lecture was about to begin. On the screen, Briar was already there, propping her chin up with her hand as she sat alone in the ssroom designated for the public lecture. Several cameras were set up in front of her, ensuring that every move Briar made would be captured from all angles once the lecture began. Even with the cameras right in her face, Briar¡¯s beauty remained unmarred. She was truly stunning. Even with a nk expression, even with a hint of defiance and arrogance in her eyes, and even with her casual posture that seemed more at home than in a formal setting, Briar¡¯s natural beauty shone through. In the frame, several elderly gentlemen with gray hair and reading sses were ushered in by Joshua and Jewell. They took their seats at the judges¡® table that had been prepared for them. Joshua was the first to speak. ¡°Briar, a freshman in the Traditional Medicine Department, the public lecture is set to begin in two minutes. Are you ready?¡± Briar sat up straight, still indifferent, and nodded faintly in response. ¡°Okay. I hereby dere that the first individual public lecture of the Traditional Medicine Department is nowmencing. Please listen to the question,¡± Joshua announced. Unlike other subjects, the Traditional Medicine Department¡¯s/curriculum included not only a basic written exam but also a crucial practicalponent. This involved real patients with actual medical cases for students to practice on. Of course, this had to be clearlymunicated to the patients in advance, and professional traditional medicine schrs had to be present to provide guidance. To ensure fairness and impartiality for today¡¯s public lecture, Shoneport University had brought in patients from Shoneport Hospital, who had signed liability waivers and insurance. In addition to the apanying senior traditional medicine experts, an ambnce and relevant medical staff were on standby to handle any unexpected incidents during the treatment. The content of the written exam was randomly generated by professors and the judges on¨Csite. Briar wrote her answers on the answer sheet, with cameras capturing the entire process. From the moment she heard the question to the moment she wrote down the answer, Briar hardly paused at all. If it weren¡¯t for the cameras and the distinguished experts from Shoneport watching, the live audience would have thought Briar had the answers beforehand. They were surprised by how quickly she answered on the spot. 10:36 Tue, 12 Aug DO Especially the students from the Traditional Medicine Department¨Ceven the seniors, who were unable to answer some of the abonu ? questions¨Cwere suit racking their brains for answers when Briar had already written hers down. She did it all in just a few seconds. Is this a genius, a prodigy? Whoever said Briar¡¯s SAT scores were all failing, barely scraping into Shoneport University? they wondered. The original time allocated for the written exam was one hour, with another hour for the practical exam. However, because Briar answered co quickly, the one¨Chour written exam was shortened to just twenty minutes. What was more, Briar¡¯s answers were all correct. Now, not only were the live¨Cviewing students unsettled, but even the invited experts couldn¡¯t sit still. Briar had solid fundamentals, and her thinking and reactions were incredibly sharp. It was a blessing for the traditional medicine world to have such talent. An elderly expert, feeling the smoothness of his bald head, couldn¡¯t wait for Briar to proceed to the next round of practical exams. He asked with a smile, ¡°Briar, I¡¯m the deputy director of Shoneport Hospital. Would you like to be my apprentice? ¡°With your caliber, you could self¨Cstudy the curriculum for juniors, and I could arrange for you to intern at our hospital in your senior year,¡± This unexpected offer left everyone speechless. The other experts hadn¡¯t anticipated such a move. The public lecture hadn¡¯t even ended, and he was already trying to recruit her, and in front of so many people. They were all furious. ¡°Briar, don¡¯t listen to him. Their hospital¡¯s main focus is modern medicine, which doesn¡¯t offer much room for traditional medicine. You shoulde to our hospital. We¡¯re the Shoneport Traditional Medicine Hospital, and we value talent much more than they do,¡± another expert chimed in. Soon, the experts were all talking at once, each trying to persuade Briar to join their hospital. Young, talented, quick¨Cwitted, and most importantly, Briar didn¡¯te from a prominent family background, yet she had a good rtionship with Ashton. Such a talent was highly sought after. Briar raised an eyebrow, not expecting the situation to take this turn. ¡°Thank you all for your kind offers, but I already have a master,¡± she said. With that, the bickering among the experts ceased. Since Briar already had a master, there was no need for them topete. They regretted not discovering such a promising talent sooner. Joshua, looking at Briar¡¯s calm face, felt a pang and asked, ¡°Briar, I wonder who this master of yours is from Dasmieca?¡± Briar had lived abroad for a long time, and there were very few well¨Cknown traditional medicine masters there. By chance, he knew all the prominent ones, and he didn¡¯t know that any of them had taken on a student as excellent as Briar. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Swift, my master doesn¡¯t allow me to reveal his name,¡± Briar said, meeting Joshua¡¯s gaze without flinching and smiling. A hint of disappointment flickered in Joshua¡¯s eyes, but he waved it off. ¡°No problem. If it¡¯s the master¡¯s instruction, it must be followed.¡± Then he turned to the other experts. ¡°How about we proceed directly to the next round of assessment?¡± Everyone agreed, and there was even a sense of anticipation. Chapter 72 Briar could perform so well in the written exam, and they wondered how her practical skills would be AD Forsaken 73 Briar¡¯s performance in the open ss was broadcast in real¨Ctime on therge screen in Marvin¡¯s office. From the moment Briar began answering questions, Marvin¡¯s eyes lit up. Although he wasn¡¯t an expert in traditional medicine, he had a decent understanding of it. Briar¡¯s skills were clearly the result of years of rigorous training, steady and solid. Seeing her being courted by the masters of traditional medicine, Marvin couldn¡¯t hide his smile. No matter which master Briar chose to follow, she would still be a talent recruited by Shoneport University. However, when he heard Briar reject the offers without hesitation and state that she had already found a mentor, Marvin nodded in understanding. With such solid skills, she must have had a distinguished teacher guiding her from a young age. ¡®Briar has always lived in Qathana. When has Qathana produced such a remarkable master of traditional medicine?¡® he wondered. Marvin turned his piercing gaze to Ashton, his interest piqued ¡°Acton, you brought Briar to Shoneport University. You must have done your homework on her background, right? Do you know who her master is?¡± Ashton was straightforward. ¡°I checked. I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°How could that be?¡± Marvin¡¯s voice rose in disbelief. ¡°Is there something you can¡¯t find out? Did you even bother to check?¡± Ashton replied irritably, ¡°I did check, but the information I found was clearly tampered with. Briar¡¯s background is definitely not ordinary. You can give up trying to dig deeper; it¡¯s impossible.¡± Marvin was skeptical. ¡°Really? Briar is just an ordinary girl from the Jennings family. Do they have that kind of influence?¡± It wasn¡¯t that Marvin underestimated the Jennings family. He knew a bit about Briar¡¯s father, Edgar. The man had no real talent. The only reason the Jennings Group was still standing was due to the support from thepany¡¯s veteran shareholders. Marvin had even heard rumors that Edgar had been removed from his position as president recently, though he wasn¡¯t sure if it was true. Ashton kept his eyes on Briar on the screen. ¡°Mr. Goodwin, don¡¯t forget that Briar¡¯s grandpa is the head of the Grant family from Qathana. Just because the Jennings family has no power doesn¡¯t mean the Grant family is the same.¡± Marvin winced. ¡°You¡¯re right. Back in the day, Mr. Grant saved the Jennings Group from bankruptcy.¡± Suddenly, Ashton made a shh gesture, signaling Marvin to look at the screen. Marvin¡¯s eyes widened the next moment, and he jumped up from the sofa in excitement, pointing at Briar¡¯s actions on the screen. ¡°This is the Golden 81 Needles?¡± Ashton had no idea what the Golden 81 Needles were. He had just wanted Marvin to pay attention to Briar¡¯s acupuncture skills, but Marvin¡¯s reaction was extreme. Marvin wasn¡¯t the only one excited. In the room, Joshua and the other masters of traditional medicine all stood ur eximing in unison, ¡°This is the Golden 81 Needles?¡± ¡°Goodness me. I never thought i¡¯d see the Golden 81 Needles in my lifetime.¡± ¡°The Golden 81 Needles are Tristan¡¯s exclusive technique. Could it be that Briar¡¯s master is Tristan?¡± their seats, Joshua¡¯s lips trembled, and his eyes behind his reading sses misted over. No one understood better than him the sheer impact of Briar¡¯s demonstration of the Golden 81 Needles. 1/3 10:37 Tue, 12 Aug ¡®Is Tristan still alive? He is. He must still be alive,¡® wondered Joshua. Joshua¡¯s moist gaze shifted toward a camera. Marvin in his office caught the look and felt both shocked and delighted. With Joshua¡¯s confirmation, Marvin was certain that the familiar acupuncture technique Briar was using was indeed Tristan¡¯s exclusive skill. The influence of the Golden 81 Needles back in Dasmieca was so great that even the top leaders had to personally visit to invite him. Tristan had once said that if he didn¡¯t find a truly talented apprentice in his lifetime, he would take the technique to his grave. After Tristan left Dasmieca, the technique vanished without a trace. They had been searching for him privately for years, but hope after hope was dashed. Even Joshua had given up on finding Tristan. But now, the Golden 81 Needles had resurfaced, and in the hands of an 18¨Cyear¨Cold girl. Judging by her skillful technique, she must have been with Tristan for quite some time. That was to say, they had the whereabouts of Tristan. So Tristan was alive. As if realizing something, Marvin¡¯s expression changed abruptly. He grabbed Ashton¡¯s arm frantically. ¡°Ashton, quickly, get someone to block the live broadcast video. It can¡¯t be allowed to spread. Hurry.¡± He was so anxious that he was almost incoherent. Ashton looked at the usually calm principal with surprise. Seeing Marvin so flustered was a first. Without asking any questions, Ashton took out his phone and made two calls. ¡°Mr. Goodwin, I¡¯ve had the video intercepted before it could spread further,¡± Ashton said. ¡°But this exclusive technique of the Golden 81 Needles you mentioned? It¡¯s going to be hard to keep it a secret. ¡°With so many students at Shoneport University having seen it, it¡¯s not easy to silence thousands of people.¡± Ashton voiced Marvin¡¯s greatest concern. ¡°Moreover, if Briar is indeed using the Golden 81 Needles, the news that she might be Tristan¡¯s apprentice has probably already spread like wildfire.¡± Tristan¡¯s whereabouts were something even Ashton was willing to spend a fortune to find. He believed that in Dasmieca, there were more than just him searching for Tristan. ¡°Ashton, no matter whether Briar is Tristan¡¯s apprentice or not, you have to find a way to protect her,¡± Marvin said, his face pale with regret. ss?¡± ¡°How could I have let her participate in this open Ashton watched Briar, who was intently treating the patient, her deep eyes filled with contemtion. ¡°Mr. Goodwin, perhaps Briar intended to showcase the Golden 81 Needles during this open ss.¡± Marvin suddenly realized. ¡°You mean she did it on purpose? Why?¡± Ashton¡¯s deep eyes remained fixed on Briar, a slight smile ying on his lips. ¡°The reason is probably something only she knows.¡± Marvin fell silent, watching Briar¡¯s figure thoughtfully. Forsaken 74 Chapter 74 In the live¨Cstreamed open ss, Briar¡¯s acupuncture treatment was still ongoing. This incredible scene left the students watching the live broadcastpletely stunned. They simply couldn¡¯t believe their eyes. A patient, who had been listless, pale¨Clipped, and dependent on a venttor, visibly improve within just twenty minutes. With a few precise insertions of golden needles by Briar, the patient¡¯s condition andplexion gradually regained color, right before their eyes. The apanying nurse even removed the breathing mask from the patient. The entire venue erupted in astonishment. This was a miracle. At the same time, the students watching the live broadcast developed a strong interest in the traditional medicine, especially the cool and impressive manner in which Briar administered the acupuncture. Those who had been waiting for Briar to embarrass herself in today¡¯s open ss probably felt ashamed. People had been spreading rumors about Briar¡¯s poor SAT scores. Some imed that she got into Shoneport University through connections. If she couldn¡¯t study well, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to answer the traditional medicine written test so perfectly. The questions were given and answered on the spot. With so many cameras trained on her, even if she had tried to cheat, there would have been no opportunity to do so. Some of the questions were soplex that people couldn¡¯t even understand the wording. There was no way they could have memorized the answers. If they were Marvin, knowing that Briar was such a promising talent, they wouldn¡¯t hesitate to offer her special admission. They wouldn¡¯t need her family to pay a fortune to get her into Shoneport University. Any hesitation would be a disrespect to talent. The final needle of the Golden 81 Needles had already been inserted. For the remaining time, Briar just needed to sit beside the patient and wait for half an hour. Once the time was up, she would remove the needles. But by this point, the open ss could already be considered a resounding sess. The judges had already started scoring Briar. Her score was obvious¨Cfull marks. She deserved nothing less. She had answered all the written questions correctly, earning a perfect score. Her performance in the practical section was equally outstanding¨Canother perfect score was a certainty. The first open ss of the Traditional Medicine Department ended with Briar achieving full marks. It had to be said that everyone, both inside and outside the venue, was thoroughly convinced. The twenty minutes passed quickly. Briar got up, disinfected the needles, removed them, and checked the patient. The to breathe independently without the venttor. ording to Briar¡¯s treatment n, after five acupuncture sessions, the patient¡¯s condition would be basically cured, was now able The patient¡¯s family members, waiting in the distance, were extremely excited. If it weren¡¯t for the security guards holding them back, they 1/3 10:37 Tue, 1 AUT 1717 would have rushed over and begged Briar to schedule the remaining sessions. A young doctor with such exceptional medical skills was truly a blessing for patients. It would be a mistake to let her slip away Throughout the process, Briat remained calm, with only asional shes of confidence in her expression. She reacted indifferently to the surrounding excitement and didn¡¯t say another word after demonstrating the Golden 81 Needles. ¡°Our judges¡® scores are in. Please zoom in with the camera and show both the audience here and those watching remotely our first year student Briar¡¯s assessment results for this open ss in the Traditional Medicine Department ¨C 2A, a perfect score of 100, Joshua announced excitedly, holding up the score sheet and disying it in front of the camera from all angles. Joshua¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment and shame as Joshua deliberately waved the score sheet in front of Jewell over and over again. It was the most subtle yet effective form of humiliation. Given Briar¡¯s current level in traditional medicine, she could easily skip to the semor year. The idea of Jewell causing trouble for Briar now seemed absurd. With Ashton protecting her, Marvin and Joshua treating her like a precious gem, and the favor of experts from major hospitals, Briar¡¯s future looked bright. Jewell should consider himself lucky if he wasn¡¯t the one getting into trouble with her. With just one outstanding and wless open ss, Briar proved her exceptional capabilities. Jewell felt utterly overshadowed. Armed with the Golden 81 Needles and being the apprentice of Tristan, Briar¡¯s future in the traditional medicine field seemed limitless. Jewell could feel the various gazes from the people around him. He knew he needed to take a stance, or he would struggle to maintain his position in Shoneport¡¯s high society. Jewell said, ¡°Briar, congrattions on achieving the first perfect score in our Traditional Medicine Department¡¯s open ss. ¡°I also want to thank you for such an incredible demonstration. I¡¯d like to take this opportunity to apologize to you again. Because of my personal prejudices, I didn¡¯t guide you properly. I¡¯m really sorry.¡± Jewell spoke sincerely, even bowing slightly to Briar. Unfortunately, Briar remained indifferent. She wasn¡¯t going to forgive him just because he apologized. Rumors and gossip spread like wildfire at Shoneport University. Many students already knew about the issues between Jewell and Briar. Seeing Jewell publicly apologize to Briar, some thought he was pretty decent. Despite being a bit rigid and harsh, he knew how to admit his mistakes. Some people thought Jewell was really good at seizing opportunities. Apologizing to Briar in front of so many people put Briar in a tough spot. Would she forgive him or not? However, Briarpletely ignored him. After seeing Joshua announce the open ss results, she bowed to the panel of experts and professors, ignoring the eager looks from the crowd, and simply walked away. In the live broadcast, all the viewers saw was Briar¡¯s cool and nonchnt back. She looked so stylish and charmir undeniably attractive. ellious, yet When it was revealed that Joshua was Briar¡¯s traditional medicine mentor, he was immediately surrounded by the experts, who all wanted Briar¡¯s contact information. But Joshua didn¡¯t have her contact details at all. Briar walked with her backpack slung over one shoulder, one hand in her pocket, and the other holding her phone as she texted. Even th one hand, she typed just as fast, walking forward with her head down. Suddenly, a pair of ck leather shoes blocked her path. Looking up, Briar met Ashton¡¯s half¨Csmiling face. She raised an eyebrow and gave him a meaningful smile, her beautiful face exuding confidence. ¡°Ashton, what¡¯s up?¡± she asked. Ashton nodded. ¡°Someone wants to invite you to have a meal together. I wonder if you would do us the honor, Briar?¡± Earlier in Marvin¡¯s office, he had almost driven him crazy, insisting that he find Briar and invite her to dinner to get some information about Tristan¡¯s whereabouts. If Ashton had refused, Marvin would have probably bowed and even fake¨Ccried. It was embarrassing for a grown man to act that way. So, Ashton had no choice but to approach Briar. Not wanting her to feel pressured, he added, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s Marvin who wants to have dinner with you. Whether you want to go or not is entirely up to you, not me.¡± Briar smiled. ¡°What if I don¡¯t want to go?¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t. Right now, they¡¯re the ones begging for your time. It¡¯s good for you to keep them waiting a bit,¡± Ashton replied. He wasn¡¯t particrly interested in whether Briar was Tristan¡¯s apprentice or not, but he was in a good mood today. He hadn¡¯t expected that by asking Briar to treat Griffin, he would gain some unexpected benefits. When he had tested her earlier, she hadn¡¯t denied it, which meant she epted that she was Tristan¡¯s apprentice. Briar nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about itter. I¡¯m tired and just want to go home and rest.¡± ording to the school¡¯s regtions, she didn¡¯t have to attend any more sses for the day after the open ss. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take you home then,¡± Ashton said. Comment Forsaken 75 Chapter 75 Briar had intended to refuse, but upon hearing Ashton¡¯s words and catching sight of the people running toward them from a distance, she relented. ¡°Alright, then. Thanks for offering to take me home, Ashton.¡± Having already exposed one identity, Briar didn¡¯t want to draw more attention to herself, so she decided to use Ashton¡¯s influence as a shield for now. The smile on Ashton¡¯s lips was irrepressible. ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Brandon, walking alongside them, was momentarily stunned. ¡®Ashton, you¡¯re grinning like a foot! The three of them left quickly. By the time the traditional medicine bigwigs arrived, dragging Joshua along in a rush, Ashton had already escorted Briar out of the school gate, across the street, and toward Moonspring Estate. ¡°Another step toote,¡± they sighed. Joshua chuckled and shrugged at the senior experts. ¡°See? I told you she was tired and wanted to rest. We¡¯ll catch up with her when she¡¯s back in ss. Let¡¯s go chat with Marvin. He¡¯s the one who personally recruited Briar.¡± Joshua wisely passed the hot potato to Marvin. As the principal, it was his responsibility to deal with such matters. The experts agreed. Briar was a special admittee to Shoneport University, and Marvin had handled her entire recruitment process. He would definitely know more about her situation than Joshua, her mentor. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s head to Marvin¡¯s office,¡± one of them said. ¡°Theard he¡¯s got some great coffee there. We can have a chat,¡± another added. So, the group turned toward Marvin¡¯s office. However, the door was tightly shut. Marvin had already left. The senior experts couldn¡¯t help but roll their eyes. Briar and Ashton walked side by side along the tree¨Clined path of Moonspring Estate, neither speaking a word. Brandon, sensing the sudden silence between the two, also held his breath and didn¡¯t dare make a sound. As they passed a small rose garden, they suddenly heard the sound of cryinging from within. Briar wasn¡¯t the type to meddle in other people¡¯s affairs, and Ashton, with his dark and indifferent nature, had even lesspassion. Brandon, of course, would only act if Ashton instructed him to. ¡°What should I do?¡± the crying continued, the voice broken and pitiful. Briar stopped in her tracks. ¡°Ashton, wait for me a moment,¡± she said, heading toward the rose garden without waiting for a response. Ashton stood under the shade of a tree, his gaze following Briar until she disappeared into the rose garden and out of sight. Only then did he turn to Brandon and ask, ¡°Have all the messages on the Shoneport University forum been dealt with?¡± ¡°All taken care of. However, we kept some traceable IP addresses for Miss Jennings to vent her frustration on,¡± Brandon replied, Ashton nodded, took out a cigarette, and Brandon immediately lit it for him. ¡°Compile a list of those who maliciously ndered Briar on the 10:37 Tue, 12 Aug Chapter 75 forum, rank them by the severity of their actions, and send a copy to each of their parents in the name of the Wade Group Brandon¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Alright, Ashton.¡± He thought, ¡®In the name of the Wade Group? That¡¯s practically announcing to the world that Miss Jennings has the backing of the Wade family. Could it be that Ashton is genuinely interested in Miss Jennings? ¡®But she¡¯s only 18. Can he bear it? But then again, Griffin seems to have a thing for Miss Jennings. If Ashton takes a liking to her, Griffin would probably be the happiest.¡¯ As thest puff of smoke curled around him, Ashton saw Briar emerge from the rose garden with a little girl. The girl, who looked to be around fifteen or sixteen, had disheveled hair and red, swollen eyes. She clung tightly to Briar¡¯s arm, clearly having been bullied badly. As they got closer, her sobbing became clearer, apanied by intermittentints. ¡°Briar, they all wronged me. I didn¡¯t cheat. ¡°I¡¯ve been studying at home with the review materials you gave me, but no one believes me, not even my homeroom teacher.¡± Briar held the crying girl, asionally patting her hand tofort her. Although Briar didn¡¯t say a word, Ashton and Brandon could sense her anger from a distance. It was palpable and hard to ignore. ¡®Who is this little girl? Briar clearly cares about her,¡¯ Ashton thought. Briar¡¯s delicate features were etched with irritation, but she still patiently exined to Ashton, ¡°This is my friend Ellen. She¡¯s been bullied. I can¡¯t go home yet; I need to take her to school.¡± They wondered what she nned to do at school. From the girl¡¯s earlier words, Ashton had pieced together the general situation. Judging by Briar¡¯s demeanor, it seemed she was about to confront those who had bullied the girl. Ashton nced at Brandon. ¡°Which school does Ellen attend? I¡¯ll drive you there.¡± Brandon, having received Ashton¡¯s instruction, had already turned to get the car. Briar looked at the trembling, crying girl and, after a moment¡¯s thought, didn¡¯t refuse. She gave the name of the school to Ashton. ¡°Shoneport High School.¡± Ashton nodded without further questions. Brandon quickly brought the car over. Ashton personally opened the door for Briar, who got in with Ellen. Ashton took the passenger seat. Ashton reached into the glovepartment and pulled out two boxes of white chocte, handing them back. Briar thanked him, took the choctes, opened one box, and handed it to Ellen. ¡°Stop crying. I¡¯ll stand up for you. Have some chocte to calm down.¡± In the air¨Cconditioned car, with Briar by her side, Ellen¡¯s uncontroble emotions finally settled. She wiped her tears, shyly thanked Ashton and Briar, took the chocte box, and began to eat quietly. Shoneport High School was located in the southwest corner of Shoneport University, and it took only about ten minutes to cirive there. This time, Brandon was driving Ashton¡¯s personal vehicle. As soon as their car appeared at the school gate, the security guard recognized it immediately. He called the school leadership while quickly opening the gate. ¡°Is that Mr. Wade?¡± Without a word, Brandon simply rolled down the window, revealing his face behind dark sunsses. The four bodyguards apanying Ashton were like open passes within Shoneport, not to mention Ashton himself Every major establishment had trained its employees to recognize the prominent figures of Shoneport, and Ashton and his four bodyguards were always a key focus of this training. So, the security guard immediately recognized Brandon and jogged ahead with a smile, guiding them to the parking lot. X7 B Forsaken 76 Chapter 76 He was surprised to see Ashton at Shoneport High School and wondered why he hade. The security guard thought he¡¯d be able to bra about it to his family and friends for hours after his shift ended. The school leadership had already been alerted by the call from the security booth and were now approaching with the rest of the administrative team. They were excited that Ashton hade to their school and spected whether he might be considering an investment. Landon Carter, the principal of Shoneport High School, was only 49 years old. He had been transferred from another region based on his impressive track record and was considered one of the most capable principals among Shoneport¡¯s prestigious schools. This year marked his second year at Shoneport High School. From the moment he arrived, he had reformed some of the school¡¯s bad habits and practices. He also boldly hired innovative and energetic young teachers, raising the average performance of the senior ss to a new level and quickly boosting the school¡¯s reputation. Many parents were eager to send their children to Shoneport High School, hoping they would achieve good results in their senior year as well. For high school students, life was like an endless cycle of studying and taking tests. Parents and teachers always focused on the students¡® grades. The darker aspects of school life were hidden away by this dedicated principal. Thanks to his efforts, Landon had brought in a number of business coborations for the school. The most important of these was the guaranteed admission spots to prestigious universities. These spots were highly coveted not only by the students but also by the parents, who tried to use their connections with teachers to get inside information for their children. When Landon and the other school leaders saw Ashton get out of the car, they were all very excited. Landon greeted him with a smile. ¡°We had no idea you wereing, Mr. Wade. We should have weed you earlier. I¡¯m Landon, the principal of Shoneport High School.¡± He bowed slightly and extended his hand, but Ashton just gave him a cold nce and walked past him to open the back door of the car for Briar and Ellen. Landon didn¡¯t dare show any displeasure at being ignored. He hid his embarrassment and joined the others in looking at the two girls who got out of the back seat. They all wondered which wealthy family these two youngdies came from since Ashton had personally opened the door for them. However, Elowen Harper, who was with the school leadership, gasped in shock when she saw the girl who got out of the car after Briar. It was Ellen, the very girl she had scolded harshly earlier in the day and who had run out of school in tears. Elowen remembered that Ellen was a powerless and neglected adopted child from an orphanage. She never expected to see Ellen getting out of Ashton¡¯s car. The youngdy beside Ellen tooked so noble, definitely a heiress of a rich family. Ellen also spotted her homeroom teacher, Elowen, in the crowd. She couldn¡¯t hide her emotions, and her tears, whic ad just stopped, Chapter 76 filled her eyes again. Earlier that day, Briat had caught Ellen skipping ss and crying. She had asked her what was wrong. Ellen had topped the entire school in the recent exams and should have been guaranteed a spot at Shoneport University. However, Elowen had already investigated the backgrounds of her students and knew that Ellen was an adopted child from an orphanage with no family support or connections. So, she had taken away Ellen¡¯s spot and given it to a student from a wealthy family. Ellen had been working so hardtely because she wanted that guaranteed spot at Shoneport University. She liked Briar, and she wanted to be a schoolmate with Briar, who was already at Shoneport University. When Ellen got the top score in the school, she was overjoyed, thinking she would get the guaranteed spot. But instead, she was told that someone else had been given the spot. What Ellen couldn¡¯t understand was that the ssmate who had been rmended to Shoneport University only ranked in the top hundred of the entire grade. No matter how you looked at it, she shouldn¡¯t have been the one to get the rmendation spot. What made it even worse was that when she mustered the courage to ask Elowen for an exnation, Elowen publicly humiliated her in front of the whole ss. Elowen also said something about how, given Ellen¡¯s current family situation, she would probably drop out of Shoneport University anyway because of the high tuition fees. It would be better to give the precious rmendation spot to someone else who could actually afford it. Even though Ellen had lived in an abusive foster home and had seen some of the superficial darkness of society, she was still young and inexperienced. She didn¡¯t know how to deal with such a situation. Elowen¡¯s twisted reasoning only made the ssmates, who already disliked Ellen, look down on her even more for being poor. The bullying and ignoring she experienced in the past few days were worse than anything she had ever faced before. Finally, today, when she was criticized by Elowen and ostracized by her ssmates once again, she couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She lost control of her emotions, got into a big fight with a ssmate, and then ran out of school crying. Ellen had originally nned to go home and cry, but for some reason, when she ran back to the Moonspring Estate, she saw the rose garden that seemed so out of ce for someone as poor as her. She sat down under a rose bush and started crying. Just then, Briar happened to being home and saw her. Briar could sense Ellen¡¯s sense of grievance and helplessness. She put her arm around Ellen¡¯s shoulder and walked over to Ashton, asking Ellen, ¡°Ellen, is one of these people your snobbish homeroom teacher?¡± The tears that Ellen had been on the verge of crying disappeared at Briar¡¯s words. She hupped and replied in a low voice, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Who is it? Point her out to me,¡± Briar said. Ellen looked up at Briar and then at the tall and stern¨Clooking young man standing beside them. She hesitantly pointed to one of the two women in the crowd. ¡°She is my homeroom teacher, Elowen.¡± Briar followed Ellen¡¯s gaze and locked eyes with a pair of panicked eyes. She narrowed her eyes, and the coldness in them made Elowen shiver involuntarily. Landon, who had been apanying them with a smile, gradually lost his cheerful expression as he listened to t versation between. Ellen and Briar. He turned to look at Elowen and wondered what was going on. Chapter 76 ¡°Could it be that Mr. Wade isn¡¯t here to visit our school? Is he here to support Ellen instead?¡® he wondered. Ellen was in Elowen¡¯s ss, and as the homeroom teacher of ss 2, Grade 11, Elowen had submitted a list of students for the horepan University rmendation just a few days ago. Landon, being the principal of Shoneport High School, was quick¨Cwitted. Just by observing the reactions of Ellen and Elowen, he had a pretty good idea of what was happening. ?? ? ? ?? ????? 1:|:??? ? ? ?? ?? ? ? ? ? ? 1:|: ??? ? ??? He nced at Ashton, who hadn¡¯t even looked at him directly, and then at the youngdy, who seemed to be looking for trouble, Landon¡¯s expression grew darker and darker. M . Forsaken 77 Chapter 77 & This wasn¡¯t the ce for a conversation. Landon gestured for the security guard to step back and, with a renewed smile, respectfully addressed Ashton. ¡°Mr. Wade, how about we head to my office and discuss whatever it is you need in a morefortable setting? found good to you?¡± As Landon took a few steps forward, trying to get closer to Ashton and build some rapport, Brandon stepped in and stopped him. A single nce from Brandon was enough to leave Landon awkwardly standing in ce. If it weren¡¯t for Briar¡¯s presence, these people wouldn¡¯t even be in the same vicinity as Ashton. Finally, Ashton spoke. ¡°I¡¯m just here to apany Briar today. I¡¯ll follow her lead.¡± Brandon¡¯s brow twitched. ¡®Ashton is really bold,¡® he thought to himself. ¡®Ashton, if it weren¡¯t for the situation, Miss Jennings would have given you a piece of her mind. Landon realized Ashton was referring to the pretty girl standing beside him and quickly turned to her with a smile. ¡°Miss, this isn¡¯t the ce for a conversation. Let¡¯s sit down and talk. How does that sound?¡± Briar¡¯s eyes, hidden beneath her eyshes, were cold. She looked at Landon but didn¡¯t respond to his suggestion. Instead, she asked, ¡°Landon, can you really call the shots here at Shoneport High School?¡± Her question was loaded, and it was clear that she was barely holding back her anger. Landon met Briar¡¯s gaze and felt an intangible sense of pressure, like a sharp icicle piercing through him. He was taken aback. This girl had such a strong presence that he felt intimidated just looking at her. He nced at Ashton and stammered, ¡°W¨Cwell, of course, I can make decisions.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Briar nodded, her eyes, now cold and steely, shifted from Landon to Elowen, who was trying to hide behind him as if she wanted to bury her head in the sand. ¡°No need to sit down. I think we should head straight to ss 2, Grade 11.¡± Without waiting for Landon or Elowen to respond, she tilted her chin slightly, signaling for Ellen to lead the way. Briar followed, hands casually tucked into her pockets, walking at a leisurely pace behind Ellen. Both Briar and Ellen were young, but in the eyes of Landon and the others, Briar¡¯s presence exuded a chilling coldness that made everyone instinctively hold their breath. Ashton, too, watched Briar walking ahead with her back straight. He didn¡¯t need to see her face to know she was angry. Someone had bullied her friend, and she was willing to step in personally to defend her and fight back. She was quite loyal. Ashton¡¯s eyes twinkled with amusement, and he found Briar¡¯s actions unexpectedly endearing and innocent. ¡®She¡¯s still such a kid, can¡¯t stand any injustice, he thought to himself. The building for ss 2, Grade 11 was located on the first floor of the central building. It was the middle of ss, and even before they got close, they could hear the sound of students reading aloud from each ssroom. Ellen led Briar to the second ssroom on the first floor, where a ss was still in session. She whispered, ¡°Briar, this is the ce.¡± Briar nodded, nced back at Elowen, who was trying to hide behind Landon and crooked her finger at her. ¡°You,e in with me.¡± Elowen¡¯s face froze, her heart pounding fiercely. She wanted to pretend she didn¡¯t understand, but she didn¡¯t have the situation further. With heavy, reluctant steps, she followed Briar into the ssroom. urage to escte With Ashton personally overseeing everything, she didn¡¯t dare do otherwise. The ss in session was a math ss, taught by a stylishly dressed female teacher. She was initially surprised to see Eleven bringing in principal and other school leaders into the ssroom to observe the lesson. She hadn¡¯t received any notice about this But then she saw Landon and the other leaders all nodding and bowing to the tall, handsome man in the center, and she quickly realized who he was. She addressed the students, who were whispering among themselves, ¡°Everyone, quiet down and sit properly.¡± This was Ashton, the big shot everyone in Shoneport had heard about. She was surprised by his sudden arrival. She looked at the two girls walking ahead with a probing gaze, recognizing one of the girls as a student. She also noticed Elowen, who was following behind with her head down, and seemed to understand something. But she was a minor figure in Shoneport High School and not well¨Cliked by the other teachers, so she decided not to meddle unnecessarily. So, when Ellen led Briar into the ssroom and the students looked at them with puzzled and curious eyes, she tactfully made her way and stepped aside from the podium. Briar stood on the podium, looking down at the confused faces of the students below. She pulled Ellen closer and addressed the ss. ¡°I¡¯m giving you all a chance. ¡°Whoever bullied Ellen, step forward and apologize to her. Otherwise, I¡¯ll make sure you pay back a hundredfold.¡± ¡°What? You want us to apologize to a poor girl?¡± ¡°Are you kidding me? Does Ellen even deserve an apology from me?¡± ¡°How ridiculous. Who do you think you are? Her parents don¡¯t even care about her.¡± ¡°So what if we bullied her a bit? There were no consequences. Why is she making such a fuss?¡± Upon listening to the sneers andughter from below, Ellen¡¯s head drooped lower and lower, andrge tears fell into her tightly clenched fists. Briar picked up the seating chart from the podium and found the names of the students who had spoken up just now. She realized that these were the same students she had previously identified as bullies of Ellen. Taking out her phone, she sent the names of these students to a certain email address and made a phone call. As soon as the call was answered, she said, ¡°Alex, I need a favor. I need you to look up a few people. I¡¯ve sent the list to your phone.¡± Alex on the other end paused, even taking the phone away from his ear to check the caller ID. ¡°Is this Briar?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me. Five minutes should be enough, right?¡± Briar¡¯s voice was indifferent. Alex had already sat down in front of hisputer, his fingers flying over the keyboard. After pulling up the information on the people listed, he asked curiously, ¡°Briar, these people are all from Shoneport, Dasmieca. You¡¯re in Shoneport, right? Why are you asking me to look this up for you?¡± Alex suspected that someone might be impersonating Briar. ¡°I¡¯m not in a position to do it right now. Just send me the information once you find it,¡± Briar said briefly. Ashton was still outside the ssroom, and his lip¨Creading skills were top¨Cnotch. Alex was taken aback for a moment. 213 Chapter 77 A tough guy who could run around the border with an AK and still take calls was telling him that she couldn¡¯t look up a few perable a information. ¡°Alright, talkter,¡± Briar said, cutting off Alex before he could ask more questions. Her phone vibrated with an iing email from fler. She didn¡¯t give him a chance to ask further and ended the call. Opening the email, Briar saw that the information Alex had found was very detailed. The list contained five people, headed by Liora Winters, along with Rachel, Jaclyn, Lily, and Angel. Everything about them, from their childhood to the present, wasid out clearly on Briar¡¯s phone. Forsaken 78 Briar¡¯s presence was so powerful that the students, who had been whispering among themselves, fellpletely silent as she stared down Liora and her close friends. Elowen, standing closest to Briar, felt the most of her cold aura. She tried to make herself as inconspicuous as possible while constantly ncing at Landon, who was also standing by the door, too afraid to speak up. Landon didn¡¯t dare to plead for Elowen at a time like this. Moreover, they were clearly in the wrong. They hadn¡¯t expected that a student they thought had no connections or influence would have such a powerful backer. Landon just hoped that the incident with Ellen could be minimized. With Eloweh as the scapegoat, he certainly wasn¡¯t going to step forward and invite more trouble. Ellen thought Briar was incredibly cool. Liora and her friends had been so arrogant and domineering when they bullied Ellen. When they cornered Ellen in the restroom, they punched and kicked her, and even forced her to drink water from the toilet bowl. Ellen had thought that Liora, as the heiress of a wealthy family in Shoneport, was fearless. But Liora couldn¡¯t even look Briar in the eye. Ellen had thought that with the Winters family backing her, Liora could do whatever she wanted at school. But with Briar there, Liora didn¡¯t dare utter a single word. Ellen had thought that Elowen, in an attempt to ingratiate herself with the Winters family, would unconditionally indulge Liora. But Elowen didn¡¯t dare to confront Briar the way she had confronted Ellen. Briar is truly amazing,¡® Ellen thought, looking up to her in admiration, even forgetting to cry. Briar¡¯s fingers tapped on the edge of the podium, one tap at a time, like a rhythmic beat that seemed to strike at the hearts of Liora and her friends. ¡°It looks like no one is willing to step forward and take responsibility,¡± Briar said after waiting for five minutes. ¡°Then I¡¯ll call names myself.¡± Briar¡¯s voice was gentle and pleasant, but Liora and her friends were far from being able to appreciate it. Those five minutes under Briar¡¯s de¨Csharp gaze had yed them alive. ¡®Who on earth is this person? She disrupts the ss, drives away the teacher, and acts so arrogantly that neither Elowen nor the principal dares to intervene,¡® Liora thought to herself. ¡®And she came with Mr. Wade.¡® The Winters family was rtively attentive when it came to raising their children, and Liora had some understanding of the rtionships within the Shoneport high society. She knew that wherever Ashton was, his rules were the ones that mattered. The fact that this woman, who was called over by Ellen, had been escorted by Ashton meant that Ashton was supporting Ellen. The more Liora thought about it, the more scared she became. She quickly sent a text message to her mother for help, using the cover of her desk. Liora knew that Ellen hade prepared today. The fact that Liora had taken Ellen¡¯s guaranteed spot at Shoneport University was a weak point that couldn¡¯t withstand scrutiny. Judging by the way this woman was looking at them, it seemed like she might bring up all the past bullying incidents as well. Liora needed someone to save her. After sending the message, she quickly switched her phone to silent mode, afraid that Briar would notice. But Briar, standing at the podium, saw everything Liora was doing. ¡®Calling for backup? Go ahead. In fact, I hope : so I can settle all the old and new scores at once,¡® Briar thought to herself. ngs her parents here, The school had ignored Ellen¡¯s years of torment because the Winters family was a prominent family in Shoneport, often acting as a mediat But Briar didn¡¯t believe that Liora¡¯s parents were unaware of their daughter¡¯s behavior at school. Since they were discipline her, Briar decided to take matters into her own hands. Unwilling or relictant to d Comment Forsaken 79 Chapter 79 Briar was determined to help Ellen get justice. Almost the entire ss had participated in isting and bullying Ellen, with the school and teachers turning a blind eye. Some students with weaker nerves, facing Briar¡¯s strong presence and Ashton¡¯s imposing demeanor, knew they couldn¡¯t hide their bullying of Ellen anymore and had already huddled together, trembling. Landon was sweating bullets at the door. It was embarrassing to have the whole situationid bare, especially with so many students and teachers from neighboring sses staring their way. If things continued like this, it would be hard to wrap up gracefully. Ashton naturally understood Landon¡¯s concerns, but he still stood there, not giving Landon a chance to speak. Since Ashton wasn¡¯t speaking, Landon didn¡¯t dare to ask Briar to leave either. He could only hope she would take pity and take the girls out of the ssroom. Briar didn¡¯t really want to disrupt the ss further. She knocked on the podium again to gather everyone¡¯s attention and said, ¡°You have two options now. ¡°One, c¨°me with me quietly, and we¡¯ll find a ce to have a good chat. Two, since you¡¯ve already called your parents, they¡¯ll probably be here soon. We can just wait here until everyone arrives, and then I¡¯ll have the chat with all of you at once.¡± Though she said there were two options, there really was only one choice, to have the chat. Everyone could tell that this chat wouldn¡¯t be pleasant. However, the idea of having the talk outside was enough to make Liora and her friends stand up and head for the door immediately. They didn¡¯t hold out much hope, but they still wanted to settle this privately. Otherwise, being watched by their ssmates was both awkward and humiliating. All ssmates were guilty of bullying, yet only a few of them were singled out. It was unfair. Seeing Landon beckoning her to leave, Ellen didn¡¯t immediatelyply. Instead, she looked at Briar. ¡°Briar, are we going out together?¡± Briar nced at Elowen, who obediently headed for the ssroom door. Briar then led Ellen to follow. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Once Liora and the others were out of sight, the math teacher came back in and tried to resume the ss. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s continue with the lesson.¡± But no one was in the mood to study anymore. Their minds were all with Briar and the others. Liora and her friends followed the crowd nervously, watching as the principal and other school leaders bowed and apologized to Ashton and the woman. They felt very uneasy. Rachel quietly tugged at Liora¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Liora, why is Mr. Wade backing that scary woman? She doesn¡¯t seem to be from one of the four major families in Shoneport.¡± The heiresses from the four major families in Shoneport were never as fierce as this woman. Jaclyn nodded in agreement. ¡°Yeah. I also texted my parents, but I don¡¯t know if they¡¯ll bring enough money when they get here.¡± In their minds, bullying Ellen wasn¡¯t a big deal. They just dragged her into the restroom and bullied her a bit, nothin they had gone easy on her and didn¡¯t throw her into the boys¡® restroom like others did. J serious, Besides, They had been bullying her for years, and her adoptive parents didn¡¯t seem to care, yet this woman was here to make such a fuss. All this was Chapter 79 just to get more money for Ellen, in their eyes. These spoiled kids didn¡¯t realize the seriousness of the situation at all. Once their parents arrived and offered a private settlement, thi woman would surely demand a huge sum. Landon led Ashton and Briar to the VIP reception room on the first floor. Everyone waited for Ashton to speak. Ashton sat there with his arms crossed, his expression indifferent. ¡°You don¡¯t need to look at me. I¡¯m not the one making decisions today Talk to Briar. I¡¯ll go along with whatever she says.¡± Briar, who had been quietly talking to Ellen, paused when she heard Ashton¡¯s voice and looked over. Meeting Ashton¡¯s amused gaze, she quickly looked away. At that moment, the security guard called the principal to say that Liora¡¯s parents had arrived, Landon quickly asked the guard to bring them to the reception room. Liora¡¯s parents didn¡¯t know exactly what had happened, but since their daughter¡¯s message mentioned Ashton, they didn¡¯t dare to take it lightly and rushed over, leaving their work behind. Fraser Winters was a slightly overweight middle¨Caged man. His narrowed eyes made people feel ufortable when he stared at them. However, having spent years in business, he always had a friendly smile that softened the difort. Samantha Winters was the typical elegant housewife, with delicate skin, a good figure, and dressed in high¨Css clothes. Like Fraser, she always smiled before speaking, giving off an air of sophistication. When the security guard led them into the reception room, the first thing they did was look for Ashton. Upon seeing him, they immediately walked over with smiles and greeted him. Fraser approached Ashton with a beaming smile, bending slightly and extending his hand. ¡°Mr. Wade, I¡¯m truly sorry. My daughter has caused you trouble.¡± Ashton didn¡¯t take his hand and shook his head. ¡°You got the wrong person. You should apologize to the little girl over there named Ellen. Your daughter and her friends have been bullying her for a long time, causing serious harm to her physical and mental well¨Cbeing.¡± Only then did Fraser shift his gaze to the two young girls sitting beside Ashton. Having seen many people in his time, Fraser quickly identified which one was Ellen. One had shoulder¨Clength hair and could only be described as in¨Clooking, with a timid and fearful gaze. Judging by her clothes, which were clearly not designer brands, it was obvious she came from an ordinary family. In his mind, it was almost a favor that his daughter had bullied such a girl. But of course, he couldn¡¯t say that in front of Ashton and the school leaders. So, he immediately put on a pained and angry expression and severely scolded Liora. ¡°Liora, what¡¯s going on here? How could you bully your ssmate? It¡¯s not easy for a student like her to get into Shoneport High School. You all should be helping and caring for each other instead,¡± he snapped. With just a few words, he downyed what Ashton had called school bullying as ack of unity and mutual assistance among ssmates, a ssic move from a master of evading responsibility. Then, Samantha walked up to Ellen with an apologetic smile and gently took her hand in a caring manner. ¡°Dear, it¡¯s all my fault for not keeping a closer eye on Liora. I can¡¯t believe she would cause trouble at school and bully such a sweet girl like you. It¡¯s really uneptable. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely discipline her when we get home,¡± she said. Samantha continued, ¡°Good girl, let me see if you¡¯re hurt anywhere. I¡¯ll take you to the best hospital in Shoneport * The moment this couple arrived, they put on a show for Briar, trying to evade responsibility. Their words were all about indulging and protecting their daughter, yet they made it seem like there was nothing one could do about it. After all, they were people of status. They had already humbled themselves to apologize. If a powerless child were to press the issue further, it would be seen as not knowing one¡¯s ce. AD Forsaken 80 Chapter 80 Fraser and Samantha had been putting on their little show for quite some time, but the room was dead silent, with no one paying them any, attention. Even Ellen, whose hand Samantha was holding in a supposedly caring manner, just let Samantha hold it, keeping her head down without saying a word. It wasn¡¯t that Ellen was deliberately ignoring them; she was just intimidated by Samantha¡¯s enthusiasm and couldn¡¯t break free from her tight grip. The school leaders, including Landon, wanted to say something, but as soon as Fraser and Samantha entered, they went straight to Ashton without even sparing a nce at them. Normally, when they came to the school, the school leaders would at least put on a polite smile and exchange pleasantries. Today, however, theypletely ignored the school leaders. It was so awkward that Landon and the others didn¡¯t even know how to defuse the situation. Liora, standing to the side, was so embarrassed she felt like she had social anxiety. She muttered under her breath, ¡°Dad, Mom.¡± Samantha reluctantly let go of Ellen¡¯s hand. ¡°I got a bit too excited when I heard Liora had a conflict with a ssmate at school. I apologize for making a scene in front of everyone.¡± Fraser pulled Samantha down to sit and finally realized that the atmosphere was too tense. It seemed that this matter wouldn¡¯t be easily resolved today. ¡°Miss,¡± Fraser said, turning to Briar with his usual smile, ¡°I¡¯m curious, what do you n to do about this little spat between Liora and Ellen?¡± He emphasized the words little spat. ¡°We¡¯vee here, of course, to make amends. You and Ellen can both rest assured of that,¡± Fraser continued. Samantha nodded in agreement. ¡°Yes, if it¡¯s Liora¡¯s fault, we¡¯llpensate financially and apologize as needed. We won¡¯t shirk our responsibility.¡± Briar¡¯s lips curled into a sarcastic smile as she watched the overly dramatic couple. ¡°No rush. We¡¯re still waiting for others to arrive. Let¡¯s talk once everyone¡¯s here.¡± ? ? ????????? ???? ?? ?? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? As she spoke, Briar took out a wet wipe and handed it to Ellen, signaling her to clean her hand. This tant disy of disdain almost made Samantha¡¯s smile falter. ¡®What does she mean? Is she implying that my hands are dirty?¡® Samantha wondered. ¡®Ellen is just a poor student. I haven¡¯t minded touching her, yet here they think my hands are dirty? And what did she mean by? ¡®What¡¯s there left to discuss? It¡¯s just a matter of having Liora apologize to Ellen and offering some money aspensation for medical expenses and emotional distress.¡® They had even brought their checkbook, ready to write a check for 30 thousand dors. If it weren¡¯t for Ashton¡¯s presence, and the need to avoid giving him the impression that the Winters family was stingy and unreasonable, they would have offered no more than a few thousand dors at most. To a poor student like Ellen, 30 thousand dors would be a fortune. She would be grateful and thank them profusely. ? was enough to cover her college tuition and more. ¡°Do you two have any objections?¡± Brjar looked at Fraser and Samantha, her gaze piercing. sand dors Chapter 80 Fraser wanted to say no. He didn¡¯t have time to humor this young girl. Showing up and saying a few nice words was already me thin enough. But one indifferent nce from Ashton, and Fraser quickly changed his tune with a smile. ¡°Sure. For Mr. Wade¡¯s sake, of course, we can wait So, they all sat quietly, waiting for the parents of the other four students to arrive. During the wait, Ashton¡¯s phone rang several times¨Cwork calls from thepany. By the time he answered the fifth call, Fraser and the others were growing increasingly restless. ¡®What¡¯s taking those people so long? Mr. Wade has already postponed two meetings to wait for them. If those parents end up angering Mr. Wade because of their tardiness, we will surely be caught in the crossfire, Fraser wondered. Rachel and the other three girls couldn¡¯t sit still any longer and hurried to the side to call their parents, urging them toe over quickly. Finally, after what felt like endless waiting, the parents of Rachel and the others rushed over in a hurry, None of these four families had the same level of wealth as the Winters family, which was why Rachel and the others had always been so eager to tter and ingratiate themselves with Liora at school. Now, hearing that the ssmate whose daughters had bullied alongside Liora had brought their parents to the school and that Ashton was even backing them up, the parents of Rachel and the others were starting to think that Liora had gone too far. They were annoyed that she hadn¡¯t known her limits when bullying a ssmate, and now they were in a situation where even paying money might not be enough to settle things. Seeing the gloomy expressions on Fraser and Samantha¡¯s faces, the parents of the other four girls also looked uneasy. It seemed that today was going to be a costly affair. Briar stood up, took out 30 dors, and handed it to Ellen, instructing her to go to the school convenience store to buy some popsicles and cold water. Once Ellen had left, Briar smiled and said, ¡°Since everyone¡¯s here now, let¡¯s settle the score.¡± With that, she walked over to the table against the wall in the reception room, connected her phone to theputer, turned the volume up to the maximum, and opened several surveince videos. The videos showed Liora and her four friends, at different times and ces, and from various angles, physically and verbally abusing the same little girl for all sorts of reasons. They even dragged the girl into the restroom multiple times. Every time the girl emerged from the restroom, her hair was disheveled, and her clothes were wet. It was clear that these girls had done everything a student could do to bully a small and helpless girl. And the girl being bullied in the videos was none other than Ellen, who had just been sent out by Briar to buy water. The videos weren¡¯t long; they were just a few clips taken from the school¡¯s surveince system. But they were enough to leave everyone in the room speechless. Briar slowly disconnected her phone from theputer and turned to look at Liora and the others, who seemed to want to bury themselves in the ground. ¡°What do you think would happen if I took these videos straight to the police? Do you think you could still act so nonchnt?¡± Ashton raised an eyebrow slightly. ¡®Call the police? Briar seems so fierce, yet she is considering such a mild approach? If she chose to go to the police, the oue probably wouldn¡¯t be too severe. It¡¯s likely the best¨Ccase scenario for Liora and the others,¡® he wor red. After all, they were still minors, and in cases like this, the focus was usually on education rather than punishment. At most, their parents might pay some money behind the scenes, and that would be the end of it. 213 10:38 Tue, 1ZATO DE Sure enough, the expressions of the five families brightened at the thought. But before they could respond, Briar changed her tone. ¡°But I think that would be too lenient on you. So, I¡¯ll just retaliate in my favorite way Ashton voiced the question on everyone¡¯s mind. ¡°Briar, what¡¯s your favorite way of retaliating?¡± ¡°An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,¡± Briar said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll take anything, but I really don¡¯t like losing. So, whatever you did to Ellen, I¡¯ll pay you back tenfold, a hundredfold.¡± AD Forsaken 81 Chapter 81 When Liora¡¯s parents and the parents of the other four girls heard this, their expressions changed instantly. They had all seen How children had bullied Ellen. Now that they were being asked to face tenfold or even a hundredfold retribution, there was no way their childve could bear the consequences. Knowing that Briar was someone close to Ashton, Fraser looked toward Ashton, hesitating. He asked, ¡°Mr. Wade, what do you think we should do about this?¡± He continued, ¡°We know our children were in the wrong. When Ellen returns, we¡¯ll make sure they apologize. We¡¯ll also offer fullpensation, whatever the amount. We¡¯re begging you and this youngdy to show mercy,¡± ¡°Yes, any amount is fine. Our children definitely realize their mistake now and promise never to repeat it. Please, give them one more chance to make things right.¡± ¡°I¡¯m willing to pay 50 thousand dors. As long as you two are willing to help us smooth things over, we won¡¯t object to any terms.¡± ¡°Mr. Carter, please help us. The children are still young. If we can settle this, a school punishment is fine too.¡± The group crowded around Ashton and Briar, pleading, even dragging in Landon and the other school administrators. They chattered anxiously and humbly, lowering themselves without shame. It was a pitiful sight that brought tears to the eyes of Liora and the other girls. They had been foolish. They had ganged up on Ellen for a moment of thrill. Now their parents were forced to beg some unknown woman for mercy, bowing and scraping in front of her. But since they had caused the trouble, they couldn¡¯t just watch their parents endure this humiliation alone. Liora and the other four girls tearfully stepped forward, bowing repeatedly to Ashton and Briar. ¡°We¡¯re sorry, Mr. Wade. We were wrong. We¡¯re sorry, Briar. We were wrong. Please forgive us!¡± Just then, Ellen returned from a grocery run. As she opened the door, the first thing she saw was this very scene. She froze at the entrance. Briar remained unmoved by the parents¡® pleas. Only when she saw Ellen enter did she finally gesture for her. ¡°Ellen,e here.¡± Ellen responded softly and carried her bag of popsicles and bottled water over to Briar. ¡°Briar¡­¡± Briar took the items from Ellen and handed them to Brandon. Then, she straightened Ellen¡¯s posture. ¡°You want to apologize, right? The victim is her, not me or Mr. Wade. If you¡¯re sincere, apologize to her. On top of that, each family will pay 100 thousand dors for emotional distress and medical expenses. If she agrees not to pursue the matter further, I might let it go.¡± One hundred thousand dors per family, which made a total of 500 thousand dors from five families. It was a shocking amount. Some parents were about to protest, but Fraser feared Briar might change her mind, so he rushed to agree. ¡°We agree. My daughter will apologize to Ellen right now. Liora, go! Apologize and admit your mistake.¡± Before Liora could respond, her father forced her head down in a deep bow. The force was so strong that if she hadn¡¯t steadied herself, she would¡¯ve fallen to her knees in front of Ellen. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ellen. I was wrong. Please forgive me,¡± she said. With someone taking the lead, the other four girls quickly followed suit. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ellen. I was wrong. Please forgive me.¡± Ellen stood there in stunned silence. She had never been treated with such respect in her life. ¡°Briar¡­ should I forgive them?¡± Ellen asked in a small voice, shrinking toward Briar¡¯s side. 10:39 Tue, 12 Aug Chapter 81 Briar smiled, ¡°Forgive them if you want to. If you don¡¯t want to, we¡¯ll just raise the price. It was already 500 thousand dors, yet Briar suggested they should pay more forpensation. Ellen feared that if Briar raised the price even further, it would cause more trouble. Not wanting Briar to offend these people because of her Ellen nodded. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll forgive them.¡± Liora and the others nearly cried from relief. They had been terrified that Ellen would side with Briar and demand even more from them. With Ashton present, there was no way they could reject any conditions put forward. No matter what Ellen asked for, they would¡¯ve had to ept it unwillingly. Thankfully, Ellen had some sense and didn¡¯t make any excessive demands. Seeing a resolution in sight, Fraser signaled to Samantha to hand over their bank card. It was her card, used for daily expenses. Coincidentally, it had exactly 100 thousand dors in it. Fraser wondered if Samantha had somehow known in advance. Samantha handed the card to Ellen, feeling her heart break. That was her spending money for two months, now gone to this poor girl. The others also began transferring money. Beforeing, they had agreed among themselves that a few thousand dors would be more than enough for a poor girl. None of them had expected to pay so much. Fraser had agreed so readily because the Winters family was wealthy. But the other four families were different. In a city like Shoneport, where powerful families were everywhere, they were barely hanging onto the lower rung. One hundred thousand dors each was a severe blow. Still, they had no choice. Paying the money was better than getting targeted in the future. Even though Ashton hadn¡¯t said a single word from start to finish, everyone feared the consequences if they didn¡¯tply. No one wanted to find themselves on his radar. Within ten minutes, Ellen was holding five bank cards in her hand, totaling 500 thousand dors. To Ellen, it was an enormous sum. She felt like she was floating. Thest time she had felt this weightless was thest time. Seeing that the situation had been settled, Landon stepped forward. ¡°Since both parties have resolved the issue, I¡¯ll announce the punishment. Each of the five students will receive a major demerit and must deliver a 3,000¨Cword public apology at Monday¡¯s assembly. I hope this serves as a lesson.¡± He added, ¡°Also, the rmendation slot for Shoneport University that originally belonged to Ellen will be officially reinstated.¡± Briar had no objections. Since she had no objections, Ellen naturally followed her lead. And just like that, all parties reached an agreement. Once everything was handled, Briar didn¡¯t even suggest moving Ellen to a different ss. She allowed Ellen to remain in ss 2 of Year 11. Elowen, who had been on edge the entire time, finally rxed when Briar left the school with Ellen. What she didn¡¯t know was that videos and evidence of ss 2 students and a certain homeroom teacher bullying a ssmate over an extended period had already been sent to the director of the Shoneport Education Department that evening. As soon as the director received the email, he immediately picked up the phone and called Ashton. By then, word had already spread quietly through Shoneport¡¯s elite circles. Ashton had stormed into Shoneport High School in brands daylight and thrown his weight around for the sake of a girl. Upon seeing the email was signed by a ¡°Miss Briar Jennings,¡± the education department director wasted no time in verifying it with Astone himself. He asked carefully, ¡°Ashton, tell me the truth. Miss Jennings¡­¡± Forsaken 82 Chapter 82 ¡± is she your girlhtend?¡± The director of the Education Bureau asked nervously. Ashton froze a moment, then gave a faint smile and said, ¡°Who told you th? Hearing the amusement in Ashton¡¯s voice on the other end of the line, Peter Connell¡¯s expression became more serious ¡°it doesn¡¯t matter who told me. I just need your answer.¡± Though honestly, Ashton didn¡¯t even need to give him any answers. The fact that he didn¡¯t deny it said enough Even if Briar wasn¡¯t his girlfriend now. she would be in the future. Ashton lit a Cigarette and said, ¡°Mr. Connell, no matter what my rtionship with Briar is, if someone fois reported it to your bureau with sold evidence, shouldn¡¯t you be handling, it impartially? Don¡¯t let the people down.¡± Peter nearly choked from Ashton¡¯s take righteousness. ¡°Alright, got it. I¡¯m hanging up¡± Peter was fuming inwardly. ¡°Doesn¡¯t he just want me to investigate it thoroughly? Why dress it up like that?¡± However, his call was notpletely fruitless. At the very least, he confirmed that the rumors flying around Shoneport were true, and Ashton really was interested in Briar Peter picked up Briar¡¯s file again, lingering on the line that said she was eighteen. He clicked his tongue and sneered, ¡°This punki¡± Since she was Ashton¡¯s future girlfriend, Peter knew he had to handle the matter strictly by the book. So, he put down the file and dialed thendline on his desk. ¡°Adam,e in for a minute.¡± Meanwhile, Briar dragged Ellen back to her house. As soon as they entered, Ellen admitted her mistake without even changing her shoes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Briar¡± Briar bent down to grab a brand¨Cnew pair of pink slippers from the shoe cab, gesturing for Ellen to wear them. Then, she kicked off her own shoes and walked to the couch in her socks. ¡°So, what did you do wrong?¡± Ellen changed into the slippers and followed Briar to the sofa, looking so aggrieved that she was about to cry. ¡°I was wrong for only crying when I was bullied, instead of fighting back.¡± With five bank cards in her hand, Ellen was so ashamed that she could not even raise her head. ¡°Yes, and what else?¡± Briar took out a can of candy from under the coffee table, peeled a candy, and popped it into her mouth. The sweet and creamy vor quickly spread in her mouth, casing her irritation. Ellen sat down carefully and said, ¡°And¡­ I shouldn¡¯t have kept quiet. I should¡¯ve told you right away.¡± Briar nced at the girl, knowing full well Ellen had been bullied for a long time, and her personality wouldn¡¯t change overnight. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s good that you¡¯ve realized your mistake. You¡¯re still a minor. Whenever something happens, you should go to your guardian for help first¡± Ellen nodded obediently. ¡°Your brother¡¯s still not back in the country, So I¡¯m your temporary guardian Anyone who messes with you messes with me. And my people never get bullied and stay silent.¡± Briar said it patiently. Ellen nodded as if she understood. ¡°So I can fight back? What if¡­ I really shut them up?¡± Briar exined, ¡°If someone shuts you up, that just means you¡¯re weak, if you shut them up, that¡¯s skill. As for whether you hurt or cripple them¨Cthat¡¯s not your problem. Your brother will handle it. Get (92? Ellen¡¯s ever lituin. ¡°Gotti dot in ¡°I¡¯m d you understand. It¡¯s noon. Order two takeaways and go to the fridge to get some bluehendes and cherries and wathi th?m ¡°¨¦riar Telt zero guilt about bossing around a minor, ¡°Okay Ellen replied quickly. She stayed at Priar¡¯s ce until evening. Only after dinner did the head home. By the time she left, all the negative emotions had basically disappeared, and she was skipping as she walked Once Ellen was gone, Briar called ian, summarizing the important parts of what had happened that day. tan had a short fuse. The moment he heard that his sister cried from being bullied again, he started swearing over the phone, threatening to have those kids taken out, Briar said angrily, ¡°Alright, control yourself. You¡¯re not even back to Dasmieca and you¡¯re already causing trouble? Are you trying to scare your sister to death?¡± As for to what extent, that would depend on his mood. ar as I¡¯m concerned, this ends here for now.¡± ¡°I already stood up for her. The five students and that homeroom teacher won¡¯t get off easy. As far as i Briar knewnwouldn¡¯t take this lying down. ¡°Okay,n finally muttered and quieted down. Late at night, Briar curled up in the swing chair by the window in her second¨Cfloor bedroom,ptop in hand, fingers flying across the keyboard. With the auctioning up in a few days, she had been browsing the Hacker Alliance¡¯s leaderboard every night, picking up a few quick, low¨Ceffort jobs to earn some fast cash. She got so caught tup in in her work that she lost track of time and eventually dozed off, curled up in the chair with herptop. The next morning, when Ashton arrived at Briar¡¯s gate, he was greeted by a picture¨Cperfect Sleeping Beauty moment. The girl¡¯s hair fell loosely over her shoulders, her side profile bathed in the soft golden light of dawn¨Cmisty and ethereal One of her hands restedzily outside the swing¡¯s armrest, exuding a kind of quiet allure. Ashton stood silently at the gate, head slightly tilted up as he watched her. Coming from an elite family, he had seen his share of beautiful women¨Cbut only Briar, with her pure yet striking looks, managed to captivate him like this. Suddenly, Briar opened her eyes and met Ashton¡¯s unwavering gaze. His eyes, usually calm, now carried a cold, bottomless stillness like a frozenke. Ashton froze for a second, then casually raised his hand and waved at her. Feeling no embarrassment at all that he¡¯d been caught watching her sleep, he mouthed, ¡°Briar,e eat breakfast.¡± Briar read Ashton¡¯s lips and raised her eyebrows silently. After a moment, she nodded, stretched her curled up limbs, and carried theputer into the bedroom. In less than 20 minutes, Briar changed his clothes and walked out while tying her hair. ¡°Mr. Wade, what¡¯s wrong? Are you nning to handle. my breakfast from now on?¡± ?? Her morning voice was still a little raspy. Ashton¡¯s lips curved faintly as he said, ¡°A teenage girl needs three regr, bnced meals a day. Otherwise, you won¡¯t grow taller Briar nced up at the obvious 8¨Cinch height difference between them. She wanted to argue, but the words got stuck in her throat, so she only snorted heavily. That drawn¨Cout little hum went straight to Ashton¡¯s heart, making it flutter. He held back a smile and tried tofort her. ¡°You¡¯re only 15, There¡¯s still room for you to grow taller.¡± Briar didn¡¯t respond. To make it up to her, Ashton personally warmed up a ss of milk for her. Briar drank it with clenched teeth. She thought while ring at the man, ¡°Hmpht So what if you are tall?¡± Her sulky expression made Ashton chuckle. AD Comment Forsaken 83 Chapter 83 Seeing Briar put down the cutlery, Asiston took out a tissue and handed it over. He asked, ¡°Are you going to school for ss today Briar nodded. ¡°I have to go to ss. I have a ss in the morning.¡± Even though she knew the consequences of yesterday¡¯s public lecture, she had no intention of applying for leave. Briar believed that with Marvin¡¯s ability, he would not let a ¡°good student like her be poached. Ashton thought for a moment and said in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯ll send you thereter. Enter from the west gate. There are few people there, so it¡¯ll be easy to walk.¡± Briar did notment and replied casually, ¡°Okay¡± She wondered if Ashton was reminding her that someone might block her way at the main entrance. As expected, when Brandon drove around Shoneport University¡¯s main entrance, Briar saw several cars parked in the parking space at the school gate from afar. Many people kept looking at the school gate, Briar even recognized the old experts he had seen yesterday among the crowd They hade to the school gate of Shoneport University early in the morning for Briar. If she hadn¡¯t slipped away quickly yesterday, she probably wouldn¡¯t have slipped out of school so smoothly. Their car sessfully entered from the west gate. Marvin had been waiting in the parking lot. When he saw their car, he smiled brightly. ¡°Briar! Have you eaten breakfast?¡± Only then did Briar realize that Marvin was holding a breakfast in his hand. She smiled and greeted the interesting Marvin. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Goodwin. I¡¯ve eaten.¡± ¡°Alright, alright. All of you who learn from traditional medicine know how to take care of your health. You definitely won¡¯t be sloppy with your breakfast,¡± Marvin said as he looked at Ashton. ¡°How is it? No one saw your care over, right?¡± It was probably Marvin who told Ashton that there were people waiting outside the main entrance of Shoneport University. ¡°It went well¡± Briar was very polite. ¡°Mr. Goodwin, I¡¯ll go to ss first¡± Marvin smiled and waved his hand. ¡°Sure. Your mentor came over early today.¡± Briar waved at Ashton, ¡°Ashton, I¡¯m going to ss.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll pick you up for lunch at noon.¡± Ashton nodded and watched Briarwalk away. Marvin put his hands behind his back and teased, ¡°Tsk, tsk tsk. Stop looking. She has already walked far away.¡± sed an eyebrow. He smiled a little devilishly. ¡°Mr. Goodwin, are you so free today? I can make you busy Ashton retracted his gaze and raised immediately.¡± ¡°You brat..¡± Marvin choked and red at Ashton. ¡°Come, let¡¯s go to n my office first. I have something to discuss with you.¡± Briar threw her bag behind her back and put on a cap. Even though many people along the way greeted her in surprise, she still straightened her back and walked unhurriedly. Her little face was cool and beautiful. Briar arrived early today. When she stepped into the small office in theboratory building, everyone in the office looked over. Franksvilled and waved at her loudly, ¡°Briart Good morning!¡± ¡°Morning!¡± Briar had been busy untiltest night and was woken up by Ashton¡¯s ¡°staring¡± in the meming Her head was a bette she wanted to sleep. She walked to one of the empty tables and nodded to the others. Then, she took out her earpiece and wanted to bri nap before ss, Mason and the others looked at Briar¡¯s sleepy expression and lowered their voices. ¡± seems that after Briar escaped from school yesterday. she was still blocked by someone.¡± ¡°it¡¯s possible.¡± Ted lowered his voice and continued, ¡°After all, the Traditional Medicine Department has such an awesome big shot Who wouldn¡¯t want to poach her away early?¡± Charle shook his head. ¡°No. Yesterday, Briar was escorted out of the school by Ashton. Who would dare to stop her?¡± Frank also said affirmatively, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right! Yesterday, Ashton was with Briar. Those people didn¡¯t have the guts to poach her in front of him.¡± When he looked at Briar now, he felt like he was looking at his this future sister¨Cinw. Yesterday, there was a scandal about Ashton, and the female lead of this scandal was Briar. The uracy of this news was so high that Ashton was called back to the old residence by their dad that night. ¡°Hiss!¡± Hearing Frank¡¯s words, Mason¡¯s gossipy heart burned. ¡°Bro, did your old man also hear about Ashton and..¡± He did not finish his sentence. After all, the person in question was still beside him. He only made a pairing gesture, but everyone understood. Frank spread his hands. ¡°How would I know?¡± Without Ashton¡¯s permission, he had no guts to disclose anything. If Ashton found out, he would be beaten up again.. ¡°What? Tell me!¡± Karl and the others also came over curiously. hey heard most of the things from Mason. They all lived in a dormitory and had little ess to information. They Mason didn¡¯t shut the door and said without thinking, ¡°It¡¯s said that after Briar left our Shoneport University yesterday, she went to help a high school girl seek revenge. Shoneport High School. The matter was quite big. I heard that even the Education Bureau received the news ¡°Then, the parents of the students who bullied that little girl originally wanted to bully Briar. Ashton stayed behind to support her the entire time. He even said that the Briar was his, and he would listen to her. ¡°Later on, this news spread throughout the entire wealthy circle.¡± ¡°Fuck! is this for real? Has Briar conquered Ashton?¡± ¡°Prince Frankie, is this news true? I¡¯m going to worship Briar. Not only is she good at her studies and talented, but she¡¯s also with Ashton. Isn¡¯t this the script for the female lead?¡± Briar, who wanted to take a nap, was speechless. Even though she was wearing earphones, the voices of these people who were getting more and more agitated still entered her ears intermittently. Her arm that was resting on her head moved, wanting to say something to stop them, but in the end, she chose to pretend not to hear them. Fortunately, ss started soon. Under everyone¡¯s envious gates, Briar took her bag and left first However, her walking speed was a little fast, as if she were fleeing Frank looked at Briar¡¯s long and straight legs and smiled. Perhaps, what the old man had been looking forward to would soone the Joshua specialized in giving sses to fourth¨Cyear students. However, after yesterday¡¯s public lecture, Briar was transferred to the fourth year students. With her current ability, the fourth¨Cyear subjects were easy for her. Joshua, who loved talent, had even nned to bring Briar along for every outpatient surgery in the future. She was such a good seedling, and she was Tristan¡¯s disciple. Even though Briar never admitted that her master was Tristan, he and Marvin both believed that her superb medical skills were Tristan¡¯s true teachings. Since she was the only disciple of Tristan, he had to protect her no matter what. He wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to treat Briar like an item of value. AD Forsaken 84 Chapter 84 Bring was apletely different person in ss todaypared to her energetic self during yesterday¡¯s public lecture. She looked on and drowsy. Barely five minutes into the lesson, her head was nearly buried in her book, eyes open wide in a desperate attempt to stay awake. Yet Joshua, who was teaching at the podium, simply smiled at her, even when he caught her sneaking in a quick nap. He looked at her with the warmth of someone watching over their own child. Sitting behind her, Thomas had been quietly observing the whole time. Ever since the public lecture, Briar¡¯s talent and name had spread like wildfire across Shoneport University. Those who used to mock her behind her back now didn¡¯t even dare whisper. Unexpectedly, she had gained quite a following. Many students were now considering joining the Traditional Medicine Department thanks to her captivating performance. She had be the department¡¯s unexpected poster girl. Briar had used her abilities to p back at those who once mocked her, forcing even those who used her past grades to criticize her to fall stent Still, Thomas couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy. He knew that Abbie¡¯s anonymous post smearing Briar on the school forum was still up to see. He had tried reaching out to the forum administrator to have it removed, but the response was baffling. They imed they didn¡¯t have the authority to delete it. That didn¡¯t make sense. The administrator should have had the highest level of control. If even they couldn¡¯t delete the post, then it probably meant no one could. It could only mean one thing the storm stirred up by that post wasn¡¯t over yet He had a strong feeling that Briar was behind it. Maybe she had told the admin not to delete the post because she wanted to track down the person responsible. That was why Thomas had been closely watching her ever since she stepped into theb building. Every time she left his sight, he would call Abble and tell her to stay away. Now that Briar had Ashton on her side, dealing with Abble wouldn¡¯t take much effort. However, nearly an hour had passed, and Briar was still either nodding off or shifting in her seat, changing her sleeping position every so often. She showed no sign of leaving midway. From the looks of it, she didn¡¯t seem interested in doing anything about the malicious post on the forum. ¡°Was I just overthinking it? Thomas wondered, After her nap, Briar slowly sat up and leaned back in her chair. She crossed one leg over the other with casual ease, looking for all the world like someone in charge. But that nonchnt look was just a cover, her legs were numb From the corner of her eye, she noticed Thomas, who had been stealing nces at her for the past hour. A sharp glint briefly shed acro her expression. Of course Briar had noticed. Anyone would after being stared at for so long 1/3 Chapter 84- But really, she felt this guy gave his sister too much credit. If she really wanted to deal with Abble, all it would take was a few taps on her phone He would find out soon enough, once ss ended, Thomas would receive the little surprise she had prepared Meanwhile, Abbie was also distracted in ss. She had been on edge, waiting for friar toe after her. But with not just around theer, nothing had happened yet. Lydia had ss with Abble that day. While jotting down notes, she nced over and asked with concern, ¡°Wbble, are you okay? You look kind of upset.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Abbie said with a forced smile. ¡°Just still thinking about Briar¡¯s performance in the public lecture yesterday. She was surprisingly impressive.¡± Lydia¡¯s expression soured. ¡°Impressive? Please. That was just a stunt to get attention. If Ashton weren¡¯t backing her now, no one would even look her way.¡± Abbie¡¯s smile stiffened. ¡°Yeah¡­ Ashton is her support now,¡± And that was exactly what made her so anxious. She wasn¡¯t afraid of Briar herself, but if Briar managed to say something that swayed Ashton, things could get messy ¡°What are you so worried about?¡± Lydia said casually. ¡°Ashton might be powerful, but he doesn¡¯t go around picking fights for no a reason.¡± She thought Abbie was nervous about Ashton retaliating. Trying to reassure her, Lydia added, ¡°Honestly, Ashton acts cold, but as long as you don¡¯t cross him, he won¡¯t bother with nobodies like us.¡± But the more Lydia spoke, the heavier Abbie felt inside. ¡°Yeah, I get it ¡°Alright, that¡¯s all for today¡¯s ss. I¡¯ll send the homework to the public email. Don¡¯t forget to clock in and download it,¡± the professor said. One good thing about university lecturers was that they never dragged things out. When ss time ended, they didn¡¯t stay a second longer. Most of them left in a rush, lesson ns in hand, or sometimes not even bothering to take them. Abble and Lydia¡¯s next sses weren¡¯t in the same room, and Lydia had to hurry to grab a good seat. She quickly packed up her things, ready to leave. Just then, someone shouted, ¡°What the hell! Guys, hurry and check the forum, there¡¯s new drama!¡± The students who were still in the ssroom immediately pulled out their phones and opened the forum, in no time, gasps and exmations filled the room. Then, all eyes turned to Abbie, eyes filled with curiosity, mockery, and disgust. Under those strange and judgmental gazes, Abbie¡¯s face slowly went pale. She didn¡¯t even dare to take out her phone to see what was going Lydia, sensing something was off, quickly pulled out her phone and opened the forum. What she saw immediately caught her attention There were two pinned posts at the top. The first one was the old post defaming Briar,plete in a luxury car, entering a mansion. e with secretly taken photos of her with But the second post was brand new. The scene and angle were identical, but this time, the girl in the photo had been swapped for Abbie. O Mug Even the timestamp on the image was clearly visible, In the first photo, taken in the evening, Abbie was shown getting into a car with a fat, middle aged man. The second photo, timestamped just past midnight, showed her entering a house with a greasy looking man The whole thing had to be fake, Abbie didn¡¯t even know these two men. But no matter how long Lydia studied the images, she couldn¡¯t spot a single trace of editing. Stunned, Lydia turned to her. ¡°Abbie, is this¡­¡± Abbie¡¯s eyes were already red as she nished to exin. ¡°Lydia, that¡¯s not met I didn¡¯t do any of this?¡± Lydia didn¡¯t need convincing. She knew this wasn¡¯t something Abble would get involved in. Abbie might suck up to people now and then, but she was still the Cooper family¡¯s eldest daughter. She wouldn¡¯t lower herself like that. But whoever posted those images knew what they were doing. By pinning both posts at the top; one of Briar, one of Abbie, they forced the Comparison. And no matter how you looked at it, Briar came out ahead. The worst part was that the people on the forum didn¡¯t know the real Abbie. Lydia could only imagine what they were thinking now ? Forsaken 85 Chapter 85 It had to be said that the person who posted the thread used a magical and humiliating method to let everyone know who the mastemin behind the past to nder Briar was. It was Abbie. Previously, when it was posted, it was as crazy as it was when it insulted Briar in forum at Shoneport University. Now, it was as cruel as it was to Abbie in this rification post. That was because Briar had used her method to prove her strength and ability. If she was so capable and Ashton had taken a fancy to her. why would she do such a dirty thing to cling to Ashton, an old man? Therefore, everyone hated the person who had ndered Briar for no reason on the forum. Now, the person who did the ndering post had appeared. And it was in such an extreme and satisfying w way. More and more people looked at Abbie. Those who had pointed at Briar and discussed were now all pointing at Abbie, Abbie was not as mentally strong as Briar, Coupled with her guilty conscience, she did not dare to speak loudly to others to clear her name. Therefore, Abbie finally ran out of the ssroom crying. She fled all the way back to the dormitory I still hear all kinds of usations and disdain. She broke down and called Thomas while Abbie closed the dormitory door as if she could st crying ¡°Thomas, what should we do? Someone posted me on the forum. Now, everyone knows that I¡¯m the person who hacked Briar.¡± Thomas was shocked. ¡°What? How?¡± Thomas had been watching Briar the entire time. Briar had never left his sight. In fact, she had been sleeping the entire time during ss and had no time to log into the forum to post! Could it be that it wasn¡¯t Briar who wanted to take revenge on Abbie, but someone else? Abbie cried until she broke down. Thomas¡¯s heart ached. ¡°How about this? Take leave from the mentor and go home. I¡¯ll think of a way to deal with this matter.¡± ¡°Abble sobbed, ¡°Okay.. After hanging up the phone, Thomas looked at Briar with aplicated and hesitant gaze. ¡®Other than Ashton, could there be another big shot backing Briar? thought Thomas. He had informed the forum administrator. If someone from the school posted to defame Abbie, the administrator would tell him.. Now that there was no news of the administrator, it meant that the post was not posted on their school¡¯s intr. Charle patted Thomas¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Hey! What are you thinking about?¡± Thomas came back to his senses and said with a serious expression, ¡°Charle, someone posted on the forum to defame my sister¡­¡± Charle was shocked, ¡°When did this happen? Why didn¡¯t I know?¡± Chapter 15: Then, he hurriedly took out his phone and logged into the forum. As expected, there were two red top posts on the front pagecre One was the post that defamed Briar at the beginning. However, under that post, it was filled with Briar¡¯s fans. It was no longer con ck post. The other post was from Thomas, Someone had hacked his sister¡¯s post. What was even more unbelievable was that the post for Abble evenpared the photos of Briar on the first day. Anyone could understand what it meant. Charle¡¯s expression also began to change. ¡°Thomas, do you want to ask your sister if she was the one who posted the post to Briar?¡± Charle was not stupid. How could he not see through such an obvious hint? When he thought about how Mia and Lydia worked together to bully Briar¡­ This was difficult to judge! Thomas immediately defended Abbie loudly. ¡°Impossible. Although she¡¯s a little stubborn and sometimes doesn¡¯t think before she speaks, she¡¯s not that kind of person¡­¡± After ss, Briarzily rested her chin with her eyes closed. When Thomas and Charle spoke, she slowly opened her eyes. Then, without warning, her sharp gaze met Thomas¡¯s angry and anxious eyes. When Thomas met Briar¡¯s gaze, his voice stopped abruptly. Then, he forced himself to be calm and walked toward Briar. ¡°Junior, can I¡­¡± ?? ¡°No!¡± Before Cooper could finish his sentence, Briar interrupted him. ¡°If you suspect that i did the post on the forum, please show me the evidence.¡± Thomas¡¯s expression did not look too good. ¡°But you¡¯re the only one involved in this matter. You¡¯ve used your own method to prove your Innocence. Can¡¯t you just let it go? My sister didn¡¯t do anything¡­¡± ¡°Thomas, please make one thing clear, From the beginning to the end, I was the victim of a post on the forum for no reason. What right do you have to request toe to me? ¡°Also, your sister has been defamed. Then go find the person who defamed her Briar had an innocent expression on her face. ¡°You¡¯ve been staring at me for the entire day. Didn¡¯t you not notice that I was holding my phone? So, I hope you¡¯ll stay away from me like your sister.¡± Briar¡¯s expression changed when she said thest sentence. Her voice was terrifyingly cold. Frank ran over. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Briar?¡± As soon as he entered the ssroom, he saw Thomas and Charle talking to Briar. When he saw Briar¡¯s awful expression, he immediately stood beside Briar, looking like he wanted to support her. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. It¡¯s just that your friend¡¯s sister has been ndered by someone, just like when the thread was ndering me. So, he feels! should have posted this post,¡± Briar exined in a strange tone. Frank¡¯s expression was also a little ugly. ¡°Thomas, how can you suspect Briar so much? She has been in ss with us all day today. Moreover, she was sleeping the entire time in ss. How could she have the time to post?? Thomas¡¯s intuition told him that the post was posted by Briar. ¡°But Briar¡¯sputer skills are very good¡­¡± ¡°No matter how powerful she is, she doesn¡¯t have aputer now!¡± Frank shielded Briar behind him. ¡°This definitely wasn¡¯t done by Briar. Don¡¯t wrong her. She¡¯s so innocent: Briar stood behind Frank and smiled coldly at Thomas. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m so innocent.¡± Frank took Briar away. Charle patted Thomas¡¯s shoulder again. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s Briar either. You¡¯re overthinking! Thomas was speechless. After pulling Briar away, Frank Immediately lowered his voice and said, ¡°Briar, tell me secretly, did you do it?¡± bu ask?¡± Briar did not answer yes or no. ¡°Why do you Frank gave a fake smile that said, ¡°I¡¯m used to it. You and Ashton are the same kind of people. When have big shots like you ever suffered:¡± ¡°So¡­ is that you?¡± Frank asked again. Briar did not expect Frank to identify her in the way. She did not hide it anymore and nodded. ¡°Yes, I did it.¡± Forsaken 86 Chapter 86 Frank met Briar¡¯s calm gaze and could not help but feel his scalp tingle. He quickly turned his head and said, ¡°Don¡¯t look at me lika afraid.¡± Briar sald¡­What are you afraid of¡± Frank said, ¡°Have you experienced the suppression of your bloodline since you can remember?¡± Briar raised her eyebrows, Interested. ¡°No, usually I¡¯m the one who suppresses others.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I said that you¡¯re the same as Ashton. That¡¯s why I¡¯m afraid of your Frank almost cried, ¡°Do you know? I¡¯m the youngest boy in the Wade familly. My family is rich and powerful. What¡¯s wrong with me being a little domineering? What¡¯s wrong with me causing trouble?¡± Briar quietly watched Frank¡¯s performance. Frank was embarrassed by Briar¡¯s gaze and returned to a serious demeanor. ¡°In short, when I began to understand what it meant to use power to suppress others, I was suppressed by Ashton¡¯s bloodline ¡°Every time, I¡¯ll be taught a lesson. I¡¯ll be bedridden for at least three days,¡± Frank said as he drew out three trembling fingers. Briar did notment. ¡°Actually, in the Wade family, only you, Ashton, can suppress you, right?¡± Frank was the youngest boy among the younger generation in the Wade family. Frank was also a cleve child. He must be doted on by the elders. How could a child who came from a pampered environment not be beaten into submission when he encountered a sly fox like Ashton ? Frank said,¡± If you see through it, don¡¯t expose it, Briar.¡± Briar could not help butugh. ¡°Ashton is such a calm person. It¡¯s not easy for a child like you to grow up in his hands.¡± Frank was touched. Finally, someone understood his difficulties. He wished he could give Briar a big hug on the spot. ¡°Right! Right! I always say that it¡¯s not easy for me to survive under Ashton until now, but my parents always think that I¡¯m exaggerating.¡± ¡°We¡¯re getting off topic.¡± After Frank finished sighing, he finally knew that the topic they were talking about was getting further and further away. He consciously turned back. ¡°How did you do it? I mean in front of everyone¡­ It was an exaggeration to say that Briar had been paying attention to her today. Since he had not discovered her, it meant that Briar must have used extraordinary methods. The kind of personality that could not take revenge on the spot and would think of all ways to take revenge was terrifying! Briar smiled at Frank. ¡°You want to know? Do you?¡± Frank wanted to know, but when he heard Bear¡¯s question, he didn¡¯t want to know. ¡°Well¡­ you can choose not to tell me. I don¡¯t want to know that much anymore.¡± Briar was amused by Frank¡¯s timid expression again. ¡°Frank, do you not get beaten up every time you talk to Ashton with this expression?¡± Frank said, ¡°¡­Just say what you want to say, don¡¯t attack me personallyl Don¡¯t just pick on my sore spot!¡± Schapter 86 It was also an experience that he had painakingly summarized after being beaten up many times. When he was young he never knew why Ashton would beat him up for no reason. Later, after beating him up more, he gained more- experience. He realized that he had been beaten up so many times because he had been a coward and had been dancing crazily at Ashton lightning points. He felt so wrongedi No one had told him! The adults watched him being beaten up by Ashton as if he was having fun, but no one reminded him. I can¡¯t say it. I say it any more, I¡¯ll be in tears. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t tease you anymore.¡± Briar was doneughing. She hooked her finger at Frank, Indicating for him to lean over Frank¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Briar, tell me quickly¡­ Hence, Briar leaned close to Frank¡¯s ear and whispered a few key words. Frank was shocked and dumbfounded. ¡°That works, too? Aren¡¯t you not proficient inputers?¡± He was well¨Cinformed. Yesterday, when Briar and Ashton ¡°killed¡± Shoneport High School, he heard that Briar even the most basic surveince videos were all looking for external help. ¡°I¡¯m not proficient, but I didn¡¯t say I don¡¯t know how to do it!¡± Briar said innocently. Frank said nothing. Great! It was a big shot¡¯s answer. ¡°Alright, what should we do now? Don¡¯t tell me you forced Abbie to drop out of school?¡± Frank muttered, ¡°Although it¡¯s not a big deal to force him to drop out.¡± Briar shook her head. ¡°How can that be? I¡¯m a good person. Can I do that kind of thing?¡± Frank red at her. ¡°Tell me, are you a good person?¡± How could someone who could be assigned to his path be a good person? Briar shook her head. ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m just giving her an eye for an eye. I¡¯ll hang up on her for as long as Abbie posts me. As long as she finds a way to delete the posts she gave me, I¡¯ll delete them, too.¡± The corner of Eranlemouth Haltehu¡¯ve misted her mast sad con¡¯t delete it. How can she delete je H Leth AD Comment Forsaken 87 Brat shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s her business.¡± if it was encrypted, she could get someone to decrypt it She believed that with the Cooper family¡¯s wealth, it would not be a problem to find a capable hacker, Look! How magnanimous she was! Frank waspletely speechless. From this incident, Frank came to a conclusion. He could offend anyone but Briar. She was just like Ashton. They were both so scary! The next ss was supposed to be Jewell¡¯s, but another professor, Michael Jenkins, walked into the ssroom. Michael was wearing old- fashioned ck framed reading sses. He was an absolute traditionalist. His lectures had a remarkably soporific effect, yet he maintained notoriously high standards with an rmingly low pass rate. Michael walked up to the podium. After looking around, he did not say anything else. He even skipped the roll call and entered the teaching stage. The students¡® burning curiosity about the gossip would have to wait. However, the whispers below did not stop. ¡°F*ck! What¡¯s going on? Why isn¡¯t Jewell here?¡± ¡°Could it be that Michael will be the one teaching us in the future after Jewell is fired?¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t! With Jewell¡¯s sses, there¡¯s at least the asional ¡®explosion¡® to keep me awake, but if it¡¯s Michael¡¯s ss, I¡¯ll be sleeping. through every single lecturel¡± after has a ¡°I don¡¯t think Jewell wille back. He didn¡¯t just offend Briar. Don¡¯t forget, this matter rmed Ashton¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! How dare he offend Mr. Wade? I don¡¯t think Jewell Bombhew can stay in Shoneport.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this too unfair? Isn¡¯t it just a little mistake? Is it really necessary to wipe them outpletely?¡± ¡°That¡¯s just how it is in Shoneport. The Wade family calls the shots here. Who dares go against their word?¡± Frank listened to the growing discussion around him. He was afraid that it would burden Briar, so he raised his hand and mmed the table. it was not loud, but with enough authority to instantly silence everyone. Briar Jennings nced at Frank, who quickly responded with a reassuring look. Briar was lost for words. ¡®He really is the Wade family¡¯s most pampered junior¨Cso delightfully naive! How could he possibly think such words would upset me? To think Ashton, the scheming man, has such an unexpectedly kind and amusing little brother.¡± Finally, after a whole day of sses, Briar carfied his bag and walked toward the school gate. On the way, many students were stealing nces at her, but their gazes were no longer as disdainful and mocking as before. They all worshipped her. The corners of Briar¡¯s mouth twitched. In the end, she ignored the pairs of expectant eyes and walked out of the school gate coldly. She had more important things to do tonight. Chapter 81. A seven o¡¯clock tonight, the auction of Shoneport¡¯s underground trading city would be on disy the freshworm she a on disy. Back home, Briar clicked on herputer to confirm the start of the auction. A video dialog bak suddenly popped up on the screen. It was a video invitation from Alexia. Briar picked up. ¡°Hit Briar, did you miss me?¡± Alexia¡¯s exquisite and bewitching face immediately appeared on the screen. Her ice¨Cblue eyes were like bottomless pools that could steal one¡¯s soul with a single nce. It was said that Alex fell in love at first sight with Alexia¡¯s charming face. Then, he obediently stepped into the grave of love. Now, he had topete with Alexia for pocket money every montli Briar lowered her eyes. s and looked at the screen coldly. Idly. ¡°What do you think?¡± Alexia¡¯s smile turned even more devilish. She arched her voluptuous frame, letting the camera capture a tantalizing glimpse of fair skin. ¡± think you must miss me very much, especially since I¡¯m holding the invite to the Underground Exchange.¡± Briar¡¯s eyes finally changed and sparkled. ¡°You got an invitation card?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. So, Briar, since I¡¯m so powerful, why don¡¯t you kiss me?¡± A pair of hands came up behind her, draping a coat over her shoulders. It was a silent warning not to push too far. But Alexia only leaned forward, eyes sparkling with unshakable determination as she stared down at Briar, waiting. Briar hooked a chair with her foot, sat down, and leaned back until the chair reclined at the perfect angle. Her long, slender legs casually crossed on the table as she idly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± Alexia pouted and covered her face as she pretended to cry. ¡°Annoying! Briar, you¡¯re still so cold and heartless. My heart has been hurt by you again.¡± At this moment, Alex approached the camera. As he hugged Alexia, who was starting to be unreasonable again, tofort her, he asked about serious matters, ¡°Briar, do you need us to pick you up?¡± Briar raised her eyebrows in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re at Shoneport?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! We just got off the ne two hours ago. Alexia was worried about you and insisted oning to Dasmieca to see you.¡± Alex stopped Alexia, who was trying to break free from his quibble, and exined with a smile. Briar¡¯s eyebrows rxed and she smiled. Alex smiled too. ¡°So?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°I¡¯m at Moonspring Estate. Come on.¡± Briar reported her location. ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll be right there. See you in 46 minutes.¡± Alexia¡¯s fake crying stopped immediately. There were no tears on her raised face. Briar hung up the video call speechlessly and closed herputer. There was a notification on her phone. Briar thought it was a message from Alexia. She clicked on WhatsApp and realized that it was from Ashton. Ashton: [Briar, do you want to have dinner tonight? Briar: [No, I don¡¯t want to go out tonight.] Ashton did not ask further and only replied: Okay | Forty minutester, a shy and dazzling green fenail roared to a stop in front of Briar¡¯s house Dressed in a sleek ck bandage minidress and oversized sunsses hiding half her face, Alexia gracefully stepped out of the driver¡¯s seat. With a radiant smile, she waved at the approaching Briar. ¡°Hey there, gorgeous!¡± Briar was also dressed in all ck¨Cck skinny jeans, a ck button down shirt, and ckbat boots, topped with a ck baseball cap Her style was a stark contrast to Alexia¡¯s. It was sweet yet undeniably sexy and cool. Alexia let out a low, appreciative whistle. ¡°Damn, baby Who are you trying to kill with that look today?¡± Briar ignored Alexia¡¯s words and nodded at Alex, who was sitting in the front passenger seat. Then, she opened the backseat door and got in ¡°Let¡¯s go. You¡¯ll attract the attention of my neighbor,¡± Briar said. Alex rolled her eyes and slid back into t random guy?¡± the car with a deliberate sway of her hips. ¡°Who¡¯s your neighbor? You think I¡¯d be scared of son Briar crossed her arms and replied with a smile, ¡°Ashton, my neighbor.¡± ¡°Holy shit!¡± Alexia¡¯s sultry smile froze. She mmed the elerator, the car lurching forward. ¡°Briar, why the hell didn¡¯t you say so? We snuck into Shoneport. If that bastard Ashton finds out, we¡¯re dead!¡± Briar silently buckled her seatbelt and turned around tough. Alex was not as fucky as Briar. A sharp, stylish drift from Alexia nearly sent his face¨Cfirst into the window. ¡°Babe, calm down¡­¡± AD Comment Send gift Forsaken 88 Alexia drove away from Moonspring Estate like he was escaping something if not for her good driving skills, they would have ended up in ¡°Baby, the next time such a dangerous person appears, you must tell me in advancel¡± Mexia said with lingering fear as they drove to a safe section of the road. Briar held back hisughter. ¡°I¡¯ll try my best Most importantly, she did not expect Alexia to be so bold. Not only did she barge into her house directly, but she also showed up in such a high¨Cprofile manner. Fortunately, the owner next door was not at home at that time. Otherwise, Alexia would probably be targeted by Ashton. For a powerful man in Shoneport, it would be very easy to investigate a foreign couple who had appeared out of nowhere. The auction venue for the Underground Auction was in Shoneport. It was said the mysterious owner of the Underground Auction might also appear. As soon as the news was released, it immediately attracted arge number of members to sign up. Briar was not a member of the Underground Auction. If she wanted to legally get an invitation card, it would take time. Hence, she asked Alexia to help her think of a solution. Briar¡¯s original n was to get Alexia to mail her a membership card. In the end, she sent herself, too. With a membership card, Alexia¡¯s car sessfully entered the venue. After she handed the car to the valet, the three of them were guided to the corresponding seats. This was Briar¡¯s first time participating in such an auction. Along the way, she couldn¡¯t help but find this ce to be magnificent. She became more and more curious about the mysterious owner of the Underground Auction. Not to mention how much profit those auctioned products would make after the auction began, just from the environment and decorations, it could be seen how powerful the owner was. Briar really wanted to know i if the mysterious owner of the Underground Auction was more powerful than Ashton or not. ¡°Come, baby, have a drink,¡± As soon as Alexia sat down, she staffed a bottle of beer into Briar¡¯s hand. There were all kinds of wine and fruit tes on the table. Alexia knew Briar very well. She knew that she didn¡¯t like to drink foreign wine, so she pushed the beer over. Briar took the bottle and knocked it against the corner of the table at a tricky angle. Then, she urately caught the bottle cap with her other hand and clinked it with Alexia¡¯s bottle Alexia whistled again. ¡°Cheers.¡± Briar was not afraid of drinking. She raised her head and started downing the whole bottle. As the light shed, a few drops of alcohol spilled from the corner of Briar¡¯s lips and slid down her exquisite jawline to her seductive neck before disappearing into her ck cor. This scene was indescribably charming Ashton, who was sitting in the observation room and smoking, noticed her the moment she entered the hall. He also saw Briar drinking Brandon also sawit and hurriedly pulled Morton away. Ashton¡¯s eyes were wide open when he saw what Briar did. Brandon could not let Ashton discover that they had also secretly peeked at her. He thought Goodness, although Miss Jennings is young, she could always poke at Ashton¡¯s heart without know hele! Ashton put out his cigarette and took out his phone. He clicked on thest message Br had sent him. It read: [No, I don¡¯t want to go out He thought, ¡®She didn¡¯t want to go out, but in the end, she followed someone to art exclusive auction?¡± Ashton¡¯s mrs tightened. There was still some time before the auction began, Alter Briar and Alexia finished three bottles, they stopped drinking, Briar was not drunk, but her stomach was full. She picked up a candy and threw it into her mouth to get rid of the taste. She opened her phone and joined Alexis to y games. There was a lot of space at their booth. Briar sat on the sofa with her back facing the sofa and crossed Her legs. She even took a cigarette from Alexia. She looked like a cool and vant big shot. Briar and Alexia hadpletely different styles. One was sweet and cool, while the other was sexy and enchanting. Even if they sat together and yed childish games, they still looked beautiful. If not for the fact that there was a tall and strong foreign man sitting beside them, many people would take the opportunity toe over and strike up a conversation. After all, those who could enter the venue had already gone through a background check. If they could have a safe and romantic encounter with a beautiful woman, the participants of this auction would find this night to be perfect. After a game, Briar spat out the candy in her mouth. She frowned and rummaged through the te. When she couldn¡¯t find what he liked to eat, she gave up. In the surveince room, Ashton rubbed his eyebrows. Briar was picky when it came to food. She was used to eating a certain kind of food and would not change her taste easily. Brandon was very perceptive. ¡°Mr. Wade, I¡¯ll get someone to change their snacks to creamy candy.¡± Ashton nodded and instructed, ¡°Alright, go get some white chocte from my car and send it to their table too.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The corners of Brandon¡¯s mouth twitched. He thought, ¡°Mr. Wade, you just spoil her so much!¡± ? Forsaken 89 Chapter 89 The waiter quickly reced Br¡¯s snacks with creamy candy and white chocte. Although the waiter did not look at briar during the entire process, Briar could feel that the waiter was suspicious from his expressionis face. Briar and Alexia both felt speechless.?? Alexia was shocked because she knew the brand of the snacks. She picked up the white chocte and said, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Baby, do they provide these snacks to everyone at the auction venue of Shoneport?¡± When Briar saw the brand of the chocte in Alexia¡¯s hand, she paused for two seconds. She thought, ¡°The brand of this chocte¡­¡± Alexia caught the shock in Briar¡¯s eyes and immediately sensed that something was wrong. She sensitively lowered her voice and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Briar?¡± Briar first looked up and looked around the venue. She did not see that Aston. Then, she shook her head at Alexia ¡°it¡¯s fine. I might have been overthinking.¡± At this moment, Alex guessed hesitantly, ¡°Briar, snacks are different from others. Could it be that your friend offered these to us!¡± Briar looked at the two of them who looked like they were facing a great enemy andughed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s really fine. I guarantee that no one will discover your whereabouts.¡± ¡°This white chocte¡­¡± Briar thought for a moment and decided to be honest. ¡°My next door neighbor often offers this kind of chocte when he tries tofort his children.¡± Needless to say, the child Briar was referring to was herself. Also, Briar¡¯s next¨Cdoor neighbor was not just a random person. ¡°Wait!¡± Alexia and Alex turned their heads at the same time and stared at Briar. ¡°Isn¡¯t your neighbor¡­ Ashton?¡± Briar smiled. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. Moreover, it¡¯s very likely that he came to the venue today.¡°¡± Otherwise, there was no way ay the waiter would offer snacks that suit her taste so well. If not for Briar¡¯s quick reflexes, Alexia and and Alexw would have performed jumped up on the spot. ¡°What? Ashton is here too?¡± Alexia was about to cry. ¡°Where is he?¡± She had just messed around in Ashton¡¯s territory. Then, they showed up at the same venue. Anyone would have been stared in this situation. They were hackers, not fighters. They couldn¡¯t beat Ashton at all. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If they really want to cause trouble, they will being at me.¡± Briar smiled bitterly When Alexia heard that their crisis had been resolved, he immediately perked up. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Tell me, how did an 18¨Cyear¨Cold girl like you end up messing around with such scheming, sophisticated, and cunning big shot?¡± 11:06 Wed, 13 Aug 80% ¡°Watch your words. I¡¯m not messing around with anyone.¡± Briar rolled her eyes in annoyance. ¡°Have you forgotten the delivery that you guys sent to me on the first day I returned to the country?¡± Alexia¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that the information Georgiana sent you made you set your eyes on him?¡± Alexia remembered that Georgiana was saying Ashton was handsome while sending his information to Briar. When Briar saw him, Alexia felt that her heart would definitely race. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Briar pushed Alexia¡¯s head away. ¡°Am I the kind of person who would pounce on any good¨Clooking man? Alexia smiled and said, ¡°We¡¯re the same kind of people. Stop pretending. Do you dare to say that when you saw Ashton¡¯s information, you didn¡¯t feel anything?¡± ? Forsaken 90 Chapter 90 Briar¡¯s eyes darted awkwardly. ¡°You can¡¯t say that. Can you honestly say you guys didn¡¯t obsess over Ashton¡¯s photo back then?¡± This time, it was Alexia¡¯s tum to look ufortable. She couldn¡¯t deny it. If she did, Briar would definitely call Georgiana, But if she admitted it, Alex, the king of jealousy, was sitting right there. If he found out she¡¯d secretly been looking at another guy again, she¡¯d have to spend the whole night coaxing him Her back had only just recovered today. tell me, then, Why did you look so guilty when you saw that fruit tter?¡± Alexia was smart enough to change the subject. Briar sighed. ¡°This is a long story¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t change the topic! Just make the long story short,¡± Alexia said, not taking the bait. Seeing Briar¡¯s guilty expression, she refused to believe there wasn¡¯t a juicy story. ¡°Right before you guys came to pick me up, I¡¯d just texted Ashton¡­ Briar decided to tell the truth. If Ashton really came overter, she might need Alexia to help her out Seeing the calction in Briar¡¯s eyes, Alexia raised her guard, ¡°What were you two talking about?¡± Briar said, ¡°Ashton asked me if I wanted to get dinner tonight.¡± Alexia already y knew the answer. She chuckled and asked, ¡°What did you say?¡± pletely onto the couch. ¡°I said, ¡®Not tonight. I don¡¯t feel like going out.¡± Briar floppedpletely Even Alex, sitting nearby, couldn¡¯t hold back and burst intoughter. ¡°Briar, you know we don¡¯t usuallyugh unless we just can¡¯t help it.¡± Alexia nced around the room. Ashton¡¯s face was too recognizable. If he were at the venue, there was no way she would¡¯ve missed him. ¡°Briar, what are you going to do if Ashtones over to find youter?¡± Alexia asked, still enjoying the drama. Briar couldn¡¯t stand the look on Alexia¡¯s smug i revving your sports car outside my ce.¡± face. ¡°I¡¯ll just say you two dragged me here. Anyway, I still haven¡¯t deleted that video of you ¡°No, no, babe! How could you sell out your friends like that over a man? We riskeding all the way to Dasmieca just for you!¡± Alexia panicked. Well, she¡¯d pushed the wrong button. She¡¯d forgotten that Briar was not the kind to take a loss quietly or let a grudge sit overnight. She always settled things immediately. They were on Briar¡¯s turf now, so they had to restrain themselves. ¡°My bad.¡± Briar had just started to smile and nod when she nced up. ¡°Ashton and Brandon just walked in through the entrance. Across the room, Briar locked eyes with Achton¡¯s faintly amused gaze. It felt exactly like being caught red¨Chanded by a husband. ¡°Where?¡± Alexia¡¯s excitement spiked. She rarely saw Driar panic. ¡°Right behind us. At the entrance,¡± Briar replied, wishing she could cover her face and disappear. It wasn¡¯t that she was scared of Ashton. The issue was that her current persons was still that of a good college girl. She was supposed to be talented, but obedient and innocent. No ¡°excellent college girl¡± would sneak into a high¨Csecurity underground auction in the middle of the night. Alexia spotted Ashton and his bodyguard walking toward them too, She couldn¡¯t me Briar for freaking out. Ashton was even better looking in person than in photos, and his presence was overwhelmingly powerful, She felt genuinely relieved that Ashton hadn¡¯t been home next door when she¡¯d pulled up to Briar¡¯s ce in her roaring supercar earlier. Otherwise, he probably would¡¯ve thrown her and the car out together without a second thought. Forsaken 91 Chapter 91 The three of them all watched as Ashton walked toward them. Along the way, several people recognized him. They eagerly approached him to greet him. A few of them were so enthusiastic that Briar and her friends briefly thought Ashton might get pulled away by them. But it turned out, not just anyone could invite Ashton and expect him toply. Ashton eventually reached their row and, without needing Briar to say a word, sat down beside them as if it were the most natural thing in the world. ¡°Mr. Wade, nice to meet you. We¡¯re Briar¡¯s friends,¡± Alexia said quickly, always sharp to read the room. She tugged Alex along as she greeted him. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to run into you here.¡± Ashton nodded politely. ¡°Nice to meet you. Since you¡¯re Briar¡¯s friends, tonight¡¯s bill is on me.¡± Alexia waved her hands quickly. ¡°Oh no, no need. We came prepared to pay tonight.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Briar¡¯s friends are my friends too. Don¡¯t wo worry,¡± Ashton replied. Alexia waspletely caught off guard by how generous he was. All they did was mention they were friends with Briar, and he was already offering to cover the whole night, She was so stunned by Ashton¡¯s generosity that she didn¡¯t even register the subtle affection he was showing toward Briar. But Alex, as a fellow man, noticed every word. Ashton even said Briar¡¯s friends were his friends too. Alex cast a knowing nce at Briar, who looked like she wanted to disappear into the floor, and smiled slightly with understanding It seemed that Briar wasn¡¯t the only one charmed by good looks. Ashton seemed more than a little taken too. But that wasn¡¯t surprising. People who excel naturally attract others of the same caliber Meanwhile, Alexia, the socially fearless one, had already struck up a conversation with Ashton. Briar was so nervous she couldn¡¯t sit still. She made a hundred tiny movements per minute and shot Alexia frantic looks to get her to stop talking. Unfortunately, Alexia, temporarily blinded by charm, had forgotten all about loyalty to her friend. If she hadn¡¯t still retained some filter for what was appropriate, Ashton might have already charmed every detail out of her While chatting with Alexia, Ashton still found time to peel candy wrappers for Briar, hand her choctes, and gently remind her to drink water so the sweetness wouldn¡¯t be overwhelming. His attentiveness stunned not just Briar, but also everyone else nearby. There had been rumors floating around that Ashton had fallen in love at first sight with a college freshman from Shoneport University. She was an 18¨Cyear¨Cold girl with beauty and brains. To pursue her, he had lowered himself to personally drive her to and from school. He had even bought two luxury properties near the university¡¯s Moonspring Estate. ung woman beside him, those rumor At the time, high society had dismissed it all as hearsay. But now, watching how Ashton cared for the young suddenly felt very real. This was definitely one of Shoneport¡¯s biggest stories of the year. Chapter DI After nearly five minutes of chatting. Alexia finally caught on to Bitar¡¯s desperate eye signals and quickly excused herself to She silently admitted to herself that the temptation of a good¨Clooking man was too much, and it was safer to retreat. ¡°Did you eat dinner? What did you have?¡± Ashton turned to Briar, who now sat upright with perfect posture. He didn¡¯t ask why she had turned down his invitation, but ended up at the auction anyway. Instead, he chose to show concern over whether she had eaten Briar understood exactly what Ashton was doing. He was trying to make her feel guilty. Not through confrontation, but by being considerate. And it was much more effective. Even though she knew what he was doing, she couldn¡¯t stop the flicker of guilt from surfacing She couldn¡¯t bring herself to lie. ¡°Thaven¡¯t eaten yet,¡± she answered honestly. ? Forsaken 92 Chapter 92 Ashton didn¡¯t say anything aher hearing that. He just looked Briar with a knowing smile that felt strangely wounded. Briar said nothing She thought, ¡°What¡¯s with that aggrieved look? Don¡¯t think your puppy dog eyes will guilt¨Ctrip me. I¡® Briar said, ¡°Let me treat you to ate¨Cnight supper after this.¡± Ashton leaned in and asked in his deep, maic voice, ¡°You¡¯re treating?¡± Briar sighed. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m treating.¡± She¡¯d already been caught red¨Chanded. She Had no choice. Only then did Ashton smile. ¡°Alright, Invite your two friends too.¡± Briar¡¯s eyes dropped slightly. Hershes veiled the warlness shing in her eyes. ¡°Okay.¡± To the stunned onlookers, Ashton¨Cthe famously untouchable heir¨Csat shoulder¨Cto¨Cshoulder with a young woman, whispering like lovers. That alone was enough to shock everyone present If auction rules hadn¡¯t banned phones, some people would¡¯ve risked being gged by Ashton¡¯s bodyguards just to snap a photo of the moment. If that photo got out, it would shock many people. Still, out of fear of Ashton¡¯s reputation, most people only dared sneak nces from the corners of their eyes. No one stared directly. Even so, Briar could still sense the countless eyes on her from all directions. Luckily, at that moment, music started ying from the stage. The auction was officially beginning Briar acted like her attention had been diverted, staring at the stage like a curious little newbie. ¡°Distinguished guests, wee to tonight¡¯s event. The auction will begin shortly. Please bid respectfully andpete fairly. ¡°Now, let¡¯s bring out our first item. An ancient yellow¨Cgreen zed ceramic vase from the 1700s. I believe many of you are already familiar with this item¡¯s history, so we won¡¯t go into too much detail. We¡¯ll start the bidding at 1.2 million dors.¡± The host¡¯s sweet voice echoed through every corner of the auction hall. With such a high starting price for the first item, everyone¡¯s anticipation for the auction only increased. Everyone knew that the underground auction house only presented authentic items. As soon as the host finished, people started bidding ¡°1.3 million dors!¡± ¡°1.4 million dors!¡± ¡°1.5 million dors!¡± The guests here were all wealthy tycoons from Shoneport or other cities. They had fought tooth and nail to obtain membership to the auction house, and none of them nned to leave empty¨Chanded. The bidding quickly became fierce. 1/2 Briar listened and watched with curiosity, perfectly ying the role of an innocent and inexperienced young prt. Ashton, watching her fascinated expression, handed her his bidding paddle. ¡°Do you like it? If you do, we can bid too. The highest estimated price is around 2.8 million dors. As long as it doesn¡¯t exceed 3 million dors, feel free to bid.¡± On the side, Brandon and Morton couldn¡¯t help twitching at the corners of their mouths. The top price was 2.8 million dors, and Ashton was willing to shell out more money just to please Briar. As expected, chasing a girl was expensive. And this was before Ashton even made his feelings clear. Fortunately, for someone with assets in the hundreds of millions, 3 million dors was nothing to Ashton Briar shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t like fragile things like vases.¡± Ashton then pulled out the auction catalog. ¡°Then which item caught your eye?¡± Briar didn¡¯t hesitate. She flipped to thest page and pointed at the picture of the frostworm. ¡°I like this one.¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s s yours then.¡± The Trostworm was a rare medicinal ingredient. Since Briar was studying traditional medicine, it wasn¡¯t surprising that she wanted it. ¡°The starting price is 3 million dors. Estimated highest bid around 15 million dors. As he spoke, Ashton was about to pull out his card when suddenly, a soft, cool hand rested on the back of his. His movements paused, and he turned to meet Briar¡¯s bright eyes. She didn¡¯t seem to notice the subtle stiffness in his body. Smiling sweetly, she said, ¡°Mr. Wade, I brought money.¡± Then, she pulled her hand back, opened her backpack, and took out the bank card she¡¯d been using as a bookmark in her medical textbook. She waved it in front of him. ¡°There¡¯s 18 million dors in here. It¡¯s enough,¡± Ashton¡¯s gaze lingered on her fingers holding the card. ¡°Are you trying to distance yourself from me?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Briar shook her head and leaned in mysteriously, lowering her voice to exin, ¡°The frostworm can be used to improve Mr. Griffin Wade¡¯s health, I n to buy it, then sell it to you, for a tidy profit.¡± At thest words, ¡°tidy profit,¡± her eyes crinkled withughter. Ashton was amused by this little money grubber¡¯s greedy expression. He nodded. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll wait for it.¡± It was the first time someone had tried to openly scam Ashton, and yet he was in a great mood. ning from the side, almost covered his face in secondhand embarrassment. Brandon, listening There is doubt, tekten war tata on his way to haramian ¨C kanalers rom: E Forsaken 93 Chapter 93 The auction moved quickly. Each item was wrapped up within ten minutes of being disyed. During this time, Alexa and Alex took a liking to two artifacts. After bidding and winning, it was Brandon himself who personally fetched the items from the back. Ashton had promised to treat them and followed through, which thrilled Alexis to no end. On top of that, he heard that after the auction, they¡¯d be treated to ate¨Cnight meal too. Alexia, who had no resistance to handsome men, agreed without a second thought. Alex nearly lost his temper over He thought to himself, ¡°What the heck? Has my handsome face lost its charm already?¡± As the auction neared its end, most of the bidders already had one or two items in hand. So when the frostworm that Briar had her eyes on finally came up, thepetition had already halved. Still, with a starting bid of 3 million dors, the frostworm drew plenty of interest from wealthy bidders. After all, no rich man would ever think they owned too many good things. ¡°4 million dors!¡± The moment the auctioneer announced the starting price, someone raised their paddle. ¡°5 million dors!¡± Alexia jumped in immediately. Ashton handed his bidding paddle to Briar. ¡°Go ahead. Time to boost your treasure fund. Briar took the paddle from him. ¡°5.3 million dors.¡± In auctions, one shouldn¡¯t raise the bid too aggressively. It would invite conflict and reverse psychology from other bidders, which could drive the final price far beyond expectations. But Briar had forgotten. Sitting next to her was none other than the richest scion of Shoneport. And she was holding his paddle. The moment she raised it, the other wealthy bidders were not particrly fixated on the frostworm, so they quietly bowed out. Since Ashton raised the paddle, this frostworm would go to the youngdy. After all, no matter how rich someone was, no one couldpete with the Wade family, whose wealth could rival a nation¡¯s. There were still a few who knew the frostworm¡¯s value and weren¡¯t willing to give up. They wanted to try their luck, hoping a miracle would happen. Unfortunately, it definitely wouldn¡¯t happen in the auction. Not to mention, Ashton already knew the final bid price of every item tonight. And this was the first gift he was giving Briar. No matter how high the price went, he was going to secure it. The bidding heated up. ¡°14.3 million dors!¡± ¡°15 million dors!¡± Alexia called out. ¡°15.2 million dors!¡± 15.6 million dors!¡± Briar called out. 216 million dors!¡± In the end, only two bidders were leftpeting with friar. These two wealthy men had traveled from other cities specifically for this G and had their sights set on the frostworm. They hade prepared. They thought theirpetitors would be other rich collectors. But out of nowhere, Ashton¡¯s camp joined the fray. 13.5 million dors was the maximum they were willing to go. Sure, the item was great, but paying more than 16 million dors for it wouldn¡¯t be worth it. It just wouldn¡¯t yield proportional returns for them. the bidding already at 16 million dors, one of the men decisively backed out. He thought to himself, ¡®I¡¯m out. Even with money to burn, this is just reckless?¡± The other man clenched his teeth, looked at the unbothered Ashton, who hadn¡¯t even nced at the stage once. The other man decided to go all in onest time. ¡°16.1 million!¡± Briar didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°16.3 million dors!¡± The other bidder was fuming and decided to give up. After all, a loss to Ashton was nothing to be ashamed of. No one could outbid him anyway. Even the auctioneer was getting nervous. She had already received a reminder from backstage. Thisst item was something Ashton¡¯s girlfriend had her eye on, so she had to manage the bidding rhythm carefully and definitely couldn¡¯t let it fall into someone else¡¯s hands. As the bids inched closer to the maximum value, sweat started to bead on her palms. Finally, the auctioneer saw that thest bidder had given up. She rxed and immediately dropped the hammer. ¡°16.3 million dors, first call! Any more bids? 16.3 million dors, second call!¡± ¡°16.3 million dors, third call!¡± She struck the gavel a final time, her smile even brighter now. ¡°Congrattions to this youngdy for winning tonight¡¯s final item, the frostworm.¡± It hadn¡¯t been easy. The auctioneer looked sincerely toward Briar¡¯s table, visibly relieved. ¡°Congrattions!¡± Ashton apuded gently. Briar was clearly happy too. The final price was 300 thousand dors less than she had estimated. ¡°Thanks! Your name carries weight. You saved me 300 thousand dors. I¡¯ll treat you guys for supper.¡± Alexia grinned. ¡°Briar, you said it. We¡¯re definitely going to go all out and eat till your wallet hurts.¡± ¡°Bring it on,¡± Briar said, waving her bank card confidently. AD Comment Forsaken 94 Chapter 94 Since they had agreed to gette night snacks first, it wasn¡¯t convenient for Briar and Alexia to openly carry their newly acquired upon items, so they entrusted the auction house staff to deliver them to their homes. Of course, when it came to treasures worth millions of dors, someone trustworthy had to escort them, so that someone ended up being Brandon. Waving his hand, Brandon said, ¡°Ashton, Fle pick you upter.¡± Ashton nodded indifferently. ¡°No rush.¡± With Brandon sent off Alexia¡¯s supercar just happened to have four seats, Briar and Ashton sat in the back, while Alex drove and Alexia satin the passenger seat, frequently turning around to look behind her. Alexia asked, ¡°Briar, where are we going for snacks? We don¡¯t know our way around Shoneport. Can you rmend a ce?¡± What Alexia really wanted to ask about was Ashton, but Ashton¡¯s overwhelming aura kept her from being too direct. She didn¡¯t want this big shot to see through her intentions. Briar actually wasn¡¯t sure either, so she naturally looked toward Ashton. ¡°Ashton, I¡¯m not familiar with the area. Do you have any suggestions?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go to Moonbay Seafood Restaurant. It¡¯s open 24 hours, and this is a good time for supper,¡± Ashton replied. With his long legs and tall frame, he could barely stretch out in the cramped backseat of the sports car and had to sit curled up. ¡°Alright! Moonbay Seafood Restaurant it is!¡± Seeing that Briar had no objections, Alexia grabbed Alex¡¯s phone, pulled up navigation, and entered the address. It was less than a 20¨Cminute drive, not too far away. Ashton had called ahead, so when they arrived, a line of restaurant staff was already waiting at the entrance. The night shift supervisor stepped forward with a smile, ¡°Mr. Wade, Miss Jennings, good evening. Your private room is ready. Please follow me.¡± Of course, he didn¡¯t ignore the two people apanying Briar either and nodded at them with a friendly smile. They had a grand entrance. It was no wonder they called him the scion of Shoneport. Wherever he went, it was a full production. Alexia and Alex, both seasoned in shady dealings, weren¡¯t used to such high¨Cprofile luxury. But since they were never rxed around Ashton anyway, it didn¡¯t really show, In truth, Ashton¡¯s attention that evening was almost entirely on Briar, Briar normally wore casual, loose clothes, including during their first meeting. But tonight, her outfit was stunning Ashton¡¯s gaze lingered almost imperceptibly on her gorgeous figure. Once they sat down in the private room, they didn¡¯t need to bother with ordering. The manager had already arranged everything with the kitchen. Within three minutes, dishes started arriving in a steady stream. Despite thete hour, everything was freshly flown in that day. Naturally, such exquisite food came with a hefty price tag. But Briar had saved 300 thousand dors earlier in the auction thanks to Ashton¡¯s name. She didn¡¯t mind a supper costing thousands of dors Alexia and Alex, though from the coastal country of Qathana, had never tasted such authentic Dasmieca cuisine before. They dug in so happily that they barely noticed the subtle interactions between star and Ashton ¡°Thank you, Mr. Wade. Let¡¯s eat. Ashton, ever dignified, hadn¡¯t taken a single bite yet. Westing disposable gloves, he was shettin crabs for Briar, making her feel like he was feeding a toddler Ashton didn¡¯t stop. ¡°You eat first. (theatter¡± As he spoke, another perfectly shelled shrimp emerged from his hands. tealing. I Briar nodded and didn¡¯t insist further. Then, on impulse, she picked Not wanting to draw attention from the two friends engrossed in up Ashton¡¯s fork, grabbed a tender piece of fish, and brought it to his mouth. Just as the fork reached him, Ashton paused. Briar realized what she was doing. She tried to pull her hard back, but it was toote. Ashton opened his mouth and ate the fish. Instantly, the air around them grew thick with awkwardness and subtle intimacy. Alexia, who had paused eating, saw the whole thing and stared in shock, mouth agape, speechless. Briar tried to exin awkwardly, ¡°Ashton was peeling shrimp for me and couldn¡¯t use his fork.¡± But that only made it worse. The more she exined, the guiltier it sounded. Alexia and Alex exchanged a nce, and in each other¡¯s eyes, they saw a crisis. Briar was being seduced by a handsome man. That was a massive scoop.. Briar was known for admiring beauty from afar but never acting on it. But now, she had been captured. They never expected that the smart, always¨Cin¨Ccontrol Briarwould lose her head for love. Given Alexia¡¯s openly curious stares, Briar stopped interacting with Ashton and focused on eating in silence. Ashton, however, seemed more pleased the quieter she got. His smile grew, and he looked at Alexia with unusually warm eyes. G Forsaken 95 Thatte¨Cnight supper left everyone happy. The total bill came to 10 thousand dors, which was within Briar¡¯s expectations. She p card with gusto. The shift supervisor standing nearby, however, was stunned. He thought. ¡°That¡¯s Miss Jennings, isn¡¯t it? Mr. Wade has his eyes on her. He still lets her pay at his restaurant? Why is the Wade Group going bankrupt or something? Mr. Wade, are you sponging off a girl now? Sensing the shift supervisor¡¯s questioning look, Ashton cast a sideways nce his way. Terrified, the shift supervisor instantly shifted his gaze to the floor, the ceiling, toes, anywhere but at Ashton. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Briar called, unaware of the awkwardness between Ashton and the shift supervisor. After paying, she led the group out. Alexia and Alex walked ahead, Briar followed, and Ashton only moved once Briar did. The entire sequence made Ashton look kind of humble in the shift supervisor¡¯s eyes. tin. No matter who it was, once they started living off someone else, that subtle humility always crept i Brandon had already arrived in Ashton¡¯s personal ride. He opened the door respectfully as soon as they emerged. Alexia and Alex didn¡¯t join them. They drove their car, choosing not to be third wheels. They couldn¡¯t stopughing. The way Ashton looked at their Briar, it was like the whole world faded away. No way they¡¯d butt in and ruin the moment Even though they were super curious about Ashton¡¯s high¨Cend ride, their survival instinct told them not to be third wheels. Back at the Moonspring Estate, the moment the car stopped, Alexia hopped out and smiled at Briar. ¡°Babe, we¡¯re not going in. There¡¯s a red- eye flight to Qathana tonight. We¡¯re heading out now.¡± Briar knew they wouldn¡¯t stay overnight and nodded. ¡°Okay. Then let me drive you to the airport?¡± Alexia waved her off. ¡°No need. We just dropped you off. It¡¯d be dumb if you drove us back. We¡¯ll leave our car at the airport. You can pick it up whenever you have time.¡± But Briar, who k knew her friend well, caught the implication behind the words. Raising an eyebrow, she asked, ¡°So generous, huh?¡± Alexia rolled her eyes. ¡°What do you think? You¡¯re my bestie. How could I just let you suffer now that you¡¯re back?¡± She had heard about how the Jennings family mistreated Briar after her return to Dasmieca. That was why she had shipped this car all the way from Qathana as a gih. Alexia didn¡¯t understand Briar. She was such a bold and spirited person, but she lived such a low¨Ckey life after returning. She even went to college as a student, even though she was a seasoned professor from Atrington University. ¡°I¡¯m not suffering,¡± Briar said helplessly. Briar wondered, ¡°Who the hell is spreading these rumors?¡± She was just keeping a low profile, not lowering her quality of life. ¡°Yeah, right¡± Alexia didn¡¯t buy It Briar was already scraping by, hustling for pocket money at night From afar, Ashton had been watching Briar and her friends interact. Hearing them talk about how Briar had suffered since returning to Dasmieca, his eyes dimmed. From the information he¡¯d gathered, the Grant family had pampered Briar in Qathana. In contrast, the Jennings family¡¯s treatment of her back home was clearly abusive. Those millions of dors Briar spent on the frostwarm tonight might be from the Grant family. Thinking of how she had used the frostworm as a bargaining chip for some ¡°profitable deal¡± with him, Ashton looked at her retreating figure with a touch of heartache. Briar wasn¡¯t just mistreated. She was broke too, After finally sending Alexia off, Briar turned around only to meet Ashton¡¯s eyes filled with a rare tenderness. She blinked. ¡°Ashton?¡± She thought, ¡®Did he overhear my conversation with Alexia? I just sent off one person feeling sorry for me¡­ and now here¡¯s another one? Am I some kind of victim to them?¡± ¡°It¡¯ste. You should get some rest.¡± Ashton smiled gently and handed her two boxes of choctes from the car. Briar epted them with thanks and walked into the house under Ashton¡¯s watchful gaze. is car. ¡°To the old estate,¡± he ordered. Only then did Ashton return to his Brandon replied, ¡°Yes¡± Ashton added, ¡°And tell Xavion to check her personal ounts. See how much Dasmieca money she actually has ess to.¡± Brandon, who had been standing nearby and had lip¨Creading skills at max level, had already ¡°heard¡± the whole conversation between Briar and her friend. He wasn¡¯t surprised at all. ¡°Understood.¡± It seemed Ashton w was nning to sneak Briar some cash. Ìï Forsaken 96 Chapter 96 At Shoneport University, there was an unwritten tradition at the start of every academic year. The student council would organize and the most popr campus belle and campus hunk of the year. The nominees for these titles were voted on by the entire student body, and whoever received the highest number of votes would he dered the winner. The winners of these titles would automatically be entered as candidates for the position of vice president of the student council. Shoneport University¡¯s student council was widely known as a hub of resources and connections, and gaining entry into it required meeting strict qualifications. The fastest and most convenient mute was precisely through the annual campus belle and campus hunk election Many students who wanted to expand theirwork at Shoneport University targeted these titles. As a result, thepetition for them every year drew massive attention. This year was no different. As soon as the election campaign was announced, it quickly became a hot topic among students and managed to suppress the recent drama surrounding Abbie and the scandalous posts about her. mally This shit in attention finally allowed Abbie to breathe a little easier. Last year, the campus hunk title went to Frank, a senior in the medical department, while the campus belle was Le, a junior in the finance department. Both came from powerful families and had no need topete for the student council vice presidency. However, the appeal of their titles wasn¡¯t just in the resources they gained but also in the romantic pairing that students liked to create between them. Everyone liked the idea of the campus belle and campus hunk being a couple. Frank and Le were shipped by many, Le had run for campus belle specifically for Frank, making it a public disy of affection. As a result, nearly all of Frank¡¯s rumors that year had him bed to Leyta. Frank was nearly driven mad by it. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the Haynes family was one of the four major aristocratic families in Shoneport, he would have broken ties with Le long ago to avoid stirring up conflict between the two families. Fortunately, Frank spent nearly all his time in theb building and had few chances to run into Le. Even so, enduring that whole year had been exhausting Now that the election season hade around again, Frank was genuinely excited. Among the students buzzing about the event, he might have been the most thrilled of all He felt that he could finally shed the burdensome campus hunk title. Mason and Ted, who understood Frank¡¯s frustration better than anyone, couldn¡¯t help but tease him when they saw how excited he was. It was as if he were about to win the title again himself. Ted said, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be so happy if I were you, Frank. Don¡¯t forget, thest campus hunk held onto the title for two years in a row.¡± Masonughed, ¡°Yeah, with your reputation, a two¨Ctime win wouldn¡¯t be surprising¡± Frank gave them a look. ¡°You guys are really the best friends ever.¡± Clearly, they could stand to show him a little more support. Mason spread his hands. ¡°Can¡¯t help it. Outstanding people stand out no matter where they go. If it were us, even if we went around campus begging for votes every day, no one would choose us.¡± Ted nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Exactly! Look at you. You¡¯ve got the family background, the looks, the physique, and the talent. If I were a girl Chapter 96 and not blind, I¡¯d definitely vote for you too. Mason slung an arm around Frank¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Just give up. There have already been several rounds of pretty girl posts on the forum ince the semester started. Have you seen even one handsome guy posted?¡± Thatstment from Mason made Frank feel even more weighed down. Theck of posts featuring good¨Clooking guys on the school forum clearly indicated that this year¡¯s freshman ss didn¡¯t have any truly outstanding male candidates. This meant the selection for this year¡¯s campus hunk would have toe from second year to fourth¨Cyear students. With his qualifications, Frank¡¯s chances of winning the title again had be even higher. Suddenly, Frank¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Wait a minute, what did you guys just say? All the forum posts were about campus beauties?¡± Ted thought for a moment. ¡°Yeah. And among them, Briar is the most famous.¡± Frank pped his hands andughed. ¡°Then Thave nothing to worry about.¡± Mason and Ted were confused. ¡°What at are you not worried about?¡± Frank lowered his voice and looked around to make sure no one was nearby. ¡°Do you guys think Briar is pretty?¡± Mason answered without hesitation, ¡°Of course she is! Sweet looks and exceptional talent.¡± Ted nodded as well. ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s gorgeous, talented, and has that aloof personality. She¡¯s the goddess of every fanboy and fangirl here.¡± Finally, the two realized what Frank was getting at. ¡°Are you saying¡­ ¡± Frank smiled knowingly. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if I shake off the campus hunk title or not. As long as Briar wins campus belle, I have nothing to fear.¡± Because Briar was very likely to be Ashton¡¯s wife. that Briar was getting close to Ashton. No one in their right mind would dare pair Briar with someone else. Everyone knew that Briar AD Forsaken 97 Chapter 97 Mason and Ted suddenly understood what Frank meant and both gave him a thumbs up. ¡°You¡¯re smart. Alright, from now on, we won¡¯t role for anyone else. We¡¯ll vote only for Driar, Not only will we vote ourselves, but we¡¯ll also rally others to vote with us¡± Frank slung his arms around the two of them. ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re my true buddies. Once Briar gets elected as the new campus belle, dinner¡¯s on me.¡± The three of them walked off, chatting andughing. After they were pone, Mia stepped out from behind the corner of the wall, her hands clenched into fists and her face extremely unpleasant. She hadn¡¯t been trying to cavesdrop. She had just been feeling upset and was hiding here for some peace and quiet. She didn¡¯t expect to overhear Frank and his friends¡® conversation. In fact, there wasn¡¯t anything particrly unusual about what she heard. Every year during the campus belle and hunk elections, people campaigned for their favorite candidates. What truly bothered Mia was that it was Briar again. Briar hadn¡¯t done anything at all, yet people were already eager to pave the way for her Mia believed that Briar had already used Frank to get close to Ashton, and that should have been enough. But now she was also trying to snatch away the resources everyone else longed for. In her view, Briar could easily act coy with Ashton or whisper a few words to that wealthy man with the luxury cars and vis mentioned in that forum post. She could get any resource she wanted that way. Mia could tolerate anyone else pulling strings to gather votes, just not Briar She couldn¡¯t ept that Briar, of all people, was the one benefiting from all this. She believed it was all because of that face of hers that bewitched men. Jealousy distorted Mia¡¯s expression. She already harbored deep resentment toward Briar, and now that she heard Briarwould bepeting for the only campus belle title, her fury rose to the surface. Her anger made her forget the fear she once felt under Briar¡¯s intimidating aura. She decided she couldn¡¯t let this happen. Briar had many admirers at school, so resisting alone wouldn¡¯t be enough. Mia knew she had to gather more people to join her. There were plenty of people who disliked Briar, even though she had many fans. People like Lydia, Abbie, and Le came to mind. Mia believed Le, who cared about Frank, would be upset if she found out that Frank was helping Briar win the campus belle title just so people would stop shipping them. If Briar seeded, it would essentially push Le out of the spotlight. The first person Mia approached was Abble, because Abbie hated Briar the most. Abbie had been ndered in the forum for days. All the connections she tried to use were useless. It was said she was even nning to hire a hacker As expected, the moment Abbie heard M¡¯s reason foring, she agreed without hesitation. No one understood how vile Briar was better than Abbic. ¡°Bechtse of a single photo, she had be aughingstock at school. Several of her close friends had even begun to distance it was all thanks to Briar, Although there was no hard evidence that Briat was behind the ckmail post, Abble had a gut feeling the involved. Even her family had to step in to try to remove the posts from the forum. She was scolded by her parents and grandfather and had to ask for favors to find a hacker. The shame she felt was overwhelming Abbie had long wanted to take revenge on Br. But Dr had be a rising star at school, protected by both Ashton and their professors, so she never had a chance until now. She had no intention of letting this opportunity slip away. Abbie said, ¡°I¡¯ll help you, but you have to promise that if this gets exposed, I won¡¯t be dragged into it¡± Abbie wasn¡¯t stupid. She knew Mia also liked Frank. Mia had always made subtle remarks in front of her and Lydia, showing off her so¨Ccalled closeness with Frank. Now, Mia wanted to form an alliance with her, but it was clearly for her own benefit too. Mia¡¯s eyes flickered with a trace of smugness. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. My n is foolproof We¡¯re going to get our current campus belle to join forces with us. No matter how capable Briaris, Mr. Wade won¡¯t risk offending the Haynes family for her.¡± A malicious smile appeared in Abbie¡¯s eyes. ¡°Good. Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll go with you to find Le.¡± The two of them linked arms and walked together toward the building of the finance department. Along the way, Mia used her talent for twisting the truth and exaggerating details to sessfully persuade a few more people to join their cause. ¡°Le, someone¡¯s looking for you.¡± When they arrived at the finance department¡¯s study room and saw the ce packed with top performing students, they all lowered their voices. No one dared to go in and disturb them, so one of the girls politely asked a short, chubby senior standing by the door to help call Le out. When Le heard that someone was looking for her, she looked over and showed a surprised expression upon seeing Mia and the others. She didn¡¯t have much of a personal rtionship with them. But out of courtesy, Le still walked over. ¡°Is there something you need from me?¡® ? AD No Ads Comment Forsaken 98 Chapter 98 There were things quietly brewing in certain corners of Shoneport University that Briar did not know of. And even if she had known, she wouldn¡¯t have cared. She had no interest in the campus belle election that could lead to a vice presidential candidacy. All the wanted was for people to see that she was genuinely focusing on her studies, adapting well to college life, and doing her best to fulfill the role of a university student. But some problems came her way regardless of whether she weed them or not. That day, after finishing her second afternoon ss, Briar received a tearful phone call from Ellen, ¡°Briar, I¡¯m trapped in the alley on the west side of campus. What do I do?¡± Briar immediately frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t hang up I¡¯ming to find you now.¡± With that, she sprinted out of the building. On the way, she happened to run into Frank and his friends, who wereughing on their way back Noticing her hurried pace and pale face, Frank asked with concern, ¡°Briar, where are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got something to do,¡± Briar replied and ran off without looking back. Frank watched her go, muttering. ¡°That didn¡¯t seem right. She looked like she was going to get into a fight or something.¡± Mason frowned. ¡°Can¡¯t you just wish her well for once?¡± ¡°With her tiny frame? She would d only get beaten up!¡± Ted joked. Frank¡¯s expression changed. Without another word, he chased after her. Seeing their friend take off, Mason and Ted didn¡¯t hesitate and followed him. ¡°Hey! Are you serious? We were just joking!¡± Frank called back while running. ¡°Forget it. Come with me. Let¡¯s go check it out.¡± When Briar arrived at the alley on the west side of Shoneport High School, she saw from a distance that several punks with brightly dyed hair had surrounded Ellen. Because of Ellen¡¯s resistance and screams, the gangsters were getting bolder and began harassing her. ¡°Oh,e on, little girl. Don¡¯t be scared. It¡¯ste. Let us take you home.¡± ¡°Yeah! You see, there¡¯s no one around here. It¡¯s dangerous for you to walk alone. Why don¡¯t we give you a ride on our bikes?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want that? Then maybe we can book a room for you? How about a deluxe room in a nice hotel?¡± Ellen had never encountered anything like this. She was trembling in fear, clutching her schoolbag tightly, doing everything she could to avoid being touched by their filthy hands. Briar¡¯s eyes turned cold. She bent down, picked up a few broken stones from the ground, and hurled them at the backs of several of the thugs. Her strength and aim were perfectly ¡°Ow! Damn it! Who just hit me?¡± ontrolled. The rocksnded precisely. The thugs immediately turned around and looked toward the entrance of the alley. They saw a beautiful girl running straight at them. Their anger instantly morphed into sleazy grids. ¡°Well, well, another pretty girl. You here to have fun with us too, sweetheart?¡± ¡°Perfect! The more the merrier!¡± ?? They tackled obscenely These guys were well¨Cknown thugs in this part of town. Not a single one of them was decent. Relying on their numbers and some stree fighting skills, they regrly engaged in extortion, harassment, and even assault. Seeing an even prettier girl approaching, their desires were stirred. As soon as Briar got close, one of the punks reached out to touch her face. But before he couldy a hand on her, his wrist was grabbed mid¨Cair. ¡°You¡¯re dead!¡± Or snapped. A sudden, blood¨Ccurdling scream tore through the alley. Before anyon§Ö yone could see clearly what Briar had done, the punk who had reached out was flipped over her shoulder and mmed hard into the ground. The impact was so powerful that dust flew up as hended. The other thugs immediately froze. They had run into some tough people before, but thanks to their numbers, they usually didn¡¯t suffer imuch. But to get taken down this fast was something they had never experienced. They shoved Ellen aside and surrounded Briar, cracking their knuckles threateningly. ¡°Don¡¯t let this woman off easy!¡± one of them growled. These punks were experienced fighters. They never fought alone and always relied on overwhelming force. They rushed at Briar all at once. Ellen saw their raised fistsing from all sides and froze in horror. Her brother had told her that Briar was v couldn¡¯t take on so many at once without getting hurt. very skilled, but even she Ellen instantly felt a wave of regret. If she had known Briarwould end up in this kind of danger, she never would have called her for help. Panicked and helpless, Ellen suddenly had a sh of inspiration. Her phone hadn¡¯t been taken, and the call with Briar was still connected. She could call the police. Wasting no time, Ellen scrambled to look for something she could use to defend herself while calling the police. ¡°Please, officer Help! We¡¯re being attacked! Please help us!¡± she cried between sobs. AD Forsaken 99 Chapter 99 At that moment, Briar was already in the thick of a fight with the thugs. She moved with agility and weaving through them efforted. Despite being surrounded, she delivered kick after kick, sending them flying one by one Her lighting posture lookedzy and casual, her beautiful face devoid of any expression. Yet each punchnded precisely on her opponent¡¯s weak points. Every kick looked soft and effortless, but theyunched people several feet away. The fight was both intense and swift. In less than two minutes, the shouting and cursing thugs had all been kicked to the ground. No one could tell exactly how Briar had done it, but the thugs werepletely unable to get up, They felt like their arms and legs, their stomachs and backs, no longer belonged to them. In that moment, the way they looked at Briar changedpletely. Their scalps tingled, and their faces were full of fear. Not only was she terrifyingly skilled inbat, but every move she used was ruthless and underhanded. They instinctively tried to back away, driven by the survival instinct to avoid danger. They knew they were no match for this woman and began retreating, helping each other crawl to the sides. There was no way they could win. They weren¡¯t going to fight anymore. There was no point. But Briary r wasn¡¯t going to just let them run off Almost the moment they began to back away, their vision went dark. The thug at the front suddenly felt a crushing weight on his arm. With a sickening crack, his arm was stomped brutally. It was broken underfoot. An even more piercing scream rang out. The one with the broken arm rolled his eyes back from the pain and promptly passed out. The rest of the thugs werepletely terrified, drenched in cold What they were looking at wasn¡¯t some sweet¨Cfaced young woman. It was a demon straight out of hell. Ellen was stunned as well. Briar was every bit as incredible as her brother had said. It seemed they had nothing to fear now, even before the police arrived, Frank and the others hadn¡¯t been able to keep up with Briar¡¯s pace and had nearly lost track of her. They only managed to find her by following the sound of screaming. Then, they saw a delicate girl standing alone with an aura like a lone warrior guarding a gate, while on the groundy a group of thugs with rainbow¨Ccolored hair, shaking and shivering The scene was absurdly out of ce. Frank rushed over. ¡°Briar, are you o okay?¡± Noticing that Frank and the others had arrived, Briar retracted her sharp, dangerous aura. Her eyes carried a trace of panic as she replied, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Good thing they weren¡¯t as strong as me. I managed to knock them over. I was so scared.¡± Everyone went speechless. When she said thatst word, there was even a little wave in her voice. The thugs lying on the ground could barely believe it. They wanted to just roll their eyes and faint on the spot for dramatic effect. After all their years on the streets, this was the first time they¡¯d ever been left so speechless. She was still standing and they were all lying hat, with one of their own literally having his arm broken under her fact. They of her instead. Just then, the sound of police sirens echoed in the distance. The officers Ellen had called were finally arriving Briar and everyone else who was still standing exchanged a quick nce, as if they¡¯d silently coordinated a n. Frank stepped up first, You bunch of scum! You bullied girls? Officer! Help! These guys were assaulting girls!¡± Mason and Ted immediately caught on and shouted as well. They were passionate and righteous, but fragile, soft¨Cskinned college students. When faced with injustice, they wanted to do the right thing, but they were genuinely scared out of their minds. All they could do now was appeal to the arriving officers for help.. Ellen, being the victim in this incident, easily slipped into a role of looking weak, pitiful, and helpless. ¡°Briar, I¡¯m scared,¡± she cried convincingly. The thugs sprawled on the ground were fuming. The officers, who had rushed over after receiving the report, followed the voices into the alley. They saw three young men, clearly frightened, trying their best to shield two girls behind them. On the groundy a group of rainbow¨Chaired delinquents. They were all familiar troublemakers. The officers didn¡¯t need to ask what had happened. They could already piece together the blood¨Cpumping yet miserable turn of events that had taken ce. Without hesitation, the officers rushed in, Someforted Briar and the others, who seemed shaken by the event. Others went straight to the thugs who were ying dead on the ground, hoisted them up, pped on handcuffs, and took them away. AD Forsaken 100 Chapter 100 The police station was still bustling and holy in the evening The lobby, already filled with noise and movement, became even more crowded with the arrival of a group of handcuffed thugs with brightly dyed hair, alongside a few clean¨Ccut, well¨Cdressed young men and women who looked perfectly well¨Cbehaved. Since Briar and the others were victims, they were seated along a row of chairs against the wall. Each of them held a cup of water, and a female officer was gentlyforting Ellen, who appeared to be frightened. The group of thugs, however, received no such kindness. They were dragged to the corner and ordered to squat. Even the one with the broken arm, although not handcuffed due to his injury, was still forced to squat. After all, those thugs had long criminal records and were already cklisted by the local police. The lead thug, with tears streaming down his face, pointed at Briar, who sat calmly beside Ellen. He cried out in usation, ¡°Officer, we¡¯re not lying this time! It was her! She took down all of us by herself and even broke my buddy¡¯s arms!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah! We can all testify! She started it and injured us!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! She even kicked me in the¡­ down there¡­¡± ¡°We really didn¡¯t do anything bad this time, please. Officer, you have to believe us¡­¡± ¡°My hand hurts so bad! It was her, she¡¯s the one who stomped on it¡­ The thugs squatted on the ground, crying and shouting about Briar¡¯s ¡°crimes.¡± With their pitiful expressions and loud sobs, they almost looked like the real victims. But the officers, being trained to uphold falmess and justice, didn¡¯t buy any of it. ¡°How you even have the nerve to im a girl like her managed to knock all of you down?¡± One of the officers snapped, ¡°Enough. All of you, quiet. Tell the truth. What were you doing? Why did you block a young girl in an alley? What were your intentions?¡± ¡°Officer, we didn¡¯t mean anything by it! We were just passing through.. ¡°That¡¯s right! We weren¡¯t out to collect any debts or anything today, we were just walking by!¡± ¡°Just walking by?¡± The officer let out a coldugh. ¡°You better tell the truth. There might not be surveince in the alley, but that doesn¡¯t mean there¡¯s no surveince outside of it¡± The officer added, ¡°I don¡¯t even need your statements. With the footage I pulled and the testimony of these college students, I¡¯ve got enough to detain you for seven days.¡± Even though the case was already quite clear, the officers still dutifully retrieved all the surveince footage that covered the alley entrance. Combined with the statements from Frank and the other three male students, everything had already been confirmed. ly at a loss. There was no way they could talk themselves out of this. The thugs werepletely They looked at Briar, who stared back at them expressionlessly, then at the officers with their upright, no¨Cnonsense demeanor, and the college students with their righteous fire in their eyes. The thugs felt utterly hopeless Everything had 100 situation had turned on its head This time, they were the ones who had been beaten up. Unfortunately for them, the officers took them inside for formal questioning As for Briar and the others, they only needed toplete a simple registration process and verify their identities before they were allowed leave. AD Forsaken 101 The thugs were filled with frustration and despair. They hadmitted countless bad deeds, and now that they were finally beatentin for 12 no one felt the slightest sympathy for them. The attitude of the police officers left the group of thugs utterly disheartened. They felt like giving up entirely. In the interrogation room, things weren¡¯t going smoothly. Meanwhile, the female officer handling Briar and the others¡® registration was also encountering a problem. The records for Ellen and Frank¡¯s group were processed without issue. But when it came to Briar, the officer was shocked to discover that the system only showed that she had just returned to Dasmleca from Qathana. No other information could be retrieved When questioned, Briar brushed her off with a cold ¡°Noment.¡± The officer¡¯s professional instincts kicked in, and she immediately became alert. She asked Briar to contact a family member toe sign paperwork so she could be released, but Briar refused. This only deepened the officer¡¯s suspicions. She reported the situation to her captain. The captain walked over and personally questioned Briar. But no matter how he asked, she revealed nothing and still refused to notify any Family members. Frank, who had already finished his statement and was free to leave, waited outside, hoping to leave together with Briar. But after waiting a long time, instead of seeing Briar, he saw Mason rushing out in a panic to deliver the news that she had been detained. Frank was startled, ¡°What happened? Why was she detained?¡± Mason shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know the details, but I heard it¡¯s because her identity raised gs. She refused to call her family to confirm anything, so the officers became suspicious.¡± Frank silently took out his phone and made a call. ¡°Ashton¡­¡± ¡°Miss Jennings, please answer our questions truthfully¡­. Briar sat with her arms crossed at an empty desk, clearly annoyed. If Ellen hadn¡¯t been sitting beside her, looking so anxious and helpless, she might have already lost her temper. Her personal data had always been ssified and managed by a certain base. That meant it was nearly impossible for Dasmieca to trace anything. Typically, even if they tried to ess her files, the system would return a ¡°No permission to verify¡± notice. Officers should usually be able to recognize that such a message indicated a sensitive or protected identity. But for some reason, even ater seeing this message, they continued to press her with questions. Briar¡¯s expression grew increasingly cold. She turned to Ellen and said, ¡°Ellen, go outside and find Frank and the others. Leave with them.¡± ¡°But what about you, Briar?¡± Ellen asked, worried. She med herself for the whole situation. Reporting to the police had brought trouble for Briar. Briar gave h her a small smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be fine. Go on. Be good¡± Ellen left reluctantly, ncing back every few steps. 1/2 When she saw Frank and the others walling outside, her eyes turned wet. She ran straight to Frank and looked up at him allowed to leave. What should we do? They said there¡¯s something wrong with her identity. It¡¯s all my fault I shouldn¡¯t he police Frank gently patted her on the shoulder, trying tofort the crying girl. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Briar will be fine, I¡¯ve already called Ashton Once he gets here, he¡¯ll definitely be able to get her out.¡± It was just a matter of no one being there to youch for Briar With Ashton himself as guarantor, that should be enough. When Frank had heard from Mason that Briar didn¡¯t want to contact her family, he had more or less guessed her reasons. From what he¡¯d heard, the Jennings family didn¡¯t treat Briar well, in a situation like this, even if she had notified them, with Edgar¡¯s character, he wouldn¡¯t havee immediately. Ellen nodded, feeling somewhat reassured. She was young, but she still knew Ashton was a man with vast influence and powerful connections. However, the first person to arrive wasn¡¯t Ashton, but a man named Nathan. Frank was stunned as he watched this man stride confidently over to Briar, bend down slightly, and speak to her in a gentle and respectful tone. A sudden sense of danger surged in Frank¡¯s chest. He quickly took out his phone, snapped a photo of the two of them talking, and sent it to Ashton. Frank: [Ashton, why aren¡¯t you here yet? If you don¡¯t show up soon, Briar¡¯s going to be snatched away by some random guy!! Right after he hit send, the sound of a fast approaching car reached their ears. Frank turned around and grinned. Ashton had finallye Forsaken 102 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 of 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¨Cinw 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 was 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 I 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 inviting Ashton toe inside, he turned and called to the team captain, ¡°You,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¨Cwitted, 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 so she could leave. But now that we 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 cooperate. 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 and instructing her to release Briar. Nathan stood protectively behind Briar as they approached Ashton. Following Briar¡¯s lead, 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 face remained all smiles, looking perfectly harmless. 12 80% 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 gaze, 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. Forsaken 103 Chapter 103 Standing nearby, Nathan watched as Briar obediently ced her hand in Ashton¡¯s palm, putting on a delicate expression that clearly said, ¡°I¡¯m so scared, I¡¯m about to die from fear.¡± His face shifted in less than three seconds. He was first amused, then more amused, and finally stunned. Nathan barely managed to conceal his shocked expression. He forced himself to remain out. calm and followed behind the pair as they walked He couldn¡¯t believe he¡¯de running over just because Briar made one phone call. He had left behind a long¨Clegged beauty waiting to be held, just to show up and witness this syrupy, public disy of affection. Briar clearly had someone as powerful as Ashton to rely on, yet she had still dragged him away from his little slice of paradise to clean up this mess. The situation didn¡¯t make sense. Their rtionship had clearly progressed far more than he¡¯d realized. They were even holding hands now. As far as he knew, Ashton was supposed to be a cold, distant man who kept away from women. But from what he was seeing now, things between these two had clearly escted. If the two fiercely protective uncles from the Grant family found out about this development, they might rush to Shoneport to confront Ashton. He considered the possibility of doing them a favor and delivering the news himself. That might stir up a bit of excitement. Suddenly, he felt a sharp gaze fixed on him. Startled, he quickly looked up and met Briar¡¯s eyes. She was watching him with a half¨Csmile that wasn¡¯t really a smile. ¡°Briar, what is it?¡± he stammered. By now, Briar and Ashton had reached the car. Noticing that Nathan hadn¡¯t followed, she turned around and saw the mischievous grin on his face. Narrowing her eyes, she asked, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡°. ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking about anything!¡± Nathan denied hastily. Of course, he couldn¡¯t admit what was on his mind. If he did, his little money¨Cmaking schemes might disappear just like that. Briar lifted her chin, motioning for him to return to his own car. ¡°You head back first. We¡¯ll talk when I get to the office.¡± Nathan gave a bitterugh. ¡°Briar, you use me and then toss me aside. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s a bit heartless?¡± Briar gave him a sweet smile, stepped aside, and offered, ¡°How about I ask Ashton to give you a ride back instead?¡± Nathan immediately slipped into his car, hit the gas, and sped off. Nathan scoffed inwardly, ¡°No thanks!¡± There was no way he¡¯d ept a ride from a man who clearly didn¡¯t like him. He might not make it home in one piece. Watching Nathan flee like a coward, Briar shook her head in exasperation. Then she turned back and called over Frank and the others. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Thanks for sticking with me at the police station today. My treat. Let¡¯s get some street food.¡± Frank and the others hadn¡¯t driven, but Brandon had already arranged to have Frank¡¯s car brought over. Sitting in his car, Frank heard Briar offer to treat them to street food. Instinctively, he looked toward Ashton, Seeing no objection from Ashton, he nodded eagerly. ¡°Sure! We¡¯re all starving. Let¡¯s go!¡± Ellen had been pulled into Ashton¡¯s car by Briar. Ashton even left the spacious backseat for the two girls, while he took the front passenger 1517 Thu, 14 Aug seat Brandon was driving. After confirming where Briar wanted to go for street food, he led the way quietly, with Frank following Behind Back at the police station, Ronan watched the cars leave and finally let out a long breath. He turned to re at Deacon and snapped, ¡°Brate to my office. Now!¡± Deacon¡¯s face fell as he stammered, ¡°Chief Ramos, I can exin this¡­¡± Other officers looked at each other in confusion. One of the female officers, newly appointed and still inexperienced, didn¡¯t understand what had just happened. She turned to her mentor and asked, ¡°Why did we just let her go like that? Briar¡¯s identity is clearly suspicious!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± The training officer quickly pulled her aside. Once they were out of earshot, his expression turned serious. ¡°First, tell me how you figured her identity was suspicious. Who led you to think that way? Do you realize you almost got used as the scapegoat?¡± The rookie officer was momentarily confused, not quite grasping her mentor¡¯s meaning. But soon, her face drained of color and her voice trembled as she stammered, ¡°Are you saying Deacon¡­ he deliberately set me up?¡± The training officer pulled the rookie aside again and said in a low voice, ¡°Some things are better kept to yourself. Don¡¯t say them out loud. Forsaken 104 Chapter 104 After Ashton and the group left the police station in two cars, they drove toward the food street near Shoneport University. The dy at the station meant they hit peak dinner hour, and the streets around the food area were jam¨Cpacked. By the time they finally found parking another half hour had passed. Mason took a deep breath of the lingering aromas in the air. ¡°I¡¯m so hungry I could eat a whole cow.¡± Ted chimed in, ¡°Exactly, I¡¯m starving to de¡­ death!¡± Briar walked over with Ellen and asked, ¡°What do you guys want to eat?¡± As the scion of the Wade family, Frank rarely had the chance to try street food, so he wasn¡¯t in a position to rmend anything. He nced at his two friends. He knew they often sneaked out together for a bite. Frank said. ¡°I haven¡¯t been here much. Ask those two. This area was right next to the university district and Shoneport High School, so the food street was packed with peopleing and going Ashton and Brandon moved closer as well. Ashton subtly shifted his position to shield Briar in front of him. Brandon, knowing that Ashton was known for keeping his distance from women, instinctively stood beside Ellen to block the crowd for her. Ellen noticed and looked up to quietly thank Brandon. Mason stood on tiptoe to look around. ¡°There are a lot of us. How about we get barbecue?¡± Barbecue meant they could at least find a ce to sit. It wasn¡¯t just him and Ted this time, where anything went. With Frank and a high- ranking figure like Ashton here, they couldn¡¯t possibly let Ashton stand by the roadside eating a skewer of grilled squid. He knew if that image was ever caught on camera, his father would punish him the moment he got home. Briar nced at Ashton. Seeing no objection from him, she nodded. ¡°Okay, barbecue it is. We can pick different vors too.¡± So the seven of them squeezed through the crowd, heading toward the barbecue stalls. There were plenty of stalls in the area, most with tents that had air conditioning inside. Though the air was thick with the scent and smoke of grilled food, it was still far better than standing in the sweltering heat outside. They arrived just in time. One group was just leaving a table as they entered. Mason dragged Ted forward, quickly beating out a young couple and iming the table. The stall was busy, and the boss was working nonstop on the grill. No one had time to clean the table, so Mason and Ted took it upon themselves to wipe it down and clean the chairs before calling Ashton and the others over to sit. Ordering was self¨Cservice. Frank volunteered to go and brought the shy Ellen along. She was the youngest of the group, and they let her choose whatever she wanted. Brandon also went to order. He not only knew Ashton¡¯s preferences but also what Briar liked to eat. Altogether, the seven of them ordered over 300 dors worth of skewers, along with ten pounds of crayfish. The stall owner was overjoyed. Though the food street mainly catered to university and high school students, most of whom didn¡¯t spend much, a single group cing such a The boss even waived the change and threw in free beer and soft drinks. At the table, aside from the still¨Cyoung Ellen, the rest were all good¨Clooking young men and women. They immediately drew attention, 1518 Thu 14 Aug (D) h especially Ashton, whose noble air stood out and made many girls nce his way repeatedly. Noticing Ashton¡¯s expression growing colder, Briar couldn¡¯t help butugh ¡°Ashton, sometimes being too good looking is such a female, fort). it?¡± Frank and Brandon exchanged nces, both giving Briar a thumbs up. Daring to say something like that to Ashton¡¯s face took list guts She clearly wasn¡¯t afraid of making him angry. Ashton didn¡¯t get angry. He simply cast a faint nce at Briar, who was smiling brightly. AD Forsaken 105 Chapter 105 Briar felt a bit guilty under Ashton¡¯s meaningful gaze. ¡°Ahem, I was just saying it casually.¡± Ashton withdrew his gaze, suppressing a smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine. After all, not many dare to say that in front of me.¡± Briar fell silent. Ellen, who had been feeling remorseful ever since they left the police station, finally broke intoughter at seeing her usually Briar suddenly flustered. With Ellenughing out loud, the rest of the group at the table also burst intoughter. Even Brandon smiled in amusement. Briar truly was bold. But when she got sheepish, she looked unexpectedly adorable. The atmosphere at the table immediately became lively. Just then, the dishes started arriving. Everyone picked up their drinks and began to dig in. Briar also reached out, intending to grab a beer. But just before her hand touched the bottle, it was intercepted midway. Turning her head, she heard Ashton speak with deliberate seriousness. ¡°Kids don¡¯t drink.¡± Briar replied, ¡°I¡¯m an adult now. My ID says I¡¯m 18.¡± But Ashton still didn¡¯t give it to her. He passed the beer to Frank and the others instead, then popped open a can of c for her with one hand. ¡°Still no.¡± Briar grumbled as she took the Coke and clinked cans with Ellen, who had also been given one. Ellen could barely contain herughter. In her eyes, Briar was always cool, eloquent, strong, and made people feel safe. Nobody thought that, in private, her personality was actually this endearing. Ashton preferred lighter vors and, since this was his first time eating at a street barbecue, he didn¡¯t eat much. Most of the time, he wore disposable gloves and peeled crayfish for Briar. Briar hardly touched the crayfish shells herself. Ashton had peeled every piece of shrimp meat she ate. This scene not only left Frank and the others stunned, but it also caught the attention of nearby tables, especially the girls, who watched with envy and jealousy. They nced from Ashton to their boyfriends and couldn¡¯t help butpare. The contrast was frustrating. At first, Briar didn¡¯t notice the strange nces. Her attention was fully on the skewers and ready¨Cto¨Ceat shrimp. But once she realized people were sneaking peeks at their table, especially at her, she finally caught on. She leaned toward Ashton, who was still peeling shrimp, and whispered, ¡°Mr. Wade, what¡¯s going on? Why do they all seem to be looking at me?¡± Ashton had already noticed earlier. But since the feeling was new to him, he hadn¡¯t done anything to stop it. Now that he saw Briar was ufortable, his expression turned sharp as he scanned the surroundings. Those peeking at their table quickly looked away under his icy stare. ¨C 1518 Th? 14 Ang n He said, ¡°Ignore them. Just eat.¡± Briar nodded and didn¡¯t press further. She lowered her head and continued eating Frank was speechless. He wanted to capture Ashton desperately trying to impress Briar and post it in the fantily group chat. This level of devotion was almod ever the¨Ctop. He¡¯d only ever seen between married couples like their parents or uncles and aunts. But Ashton wasn¡¯t even officially dating Briat yet. ¡®Isn¡¯t he moving a bit too fast?¡® Brandon mused. Then again, considering that Ashton had never dated before, the only rtionship knowledge he had probably came from observing the older generation during family gatherings¡­ Frank thought he should quietly ask Brandon to find Ashton a love coach. After finishing their barbecue feast, everyone left with full bellies and a lingering smell of grilled food clinging to them, each returning to their own homes. Briar and Ellen still rode back in Ashton¡¯s car. Briar first dropped Ellen off, then leisurely strolled home. At her doorstep, she found Ashton still standing there, as if deliberately waiting for her. He stood with Brandon beside the car, one hand holding a cigarette and the other in his pocket. Bathed in moonlight and streemp glow, he exuded an indescribable allure as smoke curled upward. When Briar said Ashton was beautiful, she hadn¡¯t been joking. From the moment she first saw him, he had left an indelible impression on her heart. The more she got to know him, the more perfect he seemed. Alexia once said, ¡°When you look at a man and can only see his strengths, that means your heart has been moved. And being moved is the beginning of love.¡± Briar tightened the fingers she had buried in her pockets. She could admire him, but falling in love was off¨Climits. Ashton noticed her lingering gaze and looked over. Naturally, he put out his cigarette, and Brandon followed suit, flicking his own away. When she walked up, Briar was the first to speak. ¡°Ashton, did you have something to say to me?¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°Want toe in and sit for a while?¡± Briar had no objections. She turned and followed him into the courtyard. Brandon didn¡¯t follow, staying in the car, which made it clear Ashton wasn¡¯t nning to spend the night here. After a moment¡¯s thought, Briar asked, ¡°Ashton, how have you been sleeping these days?¡± Ashton led her to the sofa area in the living room. ¡°Not bad.¡± That clearly meant he still couldn¡¯t sleep. Forsaken 106 Chapter 106 After sitting down, Ashton casually took out a few snack jars from under the coffee table and ced them beside Briar. He gestured for her to eat, then got straight to the point. ¡°What do you think about the police station trying to detain you earlier?¡± These snacks had been prepared by Ashton specifically for Briar. Upon hearing the question, Briar¡¯s expression showed understanding. She had expected that someone as sharp as Ashton wouldn¡¯t miss the hidden implications behind the incident. But now she was just an ordinary college student, only eighteen years old. There wasn¡¯t much she could say. Briar shrugged with a nonchnt and honest tone. ¡°Not much to think about. It¡¯s obvious someone¡¯s secretly trying to mess with me.¡± She had already mentally prepared for sabotage or even assassination after returning to the country. What she didn¡¯t expect was that a small local police station would also have spies from those people. It became clear she hadn¡¯t fully grasped the depth and reach of her enemies¡® influence and methods. However, she couldn¡¯t fully exin all this to Ashton yet. If he learned her true purpose for returning, he would likely dig deep into everything she had done in Qathana. Ashton nced at Briar¡¯s seemingly indifferent face, and a hint of pity shed in his eyes. No matter how clever she was, she was still just a newly minted adult. Her way of thinking was too simple. He reached out and gently rubbed her head, feeling the soft fluff under his palm. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as I¡¯m around, I won¡¯t let anyone hurt you.¡± Warmth suddenly spread through Briar¡¯s chest. She nuzzled into his palm slightly. ¡°Thank you, Ashton. You¡¯re really good to me.¡± Briar meant every word. Since returning to Shoneport, the first person to show her kindness was Ashton. Ashton didn¡¯t respond, but his expression softenedpletely. Since Briar didn¡¯t seem to want to overthink things, Ashton wouldn¡¯t deliberately push her. It was a good thing she could stay pure and cheerful. Not everyone wanted to dig into the darkness, even when they were surrounded by it. Half an hourter, Briar returned home. Once she entered her bedroom, she grabbed her pajamas and went straight to the bathroom. Sitting by the bathtub while the water filled, she tapped away at herptop. The screen only showed a simple chat window. Briar: [They made a move.] Larry: [Are you okay?] Briar: [I¡¯m fine. But still no leads on those people.] Larry: [No rush. We¡¯ve waited so many years already. A few more days won¡¯t matter. Your safety is the most important.] Briar: [I know. I¡¯ll be careful. You all need to be careful too.) Briar: [Don¡¯t worry.) The exchange was short. The other party quickly went offline, but Briar stared at the silent chat box for a long time, lost in thought, Only when the tub was nearly full did she snap back to reality. A sigh echoed in the bathroom. With a nk expression, Briar quickly deleted the chat log and cloaked the signal, then shut theptop. She lowered herself into the warm water, letting it envelop herpletely, as if the heat could warm her cold heart. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, in Qathana, at the Grant family home. In the study, Larry Grant closed hisptop and could no longer hide the sorrow in his eyes. He took off his sses and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. ¡°Ruben, those people made a move against Briar.¡± ¡°It was expected.¡± A tall man slowly walked out from the shadows of the couch and approached the desk. He patted Larry¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Briar didn¡¯t flinch even when she returned alone. We are her only family left in this world. We have to be even more cautious.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Larry sighed. ¡°I just feel sorry for the child. She¡¯s only eighteen. This should be the most carefree time of her life.¡± Ruben Grant sighed deeply too. ¡°Of course I feel sorry for her. But our family is under constant watch. If we make a move, those people will be alerted. We can only let Briar suffer some grievances for now.¡± Larry nodded. ¡°I understand. Putting her in the open makes those people hesitate. They wouldn¡¯t dare make a tant move on her. In a way, it protects her.¡± Ruben said, ¡°Good. Don¡¯t contact her too often. We can¡¯t afford to have ourmunication line exposed.¡± Larry replied, ¡°Got it.¡± Because of everything that had happened during the day, Briar tossed and turned in bed all night. She only managed to fall asleep around dawn. But at exactly six o¡¯clock, her internal clock woke her as usual. She didn¡¯t n on exercising today and just stayed curled up in bed with her eyes closed, rolling aroundzily. It wasn¡¯t until 7:30 that the doorbell rang and forced her up. She didn¡¯t need to guess who it was. Her friendly neighbor hade to invite her to breakfast. She opened the window and looked out. Sure enough, there stood Ashton in a casual outfit. When he heard the sound of the second¨Cfloor window opening, he looked up. Their eyes met midair, and they both saw the dark circles under the other¡¯s eyes. Ashton frowned slightly and raised his voice. ¡°Didn¡¯t sleep wellst night?¡± Briar leaned against the window, her voicezy and soft from fatigue. ¡°Yeah, didn¡¯t fall asleep until four or five.¡± Ashton¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Want to sleep a bit more? Ore down and eat something first, then go back to sleep?¡± It was Saturday, and Briar had no sses, so there was no rush to go to school. Briar shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t fall back asleep now. I¡¯ll eat first.¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± After she closed the window, Ashton turned away. Brandon, who was practicing boxing in the courtyard, had overheard their conversation. ¡°Mr. Wade, was Miss Jennings frightened by what 2/3 1318 Tnu 14 Aug happened yesterday?¡± They were used to seeing dark and shady things. But Briar wasn¡¯t. She was just a regr young woman. Encountering something like that might naturally make her feel scared. Ashton¡¯s eyes were pitch¨Cck and cold. ¡°Our people haven¡¯t found anything yet?¡± Brandon stopped training and walked over, shaking his head. ¡°When we went back to the station, that officer named Deacon Ramos was already gone. We tracked him to his home, but it waspletely empty.¡± Ashton had been busy with work all night and only fell asleep around five in the morning. Brandon had chosen not to report this headache of a situation to him until now. As expected, Ashton¡¯s expression darkened even more upon hearing it. His voice turned icy. ¡°Keep looking. I want him alive or dead.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Brandon grew serious. They had seen this kind of thing plenty of times before. Deacon had probably been used as a disposable pawn, then eliminated afterward. His family was probably gone too. It would be difficult to find him alive, but finding a corpse would be easier. After all, dead men wouldn¡¯t run. Forsaken 107 Chapter 107 Hearing footsteps approaching, Brandon immediately fell silent and looked toward the courtyard. Briar, dressed in a tracksuit, was walking toward them. Ashton turned around and checked the time on his watch. It had been ten minutes Facing Briar, he smiled and said, ¡°Looks like you¡¯re hungry.¡± She used ten minutes to get dressed and wash up. By any standard, that was impressively fast for a girl. Briar smiled. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m hungry.¡± Briar didn¡¯t usually wear makeup, but she would at least take care of her skincare routine. However, today she hade out without applying anything after washing her face. She nned to head back to bed after breakfast anyway. Ashton and Briar went inside to eat breakfast, while Brandon stayed outside practicing his martial arts and going over the tasks Ashton had assigned him. After finishing thest spoonful of scrambled egg, Ashton handed her a napkin and asked, ¡°It¡¯s your day off. Got any ns?¡± Briar took the napkin and met his gaze. ¡°Unless you need my help with something, I n to sleep all day.¡± They were both sleep¨Cdeprived, and now that they were neighbors, Briar didn¡¯t mind earning some money while she was at it. Catching her implied suggestion, Ashton¡¯s expression softened. He immediately offered a way out, without hesitation. ¡°I have a meeting at thepany this morning. I can clear two hours at noon. Briar, want toe to mypany and hang out?¡± Briar looked up just as a beam of sunlight fell across her pale and beautiful face. Her smile took on a soft, mysterious charm. ¡°Sure! If you¡¯re not worried that my gaming will distract you from your work, I¡¯ll go get changed right now.¡± She was about to stand up. Ashton reached out at the right moment and grabbed her wrist. His fingers brushed against the warmth and softness of her skin, pleasant and delicate. He controlled the pressure, resisting the urge to caress or squeeze. ¡°No need to change. You look great just like this.¡± Briar looked down. She was wearing a basic tracksuit, the kind she usually wore lounging at home. Then she looked at Ashton, who was dressed in an impably tailored handmade suit. She raised an eyebrow. ¡°Not afraid I¡¯ll embarrass you?¡± Ashton raised his brow too, his expression carrying a hint of roguish charm. ¡°Of course not. Let¡¯s go. I stocked your favorite snacks in the car.¡± Just like that, Ashton somehow managed to bring Briar with him to the office. The Wade Group headquarters was located in the prime area of Shoneport, consisting of three office towers, each over 50 stories tall. Ashton¡¯s office was on the 88th floor of the tallest building among them. Their car entered the underground garage. Taking the executive elevator reserved for the CEO, they ascended straight to the 88th floor. Briar followed beside Ashton the entire time. She didn¡¯t encounter a single Wade Group employee on their way up. Ashton had told her not to worry, and now she understood why. She wouldn¡¯t run into anyone at all. Ashton¡¯s current secretary was Jalen from the third branch of the Wade family. He and Ashton were both 26 years old, but since his birthday came a monthter, he was ranked fifth in the family, just below Ashton. As Ashton¡¯s personal secretary, Jalen always arrived at the office half an hour earlier than his boss. When he saw the CEO¡¯s private elevator open, he didn¡¯t think much and stepped forward. ¡°Mr. Wade, the international meeting today¡­¡± 15:18 Thu, 14 Aug ( W But then he saw the beautiful young woman following behind Ashton and froze mid¨Csentence. He wondered if she was the doctor who was going to treat Griffin. Then he noticed how closely she was standing next to Ashton and narrowed his eyes slightly, giving a subtle smile as he closed his file and said nothing more. That settled it. If Ashton was bringing her to thepany, then Griffin¡¯s wish was probably about toe true. Their always elegant, aloof, and woman¨Caverse prince was about to be happily settled down. ¡°Jalen, I just sent you a snack list by email. Have someone buy everything on it as soon as possible,¡± Ashton said calmly, as if he hadn¡¯t noticed the amused look in Jalen¡¯s eyes. Jalen nearly screamed internally. ¡®Holy hell! They¡¯re not even together yet, and he¡¯s already spoiling her like this?¡® He thought, ¡®Ashton, have you forgotten that in your office, not only are snacks banned, but even strongly¨Cscented drinks aren¡¯t allowed? What about your principles? Your boundaries?¡® Despite all the silent ranting, Jalen remained the professional secretary. He maintained a serious expression, nodding while leading the two toward the CEO¡¯s office. ¡°Understood, Mr. Wade.¡± In thepany, no matter one¡¯s rtionship with Ashton, everyone addressed him strictly by title. Once inside Wade Group HQ, Jalen was responsible for Ashton¡¯s security. That was why Brandon didn¡¯t follow them upstairs. Naturally, tasking someone to buy snacks fell to Jalen. Ashton¡¯s office reflected a sense of restrained luxury and minimalist style. There were no unnecessary decorations, no shy ornaments. It was clear evidence of Ashton¡¯s work ethic and efficiency. ¡°Make yourself at home. You can touch anything in this office,¡± Ashton said as he led her inside. He even unlocked theputer on his desk right in front of her, showing no intention of hiding anything. Of course, Briar had no interest in hisputer password. She casually wandered around the office, then settled in on the sofa with a magazine on human geography. As the head of a top 100 global corporation, Ashton had plenty of work. From the moment he sat down and opened hisputer, he was buried in nonstop tasks. Watching him made Briar¡¯s scalp tingle. She was grateful she had tricked Nathan into taking over the Jennings Group after she got it back. Otherwise, she¡¯d be stuck like this every day, chained to a desk with an endless stream of work. She liked money, but she didn¡¯t like endless work. Jalen was very efficient. In less than half an hour, he had bought everything on the snack list Ashton sent him. When he walked in carrying. the bags of snacks, his expression was ratherplicated. From what he knew, many of the snacks on the list were considered junk food in the Wade family household. They were strictly off¨Climits to children. If they wanted to eat them, they had to sneak out and buy them in secret. Ashton was known to be extremely disciplined. Jalen was certain that most of these snacks were things Ashton had never even tasted. They were never allowed near his office. But now, not only had hepiled a list, he even had someone go buy them specifically. If Briar acted any more childlike, Jalen figured the CEO¡¯s office might as well be outfitted with a game console. 1518 THU 17 Aug As Jalen stepped in, still stunned by how over¨Cthe¨Ctop this pampering was, he suddenly heard the loud and thrilling sound of a gunlight video game. And the always strict, meticulous Ashton hadn¡¯t stopped it. He had even handed over his secondptop. Forsaken 108 Chapter 108 Jalen waspletely stunned on the spot. in thepany, Ashton typically used twoputers for work. One was for regr tasks and records, and theptop was his private enricputer. That privateptop was something no one else ever touched. Even Jaten, who routinely came in to tidy up the president¡¯s office, had only seen it a handful of times. The rest of the time, it was securely locked in the desk drawer. This alone showed how important thatptop was to Ashton. Many of thepany¡¯s confidential documents were stored on it. But now, Briar was using it to y video games. Jalen was utterly shocked. Still, he was a professional secretary. No matter how astonishing or unbelievable the situation, he had to maintain a calm andposed demeanor. He took a deep breath and walked over to Briar with a practiced smile as he said, ¡°Miss Jennings, here are the snacks prepared for you Please enjoy.¡± In the brief seconds from when Jalen entered to when he reached Briar, she had already elegantly and quickly defeated her opponents in the game and won the match with her teammates. ¡°Thanks!¡± Briar looked up from the game and returned a polite smile. Jalen was momentarily dazed by her bare, makeup¨Cfree face. She looked stunning up close. He understood now why Ashton would be so smitten. Those soft, slightly damp eyes held a kind of innocent allure that could make anyone¡¯s heart flutter. Earlier, in the elevator, he hadn¡¯t gotten a clear look. Briar had been half¨Chidden behind Ashton, and Ashton¡¯s overpowering aura had made it impossible to stare openly. But now, standing face¨Cto¨Cface, Jalen could finally take the full picture. He thought about Ashton. For someone strong, aloof, andmanding, there was no chance Ashton would choose a life partner solely based on background orpetence. In fact, few in the country could match his capabilities. Strategically, women of equal power made better allies than spouses. As a wife, it made more sense to find someone whose personalityplemented his, rather than duplicated it. That would make for the most bnced partnership. Jalen thought of his own parents. His father had a soft personality, often swayed by others and rarely questioning why something should or shouldn¡¯t be done. Luckily, Jalen had older siblings for strategy and Ashton for execution, so failure wasn¡¯t something their father ever experienced. This exined why his grandfather had picked a strong¨Cwilled, domineering woman, his beloved mother, to be the one in charge both at home and in the boardroom. His father wouldn¡¯t even dare to object to anything. They had been married for twenty¨Cseven years and had never fought or raised voices at each other. 1518 Th?, 14 Aug (6) This upbringing made Jalen naturally warm and friendly toward someone as gentle and sweet as Briar. He was practically grinning from ext to ear. ¡°Jalen.¡± Just then, while still smiling brightly, Jalen heard Ashton¡¯s low voice behind him. He instantly straightened up, turned around, and with his standard eight¨Ctooth smile, replied, ¡°Mr. Wade, I¡¯m here. Do you need anything? Ashton¡¯s gaze scanned him like a thermal mera. ¡°You seem very idle?¡± ¡°No! I¡¯m extremely busy.¡± Jalen felt a rush of guilt. He couldn¡¯t believe that Ashton was so protective of Briar. Ashton wouldn¡¯t even allow anyone to look at her. Ashton didn¡¯t care what Jalen was thinking. ¡°Reschedule today¡¯s agenda. Push all external meetings and social engagements to tomorrow or the day after. Then send me the updated n.¡± Jalen said, ¡°Yes, Mr. Wade. Give me ten minutes, I¡¯ll take care of it right away.¡± That meant they wouldn¡¯t be leaving the office today, so lunch would have to be arranged ordingly. He would need to cancel all those engagements and book lunch in advance based on Briar¡¯s preferences, making sure it arrived before the lunch break ended. He thought, ¡®Maybe I should order a bouquet too. Some daisies, orange roses, pink lilies, tulips, and lcs would nicely express Boss¡¯s current feelings. It is affectionate but still subtle, romantic yet not overstepping.¡® Jalen thought he really was the perfect secretary for a billion¨Cdor CEO. His thoughtfulness and support made him indispensable. Briar had just finished her game. She exited the match and looked over at Ashton, who had returned to his seat behind his desk. ¡°Mr. Wade, your secretary is quite fun.¡± Ashton remained nomittal. ¡°He¡¯spetent, just too talkative and nosy. Often runs wild when left alone.¡± He¡¯d never understand how his aunt and uncle raised such a free spirit. Good thing they worked within the family business. Otherwise, with his attitude, Jalen¡¯d earn only a year¨Cend bonus at best. His regr sry was probably docked. Briarughed. ¡°Seems like there aren¡¯t many calm and quiet personalities among the younger Wades.¡± Through her acupuncture sessions with Griffin, she discovered the rivalry and power struggles between the first and second branches of the family. Ashton gave a half¨Csmile. ¡°In a big family with lots of assets, there¡¯s always drama. I¡¯ll exin it all to you someday when there¡¯s time.¡± Briar raised her brows. She didn¡¯t feel it was necessary to know all that. But Ashton had already turned his attention back to hisputer. Jalen had just sent over the revised schedule. Thanks to Jalen¡¯s chatty nature, it took less than an hour after Briar arrived at the president¡¯s office before the entire Wade family¡¯s group chat exploded with gossip. [Jalen, be a dear and quickly send us a photo of Miss Jennings. We want to see what she looks like.] This was from an overly excited aunt. [Hey, Jalen, while Ashton¡¯s busy working and not looking at his phone, give us the scoop. Why did he suddenly bring his future wife to the 15 18 THUY AUDIO) office? This is big news!) This was from Frank, who loved drama. Frank had been secretly shipping this couple alone for a while. Now he figured it was time to get the whole family involved It was the best way to show the family how stunning and aplished the woman that Ashton was dating truly was. Traditional medicine and technique had be a hot topic among the elite. Rich people didn¡¯t need more money. They cared most about health. Briar had cured a condition in Griffin Wade that even the country¡¯s top military doctors couldn¡¯t handle. Her reputation had quietly spread throughout high society. No one had approached her yet for two reasons. Firstly, there was Ashton¡¯s intimidating presence, and secondly, there was ack of new incurable illness in those circles. No one wanted to be the guinea pig. Jalen: [Hell no! Do you all want Ashton to kill me? He¡¯s obsessed with her. No chance I¡¯m sneaking photos.] Jalen: [But if you give me some big tips, maybe I might risk my death warrant.] That was from the ever¨Ccapable, slightly unhinged secretary, Jalen. Forsaken 109 Chapter 109 Briar was sprawled out on the couch, legs folded up,ptop perched on herp in a totallyzy posture. She started up another game, and this time, her teammates were from Qathana. Since it was a cross¨Cserver match, she needed zing¨Cfast inte just to keep up. Not wanting anyg to mess up her gamey, Briar shot a quick nce at Ashton, who was still buried in his work, then quietly installed a program. She set up her own custom firewall on the internalwork, just to make sure everything ran smoothly. Soon enough, the game kicked off, and the office filled with the sounds of intense gunfire. Briar¡¯s moves were smooth and decisive, and the match dragged on for nearly half an hour before they finally won. Their team had barely taken any damage, cruising to victory with ease. Briar was so wrapped up in the game that she didn¡¯t even notice Ashton ncing over at her a few times. It wasn¡¯t until the game ended and the victory music yed that Ashton spoke up. ¡°Briar, your ice cream¡¯s melting.¡± Briar looked over at the coffee table where she¡¯d left her big tub of ice cream. The edges were already starting to melt from the air. She quickly set herptop aside and grabbed the ice cream. ¡°Oh, I forgot. I¡¯ll finish it right away.¡± Ashton watched her with a smile, his eyes drifting over her casually crossed legs. ¡°Don¡¯t eat it all at once¨Cit¡¯s too cold.¡± Briar nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll just eat the melted part first.¡± Briar was just brushing him off. She was addicted to cold treats¨Cmaybe it was all the stuff she¡¯d been through over the years that made her temper so short. The more annoyed she felt, the more she wanted something icy to chill herself out. But ever since she¡¯de back to Dasmieca, she¡¯d been keeping her temper on a tight leash, especially around Ashton. She made a real effort to act like a totally normal person in front of him. Ashton went back to his work, and Briar took the chance to finish off the whole tub of ice cream in record time. By the time Ashton noticed, Briar had already wiped her mouth, and the empty ice cream tub and tissues had been tossed straight into the trash. Ashton felt speechless. The whole thing was so childish that Ashton couldn¡¯t hold back a chuckle. ¡®She really is just a kid sometimes,¡® he thought: Briar pretended not to notice the amusement in Ashton¡¯s eyes and nonchntly picked up herptop again, ready to dive into another battle. But as her eyesnded on the screen, she saw that the firewall she¡¯d just set up was fending off a barrage of five back¨Cto¨Cback virus attacks. Briar¡¯s gaze instantly turned cold, a vein pulsing at her temple. ¡®Someone¡¯s actually trying to hack into the Wade Group¡¯s headquarters¡® internalwork? she thought. The firewall she¡¯d just put in ce wasn¡¯t her signature All Purpose Wall just a quick patch. These viruses wereing in strong, and if she didn¡¯t step in fast, it was only a matter of time before they broke into the Wade Gouss internalwork. She thought, ¡®Should I help out? ¡®Normally, I charge a fortune just to show up. But Ashton¡¯s been good to me, and we¡¯re friends, it¡¯d be kinda cold to just ignore it, right? ¡®Fine, I¡¯ll just y the unsung hero for once.¡® She shot a quick nce at Ashton, saw that he was fully absorbed in his work again, then dropped her gaze and let her fingers fly across the keyboard. Just then, Jalen practically burst through the office door, breathless. ¡°Mr. Wade, ourpany¡¯swork is under a malicious attack¡­ He broke off mid¨Csentence as he suddenly realized there was someone else in the office. Briar didn¡¯t even bat an eye, acting like she hadn¡¯t heard Jalen¡¯s frantic outburst at all. Ashton waved his hand, signaling for Jalen to continue. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Briar¡¯s one of us.¡± He¡¯d even trusted Briar with his personalptop. Since he was okay with that, nothing else would bother him. Jalen nodded and went on, ¡°Here¡¯s the situation. The security team just reported that two minutes ago, our internalwork was hit by an unknown virus. ¡°The attack is aimed at thetest robotics technology in our R&D department, and the finance department has also been partially affected. I¡¯ve already notified Xavion.¡± Xavion was the head ofwork security for the Wade Group, but he was usually stationed over in Spoivania. Whenever things got urgent, Ashton always had to step in personally. Ashton nodded, already pulling up the system backend while Jalen was still talking. As he watched lines of code race across the screen, his brow tightened. ¡°Xavion¡¯s all the way in Spoivania. By the time he even tracks down -the virus, it¡¯ll be toote.¡± Ashton could already tell that this was no ordinary hacker job. Jalen looked worried. ¡°So what do we do? The security team says this virus is really powerful¨Cour firewall¡¯s already halfway down.¡± The Wade Group¡¯swork security was the best in Dasmieca. They even had a dedicated subsidiary for cybersecurity, and many major and minorpanies throughout Dasmieca relied on them to protect theirworks. If the Wade Group¡¯s headquarters got breached by some unknown virus and the news got out, it wouldn¡¯t just cause a security incident at the headquarters. It could also jeopardize the operations and trust of their other branches. Jalen couldn¡¯t believe someone would actually dare to target the Wade Group¡¯s headquarters. Whoever was behind this had some serious 15:78 Inu, 14 Aug guts. Ashton didn¡¯t say a word. His fingers were already flying across the keyboard. For a moment, the only sounds in the office were the sharp, rapid¨Cfire tapping from his side and the crisp, rhythmic clicks from Briar The speed of their keystrokes matched almost perfectly. If Jalen had turned to nce at Briar just then, he would have noticed that the direction her fingers moved across the keyboard was astonishingly in sync with Ashton¡¯s. Ten quiet minutes ticked by, the only sound in the room the furious tapping of keys, until Ashton finally hit Enter onest time. He looked up at Jalen. ¡°It¡¯s been blocked. Notify the security and R&D teams to have a meeting in the main conference room in ten minutes. Jalen let out a breath he didn¡¯t know he¡¯d been holding. ¡°Understood, Mr. Wade.¡± Once Jalen had left, Ashton nced over at Briar, who was still tapping away at her keyboard, looking as cool and collected as ever. He asked, ¡°Briar, your connection didn¡¯tg just now, did it?¡± Briar paused, shook her head, and answered with a straight face, ¡°No idea, I was just chatting with a friend.¡± If anyone had been paying close attention, they could¡¯ve picked up on what she was really doing. Ashton was sharp. He¡¯d most likely already suspected something. But as long as Briar didn¡¯t admit it, there wasn¡¯t much he could do about her. After all, she¡¯d just saved Ashton a ton of trouble for free. If anything, he owed her one. Ashton¡¯s refined features gave nothing away¨Cwhether he believed her or not, his face stayed perfectlyposed. He nodded with his usual calm, not pushing the topic any further. ¡°I¡¯ve got a meeting to attend. If you get bored, feel free to explore the office. Here¡¯s your ess card.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Briar took the card from him and watched as his tall,manding figure strode away. 1 Forsaken 110 Chapter 110 Alone in the office, Briar nced at the closed door, then at Ashton¡¯s desk. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she slowly got up and walked over, Settling into his chair, she ced her hand on Ashton¡¯s keyboard and took a deep breath. Ashton¡¯s quick response to the earlier incident made it clear he was a trueputer expert. Anyone that skilled would be extremely alert to any changes on their ownputer. If someone touched hisputer, he would notice. No matter how carefully they tried to cover their tracks. It was an instinctive sense, and what she was doing now was definitely a huge risk. If Ashton noticed anything strange, she¡¯d be the first person he¡¯d suspect. After all, she was the only one who had ess to hisputer during this time. He¡¯d even entered his password right in front of her. But she had to act fast before Ashton realized what was going on. She needed to erase any traces she¡¯d left on theputer. Theptop on the couch was Ashton¡¯s personal device, and it was synced with the desktop. Even if she deleted all her browsing and usage history from theptop, it would still be essible on thisputer. A minuteter, Briar settled back onto the couch. Everything on the desk looked exactly as it had when Ashton left¨Clike nothing had ever been touched. She tore open a bag of chips, crunching away at them, lookingpletely at ease as she went back to her game as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, in therge conference room, the atmosphere was anything but calm. Ashton had just dropped a bombshell on everyone. ¡°Mr. Wade, are you serious? A legendary hacker actually helped us block that virus attack?¡± one of the executives asked. ¡°Who was it? We¡¯ve got some elite hackers here, and none of us could crack it. How could someone else be that good?¡± another added. It made sense that they were so stunned. The Wade Group was packed with talent. They might not be the best in all of Dasmieca, but they definitely had the most top experts. For someone to act even faster than these people was almost unthinkable. The fact that the Wade Group had suffered a cyberattack from an unknown hacker was simply inconceivable. The people responsible for theirwork security were among the top hackers in all of Dasmieca. For someone to breach their defenses right in front of these experts, it was no wonder that Ashton was so angry. Thepany had so many elite hackers on the payroll, yet before they could evene up with a solution, an outsider had already stepped in and wiped out the virus, This wasn¡¯t helping. It was a p in the face Everyone¡¯s expressions wereplicated. This incident had hurt their self¨Cesteem. Meanwhile, Briar had no clue about the tense atmosphere in the conference room. Chapter 110. She was curled up in the office, ying games and chatting with Alexia, who had just returned to Qathana. When Alexia heard that Briar had actually brought out her ¡°retired¡± identity as the legendary international hacker Bree, Alexa nearby he out. Alexia¡¯s voice was full of panic. ¡°What did you just say? You actually got involved? You need to be carefull ¡°Do you have any idea how much info about Bree could go for in Dasmieca?¡± Alexia waspletely stunned by Briar¡¯s crazy stunt. She thought, ¡®Wasn¡¯t she supposed to be retired? ¡®She just jumped in like that? Not even a hint or a warning? ¡®If someone locked onto her unique signal, she¡¯d have the whole city after her.¡® Being a hacker in their world was just like being a mercenary¨Cliving on the edge, with their neck always on the line, never knowing when it might all go south. That was exactly why she and Alex never dared to take a direct flight from Dasmieca to Qathana. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know what I¡¯m doing,¡± Briar said, though she wasn¡¯t as confident as she sounded. Alexia snorted. ¡°You¡¯d better. You¡¯re all alone in Dasmieca. If something happens, we¡¯re too far away to help you.¡± Briar knew she was risking exposing herself, so she didn¡¯t argue with Alexia any further. ¡°I know.¡± Alexia nagged, ¡°Sweetie, you need to remember that there¡¯s a 24 million dor bounty on your head as Bree right now internationally. It¡¯s twenty¨Cfour million, Briar!¡± Briar was at a loss for words. Alexia kept going. ¡°Do you even have that much cash in Dasmieca right now?¡± Briar remained silent. Briar clutched her chest dramatically, feeling the sting from Alexia¡¯s words. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll keep my cover safe. Stop nagging already.¡± Alexia finally let up and switched topics. ¡°By the way, your neighbor is so ridiculously handsome it should be illegal. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯d even go weak when seeing him. But seriously, be careful. That guy is not someone we can just mess with.¡± Briar arched an eyebrow. ¡°I know, I¡¯ll be careful.¡± Two hourster, Ashton came back from the meeting. The moment he walked in, he saw Briar sprawled on the couch, watching a horror movie. Theputer was sting with blood¨Ccurdling screams. ¡°You beast, prepare to die!¡± Ashton felt speechless. Briar heard the door and quickly turned down the volume. ¡°Ashton, you¡¯re back!¡± Ashton strolled in, looking unfazed. ¡°Got bored waiting?¡± ¡®So bored you¡¯re watching horror flicks in the office? That¡¯s one quirky way to pass the time, Ashton thought. Briar shrugged, ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Ashton suddenly asked, ¡°Two hours ago, ourpany got hit by a cyberattack. ¡°But before I could even do anything, someone else had already beefed up our security. Briar, want to know who it was?¡± Briar lounged on the couch, tilting her head as she met Ashton¡¯s eyes, a hint of curiosity in herzy voice. ¡°Who was it?¡± ¡°The legendary international hacker Bree,¡± Ashton replied, his tone so casual and unthreatening, it almost made her forget to be on guard. Briar blinked. ¡°Bree? Never heard of them. Are they famous or something?¡± Ashton leaned down and picked up theptop from Briar¡¯sp. ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re pretty famous. And worth a fortune. ¡°If I spread the word that Bree is in Dasmieca, l¡¯could pocket 24 million dors in just half an hour.¡± Briar caught a whiff of the faint, warm scent of ebony from Ashton. It was unique andforting, just like his voice, which waspletely non¨Cthreatening. But when he mentioned ¡°24 million dors,¡± her heart still skipped a beat. If she hadn¡¯t already checked Ashton¡¯s office for bugs, she¡¯d almost think this guy had somehow overheard her conversation with Alexia. ¡°So, are you really going to sell that info?¡± Briar asked. ¡°Depends,¡± Ashton replied, setting theptop on the coffee table and casually pulling Briar up. He added, ¡°It¡¯s about time for lunch. Come on, let¡¯s eat. When we get back, you can get some rest.¡± Ashton hadn¡¯t forgotten that Briar hadn¡¯t slept well the night before. Briar just went along as Ashton took her hand and led her out of the office. ¡°So, where are we eating? Are we going to the cafeteria?¡± ¡°No, I have my own dining room. It¡¯s right next door,¡± Ashton said. Forsaken 111 Chapter 111 The lunch was a real feast, packed with all of Briar¡¯s favorite dishes. The spicy and numbing cuisine was her absolute dream food, Briar had two tes of food just to show how much she loved it. Full and satisfied, Briar trailed after Ashton back to his office, and then followed him straight into his private break room. The lounge was huge, made up of two rooms, each with a big bed. The furnishings were super simple¡ªjust a cozy little sofa and a wardrobe. Once the door was closed, it would be a closed private world. No one could bother them. ¡°You can sleep in the inner room. No one¡¯s ever stayed there, and the bedding is all new,¡± Ashton said, gesturing toward the room. Briar nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± But instead of going over right away, she turned and asked, ¡°How about I tuck you in first?¡± Ashton¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Then he walked over to the window and pulled the curtains shut. The room instantly dimmed, and the sensor¨Cactivated warm light by the bed came on automatically, making the whole ce feel cozy and perfect for sleep. Briar could tell that Ashton went out of his way to create a good sleeping environment, but it didn¡¯t really do the trick. Ashton grabbed his pajamas from the wardrobe and headed to the bathroom to change. When he came back out, Briar was already settled on the sofa. Ashton walked over to the bed, lifted the covers, andy down as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He pulled the nket over himself, folded his hands over his chest, and closed his eyes. Briar kept watching him until he closed his eyes, ready to sleep. Only then did she pick up a stock market magazine from beside the sofa, lower her head, and start flipping through it. The first three times she¡¯d coaxed Ashton to sleep, Briar had always sat right next to him. The two of them were so close that Ashton would drift off in no time. But this time, there was only a single sofa and a king¨Csized bed in the room. Their rtionship wasn¡¯t quite at the point where Briar could just casually sit on his bed, so she chose the sofa instead. Now, with some distance between them, Briar wondered if her way of coaxing Ashton to sleep would still work. But as it turned out, it still did the trick. It seemed that as long as Briar was with him, regardless of the distance between them, Ashton would be out like a light in no time. Briar was at a loss for words. ¡®Seriously, he¡¯s out like a light again?¡® she wondered. If Briar weren¡¯t a doctor and didn¡¯t know Ashton had a serious case of insomnia, she¡¯d honestly suspect he was just pretending After waiting another fifteen minutes to make sure Ashton was truly asleep, Briar finally got up. She tiptoed out, careful not to make t When she opened the wardrobe, she found a whole row of cartoon¨Cprint pajamas¨Cjust like the ones she used to wear at the vi. Her ga instantly softened. Other than her grandpa and her two uncles, Ashton was the only person who had ever cared for her in such a thoughtful, attentive way. Briar thought, ¡®Ashton must¡¯ve noticed these pajama styles when he saw me by the window! Briar grabbed a random pair of pajamas, changed into them, then turned on her side and slipped under the covers. Soon, the sound of her gentle breathing filled the room. She slept long and deep, so peacefully that she didn¡¯t even notice when Ashton woke up and came in to check on her. She had no idea that her quiet, innocent sleeping face actually made Ashton¨Cthe man who always kept his distance from women¨Cfeel his heart skip a beat. When Briar woke up, she stared at the unfamiliar ceiling, momentarily confused. ¡®Where am I?¡® she thought to herself. Then she quickly remembered that she was in Ashton¡¯s private break room. She reached over for her phone and checked the time. It was already 3:30 PM. ¡®Did I really sleep that long?¡® she wondered. She got up, got dressed, and gave her sleep¨Cmussed hair a quick tousle. While replying to a few messages on WhatsApp, she pushed open the door to the break room. Jalen said, ¡°Mr. Wade, Mr. Floyd¡¯s meeting has been pushed to tomorrow at noon. I¡¯ll confirm the exact time with you then. ¡°Also, Miss Parkinson wanted to have dinner with you tonight, but I turned her down as politely as I could¡­¡± The conversation outside came to an abrupt halt the moment Briar stepped out. Jalen was utterly gobsmacked, his mouth wide enough to fit an egg. He looked at Briar, her hair a total mess¨Cobviously just rolled out of bed¨Cthen nced at Ashton, who sat there looking all cool and noble. Inside, it felt like fireworks were going off in his head. He thought, ¡®Damn. ¡®Holy crap. ¡®This is epic. It¡¯s time to celebrate. ¡®Did Ashton finally unleash his inner beast and get my future sister¨Cinw into bed?¡® Jalen looked so shameless and ridiculous that Ashton frowned in annoyance. ¡°Get out!¡± he snapped. ¡°You got it!¡± Jalen didn¡¯t care at all about Ashton¡¯s icy re.¡± ¡®Who cares if he is cold to me? As long as he¡¯s sweet to his future wife, that¡¯s what really matters!¡® he thought. He had to spread this news to everyone right away. Just thinking about all the benefits he would get made him giddy. Briar stood awkwardly in the doorway of the break room, watching Jalen practically skip away. ¡°Ashton, did I interrupt you guys?¡± she asked Ashton replied, ¡°No.¡± He got up, walked over to the sofa, and waved her over. He said, ¡°I prepared some afternoon tea for you¨Call your favorite little cakes and your favorite smoothies. Come join me.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Briar said, shuffling over and sitting down next to Ashton. She tilted her head, giving him a careful look, especially checking his eyes. ¡°Did you get a good nap?¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°Not bad. I slept for two hours.¡± In reality, it was just a little over an hour. Normally, he could never fall asleep during his lunch break, but today, with Briar by his side, he managed to get some real rest. Still, the way she cared about him made Ashton feel a gentle warmth blooming in his chest. Briar nodded. ¡®Two hours of sleep can really help recharge your energy,¡® she thought. She picked up her smoothies and took a sip, the sweet, creamy vor filling her mouth. She said offhandedly, ¡°Ashton, do you have ns tonight? If you do, I¡¯ll just head out in a bit¡­¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m done with work at 5 PM sharp,¡± Ashton cut her off before she could finish. He asked, ¡°I¡¯ve pretty much wrapped up everything today. Do you want to have dinner at home or go out?¡± Briar raised an eyebrow, eyeing him suspiciously. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Really,¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve got an hour and a half until I¡¯m off work. You can start thinking about what you want for dinner tonight, and I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Briar started to seriously consider what to eat for dinner, looking genuinely happy. But that happy feeling barelysted five minutes. Her phone started ringing in her pocket. She fished it out and checked the screen. It was Edgar Jennings calling. She didn¡¯t want to answer at first, but after thinking it over, she still picked up. ¡°What do you want?¡± Briar said coolly. On the other end, Edgar sounded like he was barely holding back his anger. However, he still tried to talk to Briar with forced patience. He said, ¡°Briar, if you still consider me your father, then drop out of the Shoneport University Campus Belle Contest. ¡°You¡¯re studying traditional medicine. After you graduate, you¡¯ll just end up giving people acupuncture treatments. ¡°Your sister is different. She¡¯s in the dance department, and she really needs all the resources and connections she can get¡­¡± Chant 112 Forsaken 112 Chapter 112 Briar¡¯s smile disappeared in an Instant as she listened to Edgay cheting like a mad persen. The vein of her sample tallilled with antes ¡®Honestly, Edgar doesn¡¯t deserve even this much respect from me the thougfit But with Ashton sitting right beside her, Briar didn¡¯t want to say anything more. Swallowing her anger, she said coldly. ¡°If you have something to say, spit it out. If not, I¡¯m hanging up¡± Anyone would be pissed if someone just called out of nowhere to scream at them. She thought, ¡®What does Edgar¡¯s talk about campus belles and resources have to do with me, anyway? ¡®If Beatrice wanted those things, she should go fight for them. ¡®Did Beatrice really think I would just hand those over to her? ¡®What am I, the president of Shoneport University or on the board of directors?¡± At that moment, Briar had no idea that she was absolutely crushing it at the top of the Shoneport University campus belle rankings. Frank and his buddies were running all over campus, forming alliances and shamelessly using their looks to flirt their way into more votes Briar already had a great reputation among the students. She was sweet¨Clooking, and she had wowed everyone during the open ss. With someone as influential as Frankie backing her, unless someone had a direct conflict of interest with her, they¡¯d all vote for Briar If Frankie was willing to shamelessly use his good looks to trade for a single vote, people would definitely agree. They were even willing to give more than just a vote to Frank. Le, Lydia, and Abbie had started pulling in votes early on, and their group was holding steady in second ce. With only a few thousand students at Shoneport University, everyone who could be convinced to vote had already cast their ballots. By the time it was Beatrice¡¯s turn to rally support, there were only a few people left she could try to win over. Beatrice couldn¡¯t believe it. The campus bellepetition hadn¡¯t even officially started, and the results were already set in stone. She could not possibly ept that. She was counting on taking the crown this year. With Shoneport University¡¯s reputation behind her, she was hoping to make a run at the international dance awards. So, Beatrice spent the whole day at home pestering Edgar. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to yell at her, so he ended up dumping all his frustration on Briar instead. Edgar snapped, ¡°Listen up. Get those students who voted for you to switch their votes to your sister. ¡°She¡¯s about topete in an international dancepetition, and all these resources will help boost her chances¡­¡± Briar finally lost it after putting up with his bias. She said, ¡°Say one more word of this crap and I¡¯m hanging up!¡± Edgar was speechless. He was so pissed off. He felt like he was about to choke on his anger. He thought, ¡°Did Briar just curse at me? She actually dared to talk to me like that? I¡¯m her father, and she has the nerve to yell at me?¡® ¡°Briar, where are your manners? Did you forget everything I taught you? Do you even see me as your real father anymore?¡± Edgar snapped. Edgar was the perfect example of someone who would never learn his lesson. Ever since Briar came back, she had never truly respected him. Briar clenched her jaw. She¡¯d even hit him before, yet he still wanted to talk to her about manners. She couldn¡¯t tolerate him anymore. Edgar ranted, ¡°You¡¯re vulgar, uneducated, and always hanging around with those shady people. Get your ass back here right now. i need to teach you a lesson¡­¡± Not giving Edgar another second to nag, Briar hung up on him, cutting off his nonsense. The quiet was a relief, but the irritation still lingered on her face. Just like that, her good mood waspletely wrecked by Edgar. Ashton was sitting right next to Briar. Even though she kept her voice down on the call, with them sitting this close, he could still hear some of
  1. it.
Seeing the gloomy look on her face, he didn¡¯t ask what had happened. Instead, he just grabbed another cup of smoothies, popped a straw in, and held it up to her lips. He said, ¡°Don¡¯t be upset. Here, try this. It¡¯s a new vor from the smoothies shop, just the way you like it.¡± Briar barely had a smile left, but when she heard Ashton say that, she couldn¡¯t help but smile a little. She yed along and took the smoothies, took a sip, and said, ¡°It¡¯s good. Sweet.¡± Seeing Briar smile again, Ashton finally asked, ¡°Your dad really doesn¡¯t treat you well, does he?¡± Briar just shrugged, neither confirming nor denying it. After all, Ashton had already looked into her background, so there was nothing left to hide. She summed up the whole love¨Chate mess with the Jennings family in just a few straightforward sentences. Ashton listened, his eyes full of sympathy as he looked at her. ¡°Are you sure he¡¯s actually your real dad?¡± Nothing about their story sounded like a normal father¨Cdaughter rtionship. It was more like two lifelong enemies locked in a grudge match. Briar shrugged. ¡°Honestly, I wish he wasn¡¯t, but my mom was totally lovestruck back then. Edgar was the only man in her world.¡± That meant she was Edgar¡¯s biological daughter. However, as his daughter, she turned out to be the thorn in his side, blocking him from taking over the Jennings Group and ying happy family with his mistress. If she hadn¡¯te back and wrestled control of the Jennings Group away from him, Edgar probably wouldn¡¯t even bother pretending to care about her. Briar lowered her gaze, sipping her smoothies, but her brows stayed tightly knit. 214 15.19 TRU, I. PAUCH ¨C J She thought, ¡®The Jennings family is seriously a pain in my ass. The moment I find out who¡¯s really behind Edgar, I¡¯m tying him up and feeding him to the sharks. The office door swung open, and Jalen poked his head in. ¡°Ashton, are the documents signed yet?¡± He nced over at the desk, but when he didn¡¯t see anything, he turned around and spotted Ashton sitting right next to Briac The two of them were cozied up together, sipping smoothies and snacking on desserts. Hearing the noise, Ashton just turned his head and gave Jalen a look, but he didn¡¯t snap at him. Jalen knew Ashton was in a good mood, so he walked in with a little bounce in his step. As a good secretary, Jalen knew better than to y the third wheel, so he headed straight for the desk to grab the documents. But when he got there, he saw that the two papers he needed Ashton to sign were still sitting there untouched, not a single signature on them. ¡°Mr. Wade, howe you still haven¡¯t signed these?¡± Jalen tried to use the title to jolt Ashton back into work mode. Ashton shot him a look, kept a perfectly straight face, and replied with just one word that brooked no argument, ¡°Busy.¡± Jalen was speechless. He thought, ¡®Busy? ¡®Busy with what, exactly? Busy hanging out with your future wife, drinking smoothies, and eating cake? ¡®Seriously? You can¡¯t even spare a second to sign your name on two pieces of paper?¡® But he didn¡¯t dare say it out loud. He could only grumble silently in his head. Briar totally picked up on Jalen¡¯s silent grumbling. The way he was fuming but didn¡¯t dare say a word was honestly hrious. She flopped back, looking all rxed again. ¡°Ashton, you should get back to work.¡± Ashton saw the hostility fade from her expression and nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± He got up, walked over to the desk, and started working on the papers. With a few swift strokes, both documents were signed in under a minute. Jalen turned around with the documents, his expressionplicated. He was honestly starting to sweat a little for the future of the Wade Group. Seeing Ashton like this, Jalen couldn¡¯t help but feel hopeless. He thought, ¡®Is my boss about to be one of those lovesick learders who¡¯d rather stay in bed with his lover than ever bother showing up to work?¡® Forsaken 113 Chapter 113 After getting an earful from Edgar on the phone, Briar totally lost her mood for eating out. So, they just decided to head home and whip something up themselves. Briar was only good with needles, not with cooking, so dinner duty definitely wasn¡¯t falling on her. As for Ashton, who was spoiled since childhood, no one even dreamed he¡¯d set foot in the kitchen. So Ashton just waved his hand and had a five¨Cstar hotel chef brought straight to Moonspring Estate. By the time they got home, the mouthwatering smell of food was already wafting out from the dining room. As soon as Briar caught a whiff of that spicy, savory scent in the air, her frown instantly melted away. ¡°That¡¯s the smell of fried fish.¡± Ashton nodded, motioning for her to go ahead. ¡°Yeah, smells great. Go take a look.¡± Briar slipped on her slippers and practically bounced off to the dining room. His bad mood had vanished. Even the swing of her ponytail looked extra cheerful. Ashton, hands in his pockets, sauntered after her at a leisurely pace, looking just as pleased. Brandon Woodward, trailing behind them, couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes. Brandon thought to himself, ¡®Mr. Wade, you really know how to put on a show. This kind of move is old¨Cschool, but you sure know how to make it work. ¡®You totally know what Miss Jennings likes and even told me to make sure to get a chef who specializes in her favorite food, but now you¡¯re pretending like it was all a coincidence. ¡®Good thing Miss Jennings is too busy drooling over the food right now, or else your little scheme wouldn¡¯t fool her for a second.¡® Ashton caught Brandon¡¯s disdainful look, raised an eyebrow, and let out a quiet scoff. ¡®Sure, it¡¯s a clich¨¦ trick, but as long as it works, that¡¯s all that matters,¡¯ Ashton thought. Just as expected, Ashton managed to cheer Briar right up with a single dinner. She was all smiles again in no time. Once she had all that amazing food in front of her, Briar couldn¡¯t care less about that loser Edgar. After they¡¯d both stuffed themselves, Ashton watched Briar as she poked at her dessert while scrolling through her phone. He casually asked, ¡°Briar, do you have any ns for tomorrow? It¡¯s Sunday.¡± Briar shook her head. ¡°No idea. Maybe just stay home and sleep.¡± Ashton was tall and long¨Clegged. Even when he was just lounging in his chair, he would unconsciously lower his head when looking at people. Even in such a rxed posture, he still gave off an imposing presence that was impossible to ignore. The five¨Cstar chef, leading his team, had been waiting quietly off to the side. Seeing that Ashton had no further instructions, he stepped forward respectfully and said, ¡°Mr. Wade, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll take my team 1/4 and head out now.¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°Alright, you may go.¡± Brandon stepped forward at just the right moment to escort the chef and his team to the door. He said, ¡°You can all head straight home. No need to go back to work. ¡°I¡¯ve already told the manager to give each of you an extra 300 dors as overtime pay for tonight.¡± This whole dinner was something Ashton set up just to lift Briar¡¯s spirits. Now that she was happy, he wasn¡¯t shy about giving out some extra rewards. The chef and his team, who had been a bit tense before, instantly broke into big smiles. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Wade!¡± Then, everyone happily carpooled home together. Briar finished herst bite of dessert, wiped her mouth, and said, ¡°Ashton, I¡¯m heading back now. I¡¯lle over again at eleven tonight, okay?¡± Coming back at eleven was obviously helping Ashton to go to sleep.¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be waiting for you in the bedroom at eleven.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Briar agreed and headed out. If any clueless bystander overheard their conversation, their minds would instantly run wild with spicy fanfiction. But both of them looked totally unfazed, as if there was nothing weird about it at all. Once Briar got home, she went straight to take a shower as usual. Then, while drying her hair, she fired up herputer, nning to check the Hacker Alliance¡¯s job board to see if there were any quick, easy gigs. Just as herputer booted up, a video call from Tristan ckwell popped up. As soon as she picked up, he blurted out, ¡°My favorite disciple, I heard you managed to snag a Frostworm!¡± Briar¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°Who told you that?¡± She already guessed it had to be that chatterbox Alexia. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter who told me. Just tell me¨Cdo you have a Frostworm or not?¡± Tristan¡¯s voice was practically buzzing with excitement. Briar said helplessly, ¡°Yeah, I do. But I¡¯m keeping it for myself, so don¡¯t even think about it.¡± Tristan¡¯s face instantly fell. ¡°You¡¯ve barely been back in the country, and you¡¯re already trying to cut ties with me who is a poor and lonely old man? ¡°You promised you¡¯d give me the Frostworm. Are you going back on your word? Don¡¯t make me cry right here. I swear I will!¡± Briar rubbed her temples and sighed in frustration. ¡°I did say that¡­¡± ¡°So you¡¯re really going back on your promise? My life is just so miserable!¡± 10:49 Fri, 15 Aug O Tristan didn¡¯t care how awkward this was for Briar. He immediately started acting up, tears streaming down his face. Crying, making a scene, and threatening to do something drastic were his go¨Cto tricks for getting Briar to give in. The moment Briar heard Tristan start up the waterworks again, the corner of her mouth twitched. She said, ¡°I know you want to cry, but just hold it in for a sec, okay? Let me finish what I have to say first¡­¡± ¡°If I let you finish, my Frostworm will be gone for sure. I refuse to listen to you!¡± After all, every time they tried to reason things out¨Cwhether Briar used the soft approach with sweet words or the hard approach with her iron fists¨CTristan always ended up losing the argument. Having taken enough sebacks, Tristan had finally learned that no amount of whining, iling, or drama could get Briar to y by his rules. Briar was at a loss for words. She thought, ¡®Crying or not, this old man never misses a beat when ites to being sly!¡¯ Briar asked, ¡°You¡¯re really not going to listen to me?¡± Tristan: ¡°I¡¯m not listening!¡± ¡°Alright then!¡± Briar replied, ¡°Since you want it so much, I¡¯ll mail it to you tomorrow. ¡°As for Griffin Wade¡¯s illness, we¡¯ll just have to wait until I get my hands on another Frostworm¡­¡± Before Briar could even finish, Tristan¡¯s tears dried up instantly, and he asked nervously, ¡°Wait! Did you say that Frostworm is for Griffin?¡± Briar just stared at him silently, not saying a word. Tristan coughed awkwardly. ¡°Come on, you should¡¯ve told me sooner! If I¡¯d known you were saving it for Griffin, I wouldn¡¯t have cried at all¡­¡± He¡¯d wasted so many tears for nothing. Now he¡¯d have to drink some extra sugary drinkter to make up for it. ¡°I would¡¯ve told you if you¡¯d just listened!¡± Briar said, exasperated. Briar thought to herself, ¡®Seriously, he¡¯s such an overgrown child. ¡®The older he gets, the more childish he bes. It¡¯s honestly impressive. ¡®His favorite show to watch while eating is actually cartoons.¡¯ He always insisted he was the smart protagonist, and anyone who tried to take him down was just a dumb antagonist to him. Briar just wanted to roll her eyes. She thought, ¡®Of course, his dumb enemies can¡¯t find him since he is hiding out on some random ind. ¡®I actually dare him to ever show his face in public.¡¯ Tristan pretended not to notice the hidden meaning in Briar¡¯s words and quickly changed the subject to something less risky. He asked, ¡°I heard Frostworms are pretty pricey. Do you have enough cash on hand? Want me to wire you some?¡± Now that he realized the Frostworm was meant to save his old buddy, he was quick to try and get on her good side. 3/4 10:49 Fri 15 Aug Briar was never one to turn down easy money. ¡°Sure! Just send me a million dors, then.¡± 1 ? Comment Forsaken 114 Chapter 114 As soon as Briar finished speaking, Tristan, who had been shaking his head in the video, suddenly froze. He said, ¡°Hello? What¡¯s going on? The signal suddenly got bad.¡± Briar was at a loss for words. She thought, ¡®This stingy old man.¡® Briar said irritably, ¡°Come on, stop pretending. I personally arranged the signal on the ind. When has it ever been bad? ¡°You¡¯re a miracle doctor worth tens of millions. Can you stop being so cheap and send the money already?¡± The video call was cut off instantly, not giving Briar a chance to talk Tristan into anything else. Briar was at a loss for words. ¡®Maybe I should just give up on such a stingy mentor,¡® she thought. Not bothering to call back, Briar messaged Alexia, asking if she¡¯d been shooting her mouth off to Tristan again. Alexia immediately ghosted her. Briar was so exasperated by these guys, she actually burst outughing. She was speechless to a whole new level. At eleven sharp, Briar showed up at Ashton¡¯s bedroom door. At Brandon¡¯s signal, she knocked, but after a while, there was still no answer from inside. ¡°Did Ashton fall asleep already?¡± Briar asked Brandon, who was standing next to her. Brandon shook his head. ¡°No way! Maybe he just didn¡¯t hear you. It¡¯s fine, Miss Jennings, you can just go right in.¡± As he spoke, Brandon reached out, pushed the door open, and gestured for Briar to enter. Under Brandon¡¯s eager gaze, Briar walked in. As the door slowly closed behind her, she nced around the room, and her eyes finally settled on the tightly shut bathroom door. She could hear water running inside. She felt that Ashton was probably still in the shower and hadn¡¯t heard her knock. Before Briar could do anything, the water stopped. Soon, a tall, blurry figure appeared behind the bathroom door. Next thing she knew, the bathroom door opened from the inside, and Ashton stepped out, wearing nothing but a towel slung low around his waist. His usually neat ck hair was now dripping wet, water trickling down his neck, gliding over his broad chest and sculpted abs, before disappearing into the towel. Briar didn¡¯t know what to do at that moment. She was usually quick and agile, but at that moment, she waspletely frozen. A drop¨Cdead gorgeous hunk stepping out of the shower like that was just too much for her brain to handle. Her mind went nk, and her body wouldn¡¯t listen to her at all. Clearly, Ashton hadn¡¯t expected to see Briar in his room either. He froze when he saw her. ¡°Briar¡­¡± Time stood still for a full three seconds before they both snapped out of it. In perfect sync, Briar spun around, and Ashton ducked Back behind the bathroom door. Then, they both Blurted out at once. Briar exined, ¡°I knocked, but you didn¡¯t answer. Brandon said it was fine for me toe in¡­¡± Ashton replied quickly, ¡°Sorry, let me just get changed. Feel free to sit anywhere¡­¡± Just like that, the room was swallowed by an awkward, heavy silence. Briar touched her slightly flushed cheeks and moved over to the bean bag by the window before sitting down. Ashton had actually gotten this bean bag chair just for her. She still had no idea why Ashton would put her favorite bean bag chair in his own bedroom. Soon, Ashton came out of the bathroom, now fully dressed. Apart from Briar¡¯s slightly evasive gaze and the water still dripping from Ashton¡¯s hair, it was as if nothing had changed. Yet the air was filled with a subtle, rosy tension. Something sweet and bashful, restless but pretending to be calm, was reflected in the wordless understanding between them. Finally, Ashton broke the silence. ¡°I got held up with some work earlier. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Briar waved her hand dismissively. ¡°No worries. It¡¯s not like I was at a loss or anything.¡± She thought, ¡®With a body like that, if we were a bit closer, I¡¯d totally want to run my hands over those abs and see what an eight¨Cpack actually feels like¡­¡® This little episode was just a small hup. They both quickly regained theirposure. After drying his hair, Ashton sat down on the single sofa across from Briar and handed her a ss of milk. ¡°Thanks,¡± Briar said as she took the ss. Their fingers brushed. His warm handy on her cool hand. Even though itsted only a second, it was enough to set off a wildfire in both their hearts. Ashton¡¯s eyes flickered for a moment, but he was a pro at keeping a straight face. He lowered his gaze, hiding the spark in his eyes, and said politely, ¡°Drink it while it¡¯s still warm.¡± Briar took the ss, quietly trying to calm her racing heart as she pulled her hand back. She gave a small nod. ¡°Okay.¡± Then, Briar quietly drank the whole ss of milk, focusing on nothing else and keeping her cool. Ashton¡¯s eyes never left her face. He watched the soft flush on her cheeks, and his fingers moved slightly, as if still remembering fre her hand. ¡°Ashton, are you feeling sleepy yet?¡± Briar asked. May be r of milk left on her upper lip after finishing her All of Ashton¡¯s usual cool¨Cheadedness and sharp edge just vanished at the sight of that litt milk mustache. For some reason, he suddenly thought she looked ridiculously cute like that. ¡°I¡¯m starting to feel a bit tired. I¡¯ll lie down on the bed,¡± he said. Briar nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Tonight, Ashton had been twice rattled by Briar¡¯s innocent charm, and sleep just wouldn¡¯te to him like it usually did. Hey there for half an hour, still wide awake. Briar sat in the bean bag chair, ncing over at Ashton for the fifth time. Even with his eyes closed, she could tell he wasn¡¯t really asleep. His breathing was steady, but she could sense he was still awake. She bit her lip, stood up, and as she walked over, pulled out her gold needles. ¡°Ashton, just rx your hand. Let me do acupuncture on you. Ashton felt speechless. Heid his hand t, watching as Briar expertly disinfected the area, picked up a needle, and precisely inserted it into the inside of his forearm. ¡°Stimting this area properly can help you sleep. Since it¡¯s your first time getting acupuncture, it should work even better,¡± she exined. Briar¡¯s acupuncture skills were on another level. When the golden needle slipped in, Ashton didn¡¯t even feel a prick. Just like she promised, in less than five minutes, Ashton felt sleepiness wash over him, and he slowly closed his eyes again. This time, it took less than twenty minutes for Ashton to drift off into a deep, peaceful sleep. Once she was sure Ashton was finally asleep, Briar let out a quiet sigh of relief. The restless heat bottled up in her chest finally began to ebb away. Face still flushed, she slipped out of the bedroom, her steps slow and hesitant. Brandon was leaning against the staircase railing, chatting on the phone. When he saw Briare out, he said into the phone, ¡°Hang on, Xavion. Miss Jennings just managed to get Mr. Wade to sleep. I¡¯ll give her a ride home first.¡± He hung up, walked over to Briar, and his gaze couldn¡¯t help but linger on her lips for a second before he quickly looked away. He said, ¡°Miss Jennings, thanks for tonight. Let me drive you home.¡± Chapter 115 Forsaken 115 Even after dropping Briar off at home, Brandon was still scratching his head. ¡°Why does Miss Jennings seem a little off tonight? he matt to himself. Briar wasn¡¯t exactly the talkative type, but she was never this serious. She hadn¡¯t cracked a smile or said a single word the whole way back Earlier, she didn¡¯t say a word, just walked with her head down. Brandon wondered, ¡®Was she in a hurry or something? ¡®It usually takes her two minutes to get home, but tonight she made it in fifty seconds. She practically sprinted the whole way! But the most suspicious thing to Brandon was that she had a milk mustache on her lips. ¡®Did she forget to wipe it off? Or was she just in too much of a hurry?¡® Brandon wondered to himself. Brandon made his way back to Ashton¡¯s bedroom door, pulled out his phone, and started chatting away with Xavion, eager to spill the funny news. Xavion let out a sigh when he heard it, then reminded Brandon, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink what goes on in Mr. Wade¡¯s room. ¡°If he finds out you¡¯re poking your nose in, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s gonna get it.¡± Brandon was the definition of a straight¨Cshooter. He was so straightforward that it was almost a medical condition. However, he was quite obedient. Even though he was stunned, he nodded right away. ¡°Alright, got it.¡± He didn¡¯t get how talking about Briar could suddenly be considered gossiping about Ashton. Brandon wondered, ¡®Isn¡¯t Miss Jennings just the doctor who¡¯s supposed to put Mr. Wade to sleep? ¡°How did that get mixed up with Mr. Wade¡¯s private life?¡® Xavion nced at the time. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s gettingte on your end. The boss is already asleep, so you should hit the sack too.¡± Brandon sounded reluctant. ¡°Come on, can¡¯t we talk a little longer? It¡¯s been forever since west hung out.¡± Xavion rolled his eyes dramatically. ¡°Didn¡¯t I sneak back to Shoneport in the middle of the night just half a month ago? ¡°Didn¡¯t we hang out then?¡± Brandon went quiet, then reluctantly mumbled a pitiful goodnight before hanging up. Just like Briar said, she holed up in her room all day Sunday. She didn¡¯t evene downstairs for breakfast. Ashton knocked on her door, but no matter what, he couldn¡¯t get her to out. Brandon couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Hey, boss, this isn¡¯t like Miss Jennings at all. Is she sick or something?¡± Ashton¡¯s eyes flickered with a hint of surprise. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. I just talked to her on the phone, and she sounded pretty lively to me.¡± Even when he came to get her, Briar still didn¡¯t show her face. They just talked over the phone. It was no wonder Brandon found it weird. Briar seemed like she was avoiding him, or maybe even all of them, Brandon scratched his head. ¡°So, she really just doesn¡¯t want breakfast?¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°Maybe. Let¡¯s go. We¡¯ve got work to do.¡± Brandon quickly rushed to open the car door for Ashton. ¡°But, boss, you haven¡¯t had breakfast yet.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll skip it,¡± Ashton said as he slid into the car. From the gap in the curtains, Briar watched Ashton¡¯s car pull away. She pursed her lips, silently berating herself, ¡®Seriously, am I really losing my cool just because a guy flirted with me? Get a grip! With a sigh, she tied her hair up, changed into herb coat, and opened the door to the basement. The basement was originally meant for parking, but Briar had secretly turned it into her ownboratory. The Frostworm she¡¯d captured that night was being processed inside one of the machines on her workbench. Several other machines were working nearby, and in the cabs against the wall, there were plenty of finished pills in all shapes and sizes. If Ashton were there, he¡¯d realize that the two rare pills he¡¯d spent a fortune on were nothingpared to the endless supply stored in this ce. Once she switched into work mode, Briar¡¯s face grew focused and serious. She pulled on a pair of medical gloves, opened up the machine, and carefully took out a vial. After inspecting the separatedpounds, she slid them into another device. Whenever Briar went into herb, she¡¯d always silence her phone so no one could bother her. By the time she finally peeled off her gloves and left theb, it was already seven in the evening. It was already dark outside, and her stomach let out a loud protest. Only then did Briar realize she hadn¡¯t eaten a single thing all day. She happened to nce at the security monitor and suddenly froze. On the screen, Ashton was anxiously standing at her front gate, while Brandon was right beside him, banging on the door and calling out her name. Briar was at a loss for words. She pressed a hand to her forehead, picked up the inte, and said, ¡°Mr. Wade.¡± Her voice sounded a little hoarse since she hadn¡¯t eaten anything all day. Her sudden voice startled the two anxious men at the gate. Ashton stepped right up to the camera and asked, ¡°Briar, why does your voice sound so hoarse? Are you not feeling well?¡± Briar¡¯s face appeared on the screen. ¡°No, I¡¯m not. I just forgot to drink water.¡± Ashton, sharp as ever, immediately frowned. ¡°Forgot to drink water? Don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t eaten anything all day?¡± Briar¡¯s silence said it all. Ashton took a deep breath. ¡°Go change. I¡¯m taking you out for dinner.¡± 10:50 Ffl, 15 Aug On the screen, Briar was wearing something that totally wasn¡¯t her usual style. Briar was honestly starving, so she nodded right away. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be them in a sec. Twenty minutester, Briar came running out to Ashton and Brandon, dressed in a id shirt and jeans with her hair pulled us in align ponytail. Ashton couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®Maybe I am imagining it, but after a whole day without eating, her cheeks really do seem a bit thinner Brandon had already brought the car around, and the moment Briar hopped in, he drove straight toward the entrance of the neighborhood. Ashton and Briar sat side by side in the back seat. He reached into the drawer, pulled out a box of white chocte, unwrapped it, and held a piece up to Briar¡¯s mouth. ¡°Here, have this to settle your stomach.¡± Briar took a bite of the chocte straight from his hand, and the rich, creamy vor instantly filled her mouth, easing the burning emptiness in her stomach. ¡°Thanks, Mr. Wade.¡± Ashton replied lightly, ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± But Ashton didn¡¯t stop there. He bent down, grabbed several packs of small buns from the drawer, tore one open, and waited for Briar to finish the chocte. He was ready to feed her the next bite. Briar said, ¡°Mr. Wade, just give it to me. I¡¯ll eat it myself.¡± Even though Ashton lookedpletely serious, Briar couldn¡¯t help but feel like he was a strict dad fussing over his little girl. Her cheeks flushed red all of a sudden. Ashton didn¡¯t answer right away. He just watched Briar, as if making sure she actually had the strength to hold it herself. In the end, he only handed her the small, opened bag. ¡°Eat this first. I¡¯ll give you more when you¡¯re done.¡± He even unscrewed a bottle of water for her and handed it over. ¡°Here, have some water.¡± It really wasn¡¯t just her imagination. Ashton was actually feeding her like she was his helpless little daughter who couldn¡¯t do anything on her own. Briar tried to suppress the sudden wave of embarrassment her own imagination conjured up, leaned in to take a few big gulps of water, and only then ducked her head to nibble on the bun. Out of the corner of her eye, Briar noticed Brandon sneakily pressing the button for the privacy partition. She could only stare speechlessly. Briar thought, ¡®Seriously, what is up with these two? ¡®I literally just got so busy that I forgot to eat, that¡¯s all! ¡®Why are they freaking out? Why are they treating me like I¡¯m made of ss? ¡®The way they¡¯re acting, you¡¯d think I was about to keel over and die any second.¡¯ Forsaken 116 Chapter 116 Brandon wasted no time and found the nearest restaurant. Considering thete hour and safety concerns, he naturally chose one of then own establishments. He had already informed the restaurant manager in advance, so as soon as their car pulled up, the manager hurried over, smiling as te opened the doors for them. He said, ¡°Mr. Wade, Miss Jennings, the food is ready. Please follow me.¡± Not a single word was wasted. Everyone wasser¨Cfocused on making sure Briar could eat as soon as possible. When Briar sat down at the table with Ashton, she was totally floored by the sight of all the steaming hot dishes spread out before fier. She knew that with just a word from Ashton, his people would do whatever it took to get things done. However, it truly puzzled her how such a big feast could be prepared in just twenty minutes. The restaurant manager, catching her bewilderment, grinned and said, ¡°Miss Jennings, is there anything else you¡¯d like to eat? ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even if our kitchen can¡¯t whip it up in time, we can always snatch some from the restaurants next door.¡± Briar was speechless. ¡°Snatch? So, all these dishes were snatched?¡± The manager lifted his chin proudly. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Briar was at a loss for words. While they were talking, Ashton was already carefully filling Briar¡¯s te with food anddling her a small bowl of chicken soup. ¡°Drink some chicken soup first, it¡¯ll warm you up.¡± The restaurant manager, being tactful, slipped away with a cheerful grin. Brandon sat across from them, watching how ridiculously attentive Ashton was to Briar. He couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®Man, the boss must be drowning in guilt right now.¡¯ Ashton really was feeling guilty. If he¡¯d known Briar would get so anxious over what happenedst night that she¡¯d hole up at home alt day without eating, he would¡¯ve dropped everything and dragged her out for a meal earlier. 1 Ashton thought, ¡®How is she this pure? Just catching meing out of the shower, and she gets so shy she won¡¯t even step outside for a whole day? ¡®Did she lose sleep over it?¡® The more he thought about it, the more Ashton just wanted to spoil Briar and take care of her in every possible way. It was funny how misunderstandings could sometimes be the start of something really beautiful. From then on, the famously cold and untouchable Ashton started seeing Briar in a totally different way. Words like ¡°innocent,¡± ¡°timid,¡± and ¡°shy¡± suddenly made perfect sense to him, at least when it came to her. To be precise, he had a filter over her. At first, Briar felt a bit embarrassed, but with a whole table of mouthwatering dishes in front of her, she just couldn¡¯t hold back Even though it wasn¡¯t her beloved Zakian cuisine, the vors totally blew her away. She was honestly amazed. Pretty soon, all her shyness melted away. When faced with such good food, that little bit of awkwardness didn¡¯t stand a chance. For dessert, the kitchen had just made a fresh cranberry mousse cake, along with a bowl of juice to help settle the stomach Since Briar hadn¡¯t eaten all day, Ashton kept an eye on her portions, making sure she didn¡¯t eat too much at once. He was worried her stomach couldn¡¯t handle it after going so long without food. ¡°Does your stomach feel ufortable at all?¡± Ashton asked, sitting beside her and making sure to eat a fair amount himself. Briar shook her head. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine.¡± With Ashton watching over her, Briar didn¡¯t even have a chance to overeat, so her stomach felt fine. Besides, there wasn¡¯t a single bit of chili in tonight¡¯s meal. Her stomach was being pampered. ¡°Good, as long as you¡¯re feeling fine.¡± Ashton nodded, clearly satisfied. ¡°Next time, no matter how busy you get, you have to eat on time.¡± Briar could only surrender. Not wanting Ashton to lecture her like a little kid, she piped up, ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll be more careful next time.¡± ¡®Even if I do forget to eat, there¡¯s no way I¡¯m telling him,¡® Briar thought to herself. Ashton checked the time and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s still early. There¡¯s a little park nearby. How about I take you for a walk?¡± Now that she was full and satisfied, Briar couldn¡¯t just eat and run. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s go for a walk. It¡¯ll help with digestion anyway.¡± Half an hourter, the three of them ended up at the entrance to Flowery Park. Flowery Park was lined with flowers everywhere. It was the height of their blooming season, and even before they stepped inside, the sweet, heady fragrance of the flowers drifted out to greet them. A gentle breeze rustled through, and clusters of osmanthus blossoms looked like twinkling stars under the streetlights and among the green leaves. The air was filled with their refreshing scent, giving the night a unique, romantic vibe for everyone strolling beneath the trees. Ashton and Briar walked side by side, both quietly swept up in the enchanting atmosphere. ¡°It smells amazing,¡± Briar said, taking a deep breath of the sweet¨Cscented air. Before Ashton could respond, she added, ¡°If we put them into cakes, they¡¯d probably be delicious. I¡¯ve heard wine with flowers in them is pretty good too.¡± Ashton felt speechless. Briar couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°I¡¯m just kidding. I¡¯m way too full right now. I couldn¡¯t eat another bite.¡± Ashton smiled. ¡°In a few days, I¡¯ll take you to try some.¡± 10:50 FH, 15 Aug ¡¤ O The Wade Group participated in every industry, Getting her some flower cakes would be a plece of cake. ¡°Yeah,¡± Briar replied casually, not giving it much thought. Her eyesnded on a family of three not far away, happily picking blossoms together under a tree. The scene was warm and joyful, and the child¡¯sughter was so infectious it made everyone nearby smile. A sh of heartache flickered in Ashton¡¯s eyes. Briar had grown up without her parents by her side, so he felt that scenes like this, which was so full of warmth, probably didn¡¯t mean much to her. As expected, Briar only paused for a moment before walking around them and heading down another path. Ashton was dressed casually today, his pants showing off those long legs as he quickly caught up to her. He changed the subject without missing a beat. ¡°By the way, did you look into that school beauty contest your father mentioned on the phone the other day?¡± Briar paused, a little surprised. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡± She had zero interest in that contest. If Edgar wanted to obsess over it, that was his business. Noticing Ashton staring at her, Briar paused and asked uncertainly, ¡°Is there something going on that I don¡¯t know about?¡± Ashton was always swamped with work. Ever since she¡¯d started at hispany, Briar had seen firsthand just how much he had to juggle. It was way more than any normal boss. If something had actually caught his attention, there had to be more to the story. Ashton finally looked away and replied in his usual unhurried tone, ¡°You¡¯re way ahead in the school beauty contest votes. ¡°Frank and his guys basically rigged it to put you at the top.¡± Briar was taken aback. ¡°Frank? Why? Wasn¡¯t hest year¡¯s campus heartthrob? If he¡¯s going to rig the votes, shouldn¡¯t he be doing it for himself?¡± Ashton lowered his gaze, his dark eyes flickering over Briar¡¯s face. With the noise of the park around them, he leaned in closer, his voice low and sexy as he spoke right next to her ear. ¡°Because he knows he¡¯s going to win campus heartthrob again this year. ¡°However, he doesn¡¯t want to be paired up with any of the other girls. So he¡¯s trying to push you into the campus beauty spot instead.¡± Briar turned her head slightly, and suddenly she was so close to Ashton that she could see the sharp lines of his profile The rich scent of ebony on him overpowered the sweet fragrance of the osmanthus blossoms, filling her senses. For some reason, the image of Ashton stepping out of the showerst night shed through her mind, and she replied a little absentmindedly, ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Forsaken 117 Chapter 117 Ashton noticed Briar was spacing out and straightened up a bit, his eyes burning into her. Feeling his gaze, Briar had no choice but to snap back to reality. Her longshes fluttered twice as she asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± At this distance, even their breathing fell into sync. A breezeced with osmanthus fragrance swept by, lifting a stray lock of hair from Briar¡¯s forehead. Nothing separated them anymore. Their eyes, their lips, even the air they breathed seemed to mingle on each other¡¯s faces. ¡®This is way too weird,¡® Briar thought to herself. Strangely enough, her heart started to feel inexplicably happy. She blinked, wanting to turn her head away. But Ashton moved first. He straightened up, took a step to the side, and put on an earnest smile. He said, ¡°Nothing. I just thought you might get mad, so I¡¯d be conveniently on hand tofort you.¡± Briar shot a re at the man who was pretending to be all serious. ¡°If you knew I might get mad, then why¡¯d you tell me?¡± It was a totally normaleback, but to Ashton, it sounded like pride and pouting. He found it irresistibly cute. He chuckled softly again. Brandon even held his breath, desperately trying to fade into the background like an emotionless prop. ¡®Is Mr. Wade actually flirting right now? Seriously?¡® Brandon screamed in his head. As a guy who always kept women at arm¡¯s length, Ashton was pulling out trick after trick. It was enough to make everyone¡¯s jaw drop. Brandon felt that this was just next¨Clevel. Brandon rubbed his ear, feeling conflicted. He thought, ¡®Should I remind Mr. Wade that Xavion said you¡¯re supposed to confess first and wait for a response before doing all this? Otherwise, it would just be sexually harassing. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hide anything from you,¡± Ashton kept up his act. ¡°So, are you mad? I can deal with Frank for you.¡± Briar paused for a moment before finally saying, ¡°No, thanks.¡± Ashton nodded, looking a bit disappointed. ¡°Alright, what a shame. ¡°I already had someone hold Frank at the vi I was nning to beat him up when we got home to make you feel better.¡± Briar was at a loss for words. The more time Briar spent around Ashton, the more she felt that everything people said about him just didn¡¯t match him at all. When they got home, Briar saw Frank being guarded in the yard, serving as a buffet for the mosquitoes. 1/4 Frank spotted Briar getting out of the car with Ashton and let out a hoarse, desperate cry. ¡°Briar, save me¡­ Briar, who was about to head to her own house, stopped in her tracks and slowly turned around. ¡°Frank, Ashton¡¯s not going to hit you Frank looked at Ashton, his eyes wide with disbelief. ¡°Really, Ashton?¡± In the two hours he¡¯d been dragged back, he¡¯d run through every possible scenario. He¡¯d even rewritten his will for the 182nd time. So, he was surprised that he wasn¡¯t getting beaten up. Ashton¡¯s indulgence toward Briar tonight was totally unprecedented. ¡°If Briar says I won¡¯t hit you, then I won¡¯t.¡± Frank looked at Briar with tears of gratitude. If Ashton hadn¡¯t been standing right there, he probably would¡¯ve rushed over and hugged Briar¡¯s leg to show how thankful he was. He said, ¡°Briar, you¡¯re the best! From now on, I will buy you snacks every single day.¡± Briar had a serious sweet tooth and loved all kinds of desserts and smoothies. Her desk drawer in theb was crammed full of candy and snacks. From time to time, she¡¯d order desserts and smoothies. ¡°Alright,¡± Briar said, her eyes curving with a smile. Hearing someone promise to cover her snacks for the next four years of college actually made her pretty happy. Even though she wasn¡¯t sure she¡¯d actually finish all four years, the desserts in Shoneport really were way better than anything in Qathana. Once their conversation was over, Ashton wasted no time in sending Frank off. ¡°You can go now.¡± Frank was stunned. ¡°Ashton, I haven¡¯t even eaten yet! You dragged me here. Shouldn¡¯t you at least feed me?¡± Ashton narrowed his eyes, ncing at the sticks set aside. ¡°How about some beating? I am good at cooking that up.¡± Frank instantly chickened out, looking all aggrieved. ¡°I¡¯m leaving right now.¡± As he passed by, Briar, still looking down at her phone, suddenly called out, ¡°Frank, tell your people to stop voting for me in the Campus Belle Contest.¡± She had just checked. The first round voting window was already closed, which meant the results were set in stone and couldn¡¯t be changed anymore. Frank nodded with a serious face. ¡°I know. I¡¯ll have them stop tomorrow.¡± But inside, he was secretly delighted. Briar was way ahead in the first round of campus belle votes. Even if the next two rounds were just average, with a little behind¨Cthe¨Cscenes maneuvering, her chances of winning were still pretty high. As for Ashton¡¯s threat, he couldn¡¯t care less. Compared to being forcefully shipped with all sorts of random girls and made into some fake couple, he felt that getting beaten up by Ashton was way better. Who cares about that! Getting smacked around by Ashton for a bit was way better than being stuck in some awkward ship for a whole year. Frank left, hopping into his showy red Lamborghini. Then, he was gone. 10:50 Fri, 15 Aug Aug ¡°Ashton, I¡¯m heading back too,¡± Briar said, turning to leave. But someone caught her arm, and when she looked back, she met Ashton¡¯s burning gaze. Ashton cleared his throat. ¡°Are you free tomorrow night? I want to take you to a movie.¡± Briar raised an eyebrow. ¡°A movie?¡± Ashton cleared his throat again. ¡°Do you know Stephen Wade? He¡¯s a movie star.¡± Briar had checked out the Wade family before, so she knew Stephen was Ashton¡¯s distant cousin, At thirty, he was one of the rare few who made it big without relying on the Wade family¡¯s connections. He¡¯d be Dasmieca¡¯s top actor all on his own. She nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of him.¡± Ashton took two movie premiere tickets from Brandon. ¡°Tomorrow night, his new movie, ¡®The Emperor¡¯s Edict, is premiering ¡°He gave me two tickets. Would youe with me?¡± Briar hesitated for a moment, meaning to turn him down, but when she met his hopeful gaze, she just couldn¡¯t refuse. ¡°Alright.¡± Only then did Ashton let Briar go home. As he watched Briar head inside and saw the light flick on in her upstairs bedroom, Brandon finally let out a sigh. ¡°Mr. Wade, your flirting skills are way better than Xavion¡¯s.¡± He thought, ¡®Mr. Wade¡¯s already pulled off all the date moves, but he still hasn¡¯t actually said the words.¡® Ashton didn¡¯t even bother responding. He just turned and walked into the house. Just then, Morton showed up to report to Ashton. As soon as he got out of the car, he spotted Brandon standing there in the yard looking lost. Out of concern, he called out, ¡°Hey, Brandon, what¡¯s up? Did Mr. Wade make you stand out here as punishment?¡± Brandon shot him a look. ¡°Can¡¯t you ever wish something good for me for once?¡± Morton shrugged. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t get mad! You¡¯re always glued to Mr. Wade¡¯s side. ¡°Out of the four of us brothers, aren¡¯t you the one who gets punished the most?¡± Brandon snorted and spilled the beans to Morton about how Ashton had been sneaking around, basically going on a date with Briar tonight. Morton, no longer in a hurry to head inside, crossed his arms and gave Brandon a friendly reminder. He said, ¡°Didn¡¯t Xavion already warn you to stop overthinking this? Can¡¯t you see how much Mr. Wade cares about Miss Jennings?¡± Brandon replied, ¡°He did remind me,¡± Morton shrugged. ¡°Exactly, so just don¡¯t get involved. Just follow Mr. Wade¡¯s lead. He knows what he¡¯s doing.¡± Forsaken 118 Chapter 118 Since Briar had already agreed to go to the movies with Ashton that evening, she didn¡¯t hesitate at all when he invited her to dinner. Because of her special status in Qathana, Briar always kept her style low¨Ckey and loose. Her mostmon outfit was a id shirt with jeans. That evening, Briar still showed up in front of Ashton in her usual shirt and jeans. But this time, she swapped the id shirt for a white one and changed her ponytail hair tie. For the first time ever, she wore a pair of diamond earrings. The change wasn¡¯t dramatic, but it was enough to draw attention. Ashton immediately noticed the change in Briar tonight. His eyes lit up ever so slightly, and he smiled as he opened the car door for her. ¡°You look beautiful today, Briar.¡± Briar looked up at Ashton, unflustered. ¡°Thank you. You too.¡± Ashton had ditched his usual formal suit today, and even those gold¨Crimmed sses he wore to look all schrly were gone. Instead, he was dressed in a set of custom¨Ctailored casual wear that still screamed understated luxury. He had long legs, a tall build, and an effortlessly aloof, aristocratic vibe. If Ashton simply nced their way, every girl in the area would be falling head over heels for him. Ashton was clearly pleased with Briar¡¯spliment. He shed her an absolutely dazzling grin. Brandon, acting as the driver tonight, had already decided he was just going to be the background. No matter how shamelessly flirty Ashton got, he was determined to keep his cool. But honestly, that ridiculously charming smile of Ashton¡¯s almost made him break character. Luckily, their little exchange ofpliments only happened that once. Once they got in the car, everything went back to normal. The Wade Group was one of the investors in the movie ¡°The Emperor¡¯s Edict.¡± Naturally, the premiere was held at one of their own theaters¨Cthergest cinema in Shoneport, Bright Cinema. With all the intense promotion beforehand and the huge fanbase of movie star Stephen, Bright Cinema was already swarming with people during the day. Fortunately, the theater¡¯s security team was on point, so there was no traffic congestion on the nearby streets. The people who had been waiting around never expected to see Ashton¡¯s personal car. As soon as it came into view, the crowd started buzzing with excitement. The entertainment reporters immediately turned their cameras on the car, snapping photos from every angle. However, none of them would ever dare to actually run out and block it. This road only led to Bright Cinema, so Ashton¡¯s car showing up at this time could only mean that he was there as a special guest for the movie premiere. People thought, ¡®The production team for ¡°The Emperor¡¯s Command¡± really went all out this time. ¡®They even managed to get Ashton to show up.¡® Sitting in the car, Briar nced at the crowd packed so tight outside. ¡°There are so many people here. Are they all here for Stephen?¡± Ashton looked out the window, totally unfazed. He said, ¡°Pretty much. But they won¡¯t get in the way of our dinner. They¡¯ve already cleared out the restaurant for us ahead of time.¡± Briar raised an eyebrow. ¡°You actually had the restaurant cleared out with this many people and so much attention outside?¡± ¡®Sure enough, when it¡¯s your own restaurant, you really can run things however you like,¡¯ Briar thought to herself. Ashton just shrugged. The ce they were headed to was always high¨Cend and reservation¨Conly anyway. The fans outside were all there for their idol. They wouldn¡¯t bother with a meal. As for the entertainment reporters, there was no way they¡¯d show up. They¡¯d rather camp out at the cinema entrance all day just to get the first scoop. So the only people Ashton needed to clear out were the rich folks who just came by for dinner with nothing better to do. When they arrived at the restaurant, it was empty except for the staff. Ashton led Briar to a table by the window in the main hall. ¡°The view here is great. You can enjoy the scenery while you eat.¡± Briar didn¡¯t mind. She figured it didn¡¯t really matter where they sat. Brandon picked a table way off in a quiet corner and sat down, blending right into the background. The restaurant staff was all professionally trained. Seeing Ashton showed up, no one dared to ck off. They served the dishes properly and then quietly retreated. ¡°We¡¯ve got an hour. That¡¯s plenty of time,¡± Ashton said as he served Briar a chicken drumstick. Briar nodded. ¡°Okay. Ashton, you should eat too. You don¡¯t have to fuss over me.¡± Ever since she¡¯d discovered Ashton¡¯s ¡°dad vibes¡± yesterday, every time he pampered her now, it just made her feel like a kid being fussed over by her father. She couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®This is just way too embarrassing.¡® Ashton said, ¡°Alright, after we finish eating, there¡¯s something I want to talk to you about.¡± Briar shot him a suspicious look, thinking, ¡®What could he possibly have to say that he can¡¯t just tell me now? Why wait until we¡¯re done eating?¡® But Ashton had already lowered his head and started eating. Briar waited for a bit, but since he didn¡¯t bring it up again, she decided not to push him. Still preupied with the suspense Ashton had just left her in, Briar couldn¡¯t really focus on her food. ¡®Seriously, so annoying. How can this guy keep me in suspense like this?¡® she thought Finally, once they were both done eating, Briar couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. ¡°Ashton, what did you want to tell me? Come on spill But Ashton didn¡¯t say a word. Instead, Brandon quickly got up and left the restaurant. Briar blinked, a little speechless. ¡®What just happened?¡® she wondered. Eventually, the huge restaurant was empty except for the two of them. For a moment, Briar thought she actually caught a trace of nervousness on Ashton¡¯s face. Maybe realizing his reaction was a bit much, Ashton cleared his throat, met Briar¡¯s eyes, and gave a lowugh. When he spoke again, he was right back to that unhurried, boss¨Clike aura, like he had everything perfectly under control. ¡°Briar, there¡¯s something I want to ask you about,¡± Ashton said. Briar nodded. ¡°Sure, what is it?¡± There was still a table between them, but Ashton clearly thought it was in the way. He stood up, walked around it, and came right up to Briar. Leaning down just a little, he asked, ¡°Briar, do you have a boyfriend?¡± Briar¡¯s eyes widened slightly. She instinctively sat up straighter from where she¡¯d been lounging in her chair. ¡°Where did thate from?¡± Ashton¡¯s voice was low, maic, and just a little bit teasing. ¡°Tell me, Briar. Do you have a boyfriend?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± she answered. Ashton smiled. ¡°What a coincidence. I don¡¯t have one either.¡± Briar was at a loss for words. ¡®Coincidence? What are you even getting at? Are you just trying to tell me you¡¯re straight or something?¡® she thought. Under Briar¡¯s stunned, slightly evasive gaze, Ashton asked again, ¡°So, do you have a girlfriend?¡± Briar felt like she was starting to get where he was going with this. She bit the inside of her cheek, her expression a mix of emotions as she looked up at him. ¡°No. What about you?¡± Ashton¡¯s smile reached his eyes. ¡°What a coincidence. I don¡¯t have a girlfriend either.¡± Not giving Briar a chance to say anything else/Ashton leaned in even closer, narrowing the space between them until the air practically crackled. Before Briar could even think about dodging, Ashton was already a step ahead. He braced one hand on the back of her chair, boxing her in between himself and the table. There was no escape for her. ¡°I want to be your boyfriend. Will you give me a shot, Briar?¡± Ashton said. Forsaken 119 Chapter 119 Just one sentence, and it was a triple shock. Ashton said, ¡°I want to be your boyfriend.¡± But the problem was she didn¡¯t want that. ¡°Can I have a chance?¡± She didn¡¯t want to give one, honestly. Even if this man¡¯s insanely handsome face at such close range was truly heart¨Cstirring, she still didn¡¯t want to give him a chance. She didn¡¯t expect he would be this bold and straightforward. Ashton¡¯s tempting voice rang out again, ¡°Briar, if you don¡¯t say anything, I¡¯ll take it as a yes.¡± Briar was just about to politely decline when Brandon walked in from outside, cutting her off. ¡°Mr. Wade, the director and others from the crew are outside. They want to see you¡­¡± Seeing how close the two were, Brandon choked on his words. They were way too familiar. It was the exact same one Xavion had every time he pretended to be all proper before losing control. It looked like he had just interrupted Ashton¡¯s moment. Ashton was really being too eager. Sure, the restaurant had been cleared out, but that didn¡¯t mean no one was outside. If someone else had walked in, they might¡¯ve seen it. That would¡¯ve been a disaster. At that moment, Brandon realized something. He was the one who walked in. And he was totally screwed. Brandon stammered and backed toward the door. ¡°Well¡­ you two carry on, carry on!¡± Then he turned and bolted. Unexpectedly, Ashton called out calmly, not sounding angry at all. ¡°Stop.¡± Brandon froze on the spot, not daring to turn around. ¡°Yes, Mr. Wade.¡± If Ashton was going to punish him, he hoped he¡¯d get sent to Spoivania. He could team up with Xavion on a mission and carry rifles. ¡°You didn¡¯t finish your sentence. No need to run.¡± Ashton looked down at the girl, blushing in both embarrassment and frustration. His tone became even softer. Brandon blinked and finally turned around. Ashton didn¡¯t seem angry at all. In fact, there was even the faintest smile on his lips. Brandon -rxed a bit. So he obediently kept his eyes straight ahead and finished what he was saying. ¡°The directors heard you were here, so they all came over. Mr. Stephen Wade is with them. They¡¯d like to see you. Should I let them in?¡± Normally, he wouldn¡¯t report something like this to Ashton, but since Stephen was involved, he had no choice but toe in and ask. And just like that, he¡¯d ended up ruining Ashton¡¯s mood. ¡®Stephen, if you don¡¯t give me a big bonus this time, I swear I¡¯m never ying messenger for you again, Brandon grumbled to himself. Briar had already calmed down by now. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and was about to get up. ¡°Mr. Wade, since you¡® busy, I¡¯ll just¡­¡± ¡°Briar.¡± Just those two words from Ashton made Briar freeze in her seat, not daring to move. ¡°You didn¡¯t reject me just now, so I¡¯m taking that as a yes.¡± Briar stammered, ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­¡± Ashton didn¡¯t give her a chance to finish and turned to Brandon. ¡°Let them in.¡± Briar went silent. He¡¯d asked politely when confessing, but now he wouldn¡¯t even let her speak, Brandon wasn¡¯t good with romance, but he had perfect chemistry with Ashton. He answered right away and brought the group inside. And just like that, Briarpletely lost her chance to reject him. ¡°Mr. Wade!¡± ¡°Mr. Wade!¡± A group of people walked in. Seeing Ashton standing beside a beautiful girl shocked them, but this was the entertainment industry. Everyone knew how to act. No one let their eyes wander. They all stood respectfully and greeted Ashton, Only Stephen, as a member of the Wade family, had his eyes light up when he saw the girl beside Ashton. They met Briar, the one that Jalen had mentioned in the family group chat. She really was beautiful and cute. No wonder she could capture the heart of his cold, woman¨Caverse cousin. Ashton subtly stepped in front of Briar, blocking Stephen¡¯s lecherous gaze fromnding on the girl he had finally ¡°tricked¡± into staying by his side. She hadn¡¯t even officially agreed to be his girlfriend yet. He couldn¡¯t let Stephen scare her off. Briar¡¯s petite figure waspletely shielded. She didn¡¯t mind. It made things easier. She obediently stayed seated, popped in her earphones, and started ying a game. After one match, Ashton finally sent the crowd away. Of course, Stephen, shameless as ever, lingered behind. Ashton shot him a re. ¡°Aren¡¯t you busy?¡± ¡°Not really. Interviews aren¡¯t until after the premiere.¡± Stephen shrugged with shameless ease and even tried to sneak around to get another look at the girl Ashton was hiding. Ashton wasn¡¯t about to let him seed. ¡°Brandon, throw him out.¡± ¡°Right away,¡± Brandon replied. Stephen shook his head. ¡°Man, Ashton, you¡¯re so cold! Come on, I¡¯m not even doing anything. I just wanted to say hi to this cutie¡­¡± Brandon walked up, respectful as always ¡°Mr. Stephen Wade, will you leave on your own, or shall I assist?¡± Stephen clicked his tongue again. ¡°Fine, fine. I¡¯ll go. I¡¯ll see her at the premiere anyway.¡± Before Ashton could blow up, he slipped away. Brandon also hurried to the door to stand guard, leaving the space to them again. Before long, only Ashton and Briar were left in the restaurant, Feeling the intense gaze from above, Briar pretended to be busy with her phone, refusing to look up. Ashton had no choice. He reached over and covered her screen. ¡°Briar.¡± Briar looked up. ¡°Mr. Wade, just say what you want to say.¡± Ashton crouched down to meet her gaze. ¡°I¡¯m guessing what I said earlier made things awkward for you.¡± Briar raised her eyebrows. ¡°Your self¨Cawareness remains impressively sharp.¡± Ashton gave her a faint smile. ¡°Thanks for thepliment.¡± Briar stared at this man who was clearly ying the shameless card and bluntly stated the fact. ¡°Mr. Wade, you¡¯re eight years older than me. Ashton nodded. ¡°Yep. Sounds like a lucky number to me.¡± Briar closed her eyes. She¡¯d definitely missed her best chance to reject him. Now everything just felt messy. Ashton took her phone and earbuds, set them on the table, and looked her in the eyes. His expression was serious. ¡°Briar, you don¡¯t hate me, right? You don¡¯t have a bad impression of me. And if someone like me isn¡¯t qualified to be your boyfriend, then there aren¡¯t many who are. Briar¡¯s longshes trembled. She knew this was a trap, but she still answered honestly, ¡°I don¡¯t hate you. I think you¡¯re great. If even someone like you doesn¡¯t qualify, then there really aren¡¯t many men who do.¡± A smile spread across Ashton¡¯s lips. ¡°Then, let me chase you.¡± B AD Forsaken 120 Chapter 120 Ten minutes before the premiere of The Emperor¡¯s Edict, invited fans and the film¡¯s creators began entering the VIP cinema one after another Briar, holding a cup of smoothies, was being led by the hand by Ashton, who held popcorn in one hand and her in the other, guiding her to the best seat in the house. Even after sitting down and sipping several gulps of smoothies to calm her nerves, Briar still hadn¡¯t recovered from the shock. She had inexplicably agreed to date the notoriously aloof Ashton. Maybe it was because Ashton had looked too tempting when he said, ¡°Then let me chase you.¡± Or perhaps it was the gentle, warm look in his eyes that made her mistakenly feel a sense of security. But Briar still carried the burden of uncovering her mother¡¯s cause of death and clearing Tristan¡¯s name. She couldn¡¯t live a normal life like an ordinary person. In Qathana, she faced several assassination attempts every year. She was a dangerous person. Anyone who got too close to her would likely be a target. She might even bring danger to Ashton. ¡°Briar, stop staring at me. The movie¡¯s starting.¡± Ashton caught her peeking at him. He ced arge hand on top of her head and gently turned it toward the screen. Then, once her gaze shifted away, Ashton leaned toward her ear and whispered, ¡°When the movie ends, I¡¯ll let you stare all you want.¡± Briar went silent. Stephen bent down and whispered something to the girl sitting on Briar¡¯s right. After a few words, he smoothly switched seats with her and plopped down, ignoring the warning look from Ashton. ¡°Hi, Miss Jennings, I¡¯m Stephen. May I get to know you?¡± As expected of a triple¨Caward¨Cwinning Best Actor, Stephen¡¯s smile and movements were sudden, but impossible to refuse. Briar smited and extended a hand to shake his. ¡°Hello, Stephen, I¡¯m Briar.¡± Ashton clenched his jaw. Seeing Briar smiling, he held back from kicking Stephen out of his seat. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about you, Miss Jennings. You were the one who helped our grandfather when he was ill. I was filming abroad at the time and couldn¡¯t get back in time.¡± Stephen was a chatterbox. If he wanted to, he could chat even with a stray dog. Briar¡¯s initial tension gradually melted as they talked, and her body slowly rxed, which amused and frustrated Ashton. But Ashton wasn¡¯t one to sit idly. Since he couldn¡¯t join the conversation, he focused on feeding her. One moment, he popped popcorn into her mouth, the next, he held her smoothies and helped her drink. Briar wasn¡¯t a talkative person to begin with. Most of the conversation was carried on by Stephen, but now she had even less chance to speak. Her mouth was upied. Busy munching on popcorn and drinking smoothies. ¡°Ashton, I¡¯m full.¡± Finally, Briar turned to look at Ashton with a warning in her eyes. Ashton, despite being red at, chuckled. The two pieces of popcorn he was about to feed her took a sharp detour and went into his mouth instead. Stephen snorted. If not for the people sitting nearby, he would¡¯ve burst outughing. TUSE HI TO Aug It was a rare sight, seeing the legendary Ashton actually get put in his ce. The movie scene shifted from dark to bright. Just then, a sh went off from the back row. Ashton and Stephen¡¯s expressions changed at same time, and both turned to look. Behind them sat a few long¨Ctime superfans of Stephen and some of the Emperor¡¯s Edict crew. None of them would dare take secret photos, knowing Ashton was sitting there. Briar noticed too, but pretended not to, keeping her eyes on the screen, though her face turned cold. Ashton and the others assumed it was a fan or paparazzi, but only Briar knew. Those people had snuck in. ¡®Persistent as ever¡­¡® Briar thought to herself. She tapped her knee with her finger, silently counting the time. Five minutester, she leaned close to Ashton. ¡°Ashton, I need to use the restroom.¡± Ashton was about to stand up. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Briar grabbed his hand. ¡°I can go myself! I know where it is.¡± Her small hand was soft and delicate. Feeling her willingly hold him back with such a sweet tone, Ashton had no choice but to give in. ¡°Alright. Just be careful and don¡¯t trip.¡± Briar nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Under his watchful gaze, she walked toward the exit. Soon, her figure disappeared around the corner. Not long after Briar left, a young couple in the back row quietly got up and left as well. Their departure didn¡¯t draw attention. Even Ashton only nced at them once. There were restrooms next to both entrances of the VIP screening hall, but Briar bypassed them and headed toward a farther one. She walked at a steady pace. The same young couple followed from a distance. The three of them, as if by prior agreement, deliberately avoided security cameras and finally slipped into a women¡¯s restroom. As thest person entered, he casually hung a sign on the door. ¡°upied. Do Not Disturb.¡± Briar stood with her hands in her pockets, leaning against the sink with a cold smile. ¡°Couldn¡¯t wait any longer?¡± The woman chuckled and pulled out an ivory¨Chandled pistol, pointing it at Briar. ¡°Can¡¯t help it. You¡¯re the elite instructor from DDC Vanguard. We¡¯ve been dying to kill you. We just couldn¡¯t hold back when the chance finally came!¡± The man locked the door and carefully checked all the stalls to ensure they were empty. He returned to the woman¡¯s side and also pulled out a gun. ¡°Bree, who would¡¯ve thought? After surviving so many assassination attempts in Qathana, you¡¯re finally going to die here in Dasmieca.¡± Even with two ck muzzles aimed at her, Briar remained unfazed. Her smile only grew sweeter. ¡°Oh? Then I guess your teammates forgot to tell you¡­¡± The two stared at her, waiting for her to finish. They were overconfident. They thought that in a gun¨Crestricted country like Dasmieca, their two weapons would be enough to force the unarmed Bree to surrender. But instead of words, what they received was a bullet each, right to the forehead. Fri, 15 Aug In the next moment, under their terrified and disbelieving gazes, blood blossomed like red flowers from their skulls as they fell backward bodies twitching a few times before going still in a pool of crimson. They never even saw how Bree, from her pocket, had pulled out a silenced gun. As she sent a message on her phone, Briar said coldly, ¡°Your teammates didn¡¯t get the chance to tell you. If you run into me, attack first and skip the talking. Otherwise, you¡¯re the ones who¡¯ll end up dead.¡± AD Forsaken 121 Chapter 121 After replying to the message from Ashton, Briar didn¡¯t even nce at the two fresh corpses lying on the ground 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, 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 of taking the original route, Ashton led Briar through a shortcut 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. The harder she pulled, the more he stared at her with that handsome face of his until she finally gave up and let him hold on. 10:51 Fri, 15 Aug O But in her heart, she was uneasy. Ashton had grabbed her left hand, and her left hand was her dominant shooting hand. Finally home, Briar retrieved her hand, waved at him with a smile, and said, ¡°Good night, Mr. Wade¡± 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¨Cscreen, 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¨Cnighter,¡¯ she thought. She put down her phone and nced at her left hand. The gunpowder smell was gone, but she wasn¡¯t 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¨Cdry 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 a clean death was a fantasy. Forsaken 122 Chapter 122 Early the next morning, Briar got out of bed and, out of habit, walked to the window to see if Ashton was outside the gate. Coincidentally, she locked eyes with him walking toward her house. She opened the window and said, ¡°Morning.¡± Ashton stopped and smiled at Briar, who had messy hair from just waking up. ¡°Morning. Going for a run today?¡± Briar nodded, looking at the workout clothes Ashton was already wearing. She asked, ¡°You joining?¡± Sure enough, Ashton nodded casually. ¡°Sure.¡± So, after a quick wash¨Cup, Briar put on her sportswear, and the two of them jogged together around the neighborhood. Forty minutester, they stopped at the gate, slightly out of breath. Ashton helped wipe the sweat off Briar¡¯s forehead. ¡°Go take a shower ande eat breakfast. We have omelettes today.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Briar responded, without looking up, and turned to head home. ¡®Damn it! This is my first time running with Ashton, and not only does he have amazing stamina, but how does he still look so good after 6 miles?¡® she thought. Ashton stared at her fleeing figure, the smile on his lips gradually widening. Ashton was a man who could capture Briar¡¯s attention whenever he wanted. Briar¡¯s first ss wasn¡¯t until 9:30 am, so she wasn¡¯t in a rush. After breakfast, she leaned over the dining table, ying a game to pass the time. Her fingers tapped leisurely, but every shot fired by her in¨Cgame character was a perfect headshot. Each gunshot made Ashton¡¯s eyelids twitch. The words of thatnky man from the previous night kept echoing in his mind. ¡°That woman¡¯s identity is a mystery. Her marksmanship is every assassin¡¯s nightmare. She is Bree¡­¡± ¡°No, she¡¯s not Briar. Her name is Bree!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know this Briar Jennings you¡¯re talking about¡­¡± Even though thenky man denied knowing Briar, when Brandon showed him her photo, the sh of terror in his eyes didn¡¯t escape Ashton¡¯s notice. Internationally, there was indeed a figure known as Bree. No one knew if Bree was male or female, but many spected Bree might be DDC Vanguard¡¯s elite instructor, a founding hacker of the Hacker Alliance, a famed designer, or even the elusive Speed Queen Bree. Ashton couldn¡¯t connect such a legendary figure with thezy girl slouched at the dining table, casually ying a game. Sensing his prolonged stare, Briar looked up and raised one eyebrow, wordlessly asking a question. Ashton met her bright eyes, shook his head, and ruffled her hair. ¡°Nothing. Keep ying.¡± Briar lowered her head again, hiding the flicker of emotion in her eyes. She shifted her posture irritably, very much like a boss, full of swagger. Time passed. Briar put away her phone and got ready to head to school. Ashton still apanied her. Since she was running , there weren¡¯t many cars at the school gate. One inconspicuous ck car in the distance caught Briar¡¯s attention. 1/3 Chapter 122 Of course, Ashton noticed it too. Brandon pulled out his phone, ordering someone to keep an eye on the ck car and find out where it came from. Last night¡¯s incident at Bright Cinema had put Ashton on high alert regarding Briar¡¯s safety. He didn¡¯t trust thenky man¡¯s words, but neither could he fully believe Briar was the cold¨Cblooded powerhouse that man implied. Still, it was undeniable. Briar had been in the bathroom for quite a whilest night. ¡°After school today, wait for me at theb building. I¡¯lle pick you up,¡± Ashton said as he got out of the car, handing her backpack over. ¡°Be good. Don¡¯t wander.¡± Briar looked up in confusion, wanting to ask why, but faced with his casual tone, she just nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Go on,¡± he said. Watching her figure disappear, Ashton took out his phone and made a call. ¡°Mr. Goodwin, I heard your school library is hiring admins?¡± Without Ashton breathing down his neck, Marvin had finally returned to his leisurely habit of skipping work. When he got the strange call, his brow twitched. ¡°What? With your packed schedule, do you still have time for a part¨Ctime job?¡± ¡°Time can always be made,¡± Ashton replied smoothly, not exining further. ¡°Cut the crap.¡± Marvin was instantly on guard. ¡°Just say it. What¡¯s your real purpose?¡± Ashton had never been honest since childhood. The trouble he caused was beyond anything other kids dared to dream of. Over the years, cleaning up his messes had cost millions of dors. Only Griffin¡¯s family was rich enough to let this kid cause chaos at will. Thankfully, once he grew up, he stopped wreaking havoc among Shoneport¡¯s elite and instead turned his attention abroad. Rumor had it, his overseas influence in Spoivania was immense. His subordinates alone were enough to shake any elite circle. Otherwise, how could someone as young as Ashton be epted as the head of the Wade family? In the face of absolute power, rules were nothing. ¡°What other reason could I have? Just want to soak in the sea of knowledge a little,¡± Ashton said with a grin. Marvin was speechless. Even he couldn¡¯t helpughing. This lousy excuse couldn¡¯t convince the president of Shoneport University. But in the end, refusal wasn¡¯t an option. Marvin was more afraid the kid would demolish the library if denied. So, within a day, Ashton became a library administrator at Shoneport University. And it was officially announced by the principal himself. The news was posted all over bulletin boards and forums on campus. Everyone with eyes or ears heard about it, except for the med students holed up in theirbs. As a result, the already¨Ccrowded library was howpletely packed. For college students, the library was a daily necessity. Even more so for the medical students. They needed extra hours for researching learning materials. So when Briar and her group arrived that afternoon, the sea of people made them freeze on the spot. 10:51 Fri, 15 Aug ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Mason grabbed a frantic junior girl struggling to push her way in. ¡°Why are you all rushing in like that? What happened to the library today?¡± Though it was always hard to find seats, this was the first time it looked like the crowd would crush the entrance. The junior¡¯s cheeks were flushed, whether from exertion or excitement. ¡°You don¡¯t know? Mr. Ashton Wade and his friend, Hamish Parkinson, havee to work as our library administrators!¡± They were all stunned. Ashton, that high¨Cand¨Cmighty guy, ultra¨Cbusy one billionaire who rakes in cash every second, brought his billionaire buddy to be a librarian at Shoneport University. The admin¡¯s sry probably wasn¡¯t even enough to buy one of their neckties! AD Forsaken 123 Frank turned to Briar. ¡°Briar, did you know about this?¡± Briar shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± They squeezed through the sea of people with great difficulty to finally make it inside the library. Without caring about their wrinkled clothes, Frank pulled Briar straight to the front desk. Then, they saw two strikingly handsome men, one standing and one sitting, surrounded by a pack of eager students. Sitting was Ashton. He had rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, exposing his arms. Aputer sat beside his hand as he leaned forward , expressionless, clearly busy with work. The overhead lights cast shadows that highlighted his features. They were so stunning. Putting aside his power and wealth, Ashton¡¯s face alone was enough to send women swooning. Of course, despite their excitement, the crowd remained rational and respectfully kept a distance from the cold and aloof Ashton, whose aura made it clear he wasn¡¯t one for flirtation. Instead, their eyes were glued to the man standing at the desk. He was sharp¨Cfeatured, crew cut, tanned skin, strong and muscr. He was Hamish, a top¨Ctier hunk in his own right. A roguish yboy with a charming air, Hamish had it all. He had a prestigious background, ex¨Cspecial forces king status, and a natural charisma that had the crowd of students giggling and blushing all around. If Frank and Briar didn¡¯t know they were in a library, they¡¯d have thought they¡¯d walked into a male model nightclub! Hamish, with his military instincts, immediately noticed Briar being pulled along by Frank. He pped Ashton¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Ashton, your girl¡¯s here.¡± Ashton looked up from the screen. As he caught sight of Briar and the hand Frank had on her wrist, a flicker of sharpness passed through his eyes. As she approached, he stood up, reached out, pushed Frank¡¯s hand away, reced it with his own, and pulled Briar inside the counter. ¡°No more sses this afternoon?¡± Briar nodded. ¡°Yeah, just a couple of hours in thebter for some small experiments.¡± Ashton had eyes only for her. ¡°When will that end? My shift here goes till 7 pm.¡± Briar chuckled at how seriously he talked about his ¡°job¡± as a library administrator. ¡°You¡¯re serious about this, Mr. Wade?¡± Ashton gave her the chair he¡¯d been sitting in and remained standing, not at all concerned that thepany inbox of Wade Group was still open on theputer screen. ¡°Of course. I really like this job.¡± Briar shrugged, not taking a side. ¡°Alright. Whatever makes you happy.¡± In her mind, this bigshot wants to y librarian, but the one who would get a headache in the end was Marvin. A good library had been turned into a public market. ¡°Mr. Wade, your smoothie¡¯s here,¡± Brandon finally squeezed in through the crowd and handed over a cup. Ashton took it, unwrapped the straw, inserted it, and handed it to Briar. ¡°80% sugar, just the way you like it.¡± Briar took it without hesitation and sipped. Chapter 123 Their effortless and intimate interaction stunned everyone. The gasps from the surrounding students came in waves, ¡®Ashton can actually be this easygoing? Guess all those rumors were true! He really is different from Briar, willing to have her back someone thought. Hamish, who had been dragged in as backup, was seeing this side of his friend for the first time. The infamous cold and arrogant Action, acting like a soft, eager puppy. It shocked Hamish. But he knew his ce. Ashton¡¯s mind and heart were all on this girl. There was no point trying to wedge in. Better focus on entertaining the others. Finally, after a great effort, the crowd dispersed, and the area around the desk was quiet again. Frank and Mason didn¡¯t leave. They all surrounded Hamish. Frank whispered, ¡°Hamish, what were you thinking? Why are you here, wasting. time at Shoneport University?¡± Hamish sighed and nodded toward Ashton. ¡°You think I came here willingly?¡± Frank immediately got the point and made an OK gesture,ughing mercilessly. Hamish kicked them all away. ¡°Scram! Go study and stop being eyesores!¡± They ran offughing. None of them invited Briar along. Briar went silent. Ashton opened the library¡¯s terminal and handed it to Briar. ¡°You can look up anything you need here. I have full ess to digital archives.¡± As a library admin, he had top¨Clevel ess. She could search for anything. Briar hade with a real purpose, so she put down her smoothies, dragged over the chair, and dove into research mode, ignoring Ashton Soon enough, she waspletely absorbed in her work, totally ignoring Ashton. Hamish pulled Ashton aside. ¡°Ashton, something¡¯s off with you.¡± Ashton asked, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°I have a bold theory¡­¡± Hamish whispered, suspicious, ¡°Did you seriously take this girl in as your future wife?¡± Ashton slipped one hand into his pocket and shot Hamish a cool,zy smirk. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? Or do you think she¡¯s not good enough?¡± Hamish rolled his eyes. ¡°Just say what you mean, man. Quit with the smooth talk.¡± Sure, he was the famous flirt, but when Ashton turned it on, Hamish couldn¡¯tpete. Ashton dropped the teasing look. ¡°The girl¡¯s simple and well¨Cbehaved. If you run into her, keep an eye out for me.¡± Hamish grimaced. ¡°Got it. Like I could ignore her after the way you publicly doted on her today?¡± After watching Ashton openly dote on the girl right in front of him, there was no way Hamish could just pretend not to know her if they bumped into each otherter. ¡°But seriously, are you really all in on this?¡± Hamish still found it strange. ¡°Will your family even let her marry into the Wade family?¡± The other Wade family branches weren¡¯t known for being kind. They only kept quiet because Ashton kept them in check. ¡°I don¡¯t need a political marriage to secure my datos Action wed Hamish held up his hands. ¡°Right, right. You¡¯re so athering, Even year No one knew the extent of Ashton¡¯s assets. Just the revenue from as overseas annual profit. wealth court Buy our wide Groun operations in the Spohoria could match half of War Games ¡°As long as the old man agrees, it¡¯s enough,¡± Ashton added seriously, knowing exactly what Hamish was wordad about. Hamish nodded slowly. ¡°Then I¡¯m relieved. But tell me honestly. Are you really not using yourself as bait to win over the dirt for your grandfather¡¯s sake?¡± He¡¯d heard the rumors. Briar was the disciple of Tristan. Her skills had outshone military medics across the nation. She¡¯d even cured Grillma mysterious recurring ckouts. Knowing how much Ashton valued his grandfather, Hamish seriously suspected this was all part of a mar n involving a ¡°honey trap.¡± C Forsaken 124 Chapter 124 Ashton looked utterly shocked. ¡°In your heart, is that the kind of person I am?¡± Hamish rubbed his nose. To be honest, he felt guilty as soon as he said it. Ashton was a dignified heir to a powerful family. No matter how down and out he was, there was no need to stoop this low. ¡°Just in case?¡± Ashton ignored his brain¨Cdamaged friend, walked over to Briar, sat down next to her, and began working seriously. Hamish was left hanging. Ever since he received the call that Ashton would be working at the Shoneport University library, Marvin¡¯s head had started to ache. He had a bad feeling that having this troublemaker here meant the school would never have peace again. Sure enough, not even a day had passed, and he had already received over a dozenint calls from professors, saying the library was nearly bursting with people. And outside the campus, a bunch of parents had gathered after hearing the news. Marvin was overwhelmed. The heir of the Wade family was working as a library assistant at Shoneport University. This explosive news not only caused a frenzy among students but also created an opportunity for many to try to meet the CEO of the Wade Group. Being close to the source has its advantages, and the parents were even more excited than the students. Unfortunately, despite students practically flooding the library, this aloof heir didn¡¯t seem interested in talking to anyone, and they all left disappointed. Marvin could only keep messaging Ashton over and over, reminding him to keep a low profile and not let the students blow the library roof. off. Ashton didn¡¯t reply. Two hours passed quickly, and Frank and the others came on time to get Briar. Briar closed herptop, grabbed her half¨Cfinished, now¨Ccold smoothies. ¡°Mr. Wade, I¡¯m heading back to theb.¡± ¡°Alright, once you¡¯re done, message me. We¡¯ll go home and have dinner together,¡± Ashton replied, thetter part sounding a little suggestive. Strangely enough, Briar just gave him an embarrassed re but didn¡¯t object. ¡°Okay.¡± Ashton¡¯s face lit up with a smile as he watched Briar slowly walk off with Frank and the others, joy practically radiating off him like bubbles. ¡°She¡¯s already out of sight, Mr. Wade. Better wipe your drool. Are you starving or something?¡± Hamish, who had beenpletely ignored the whole time, finally spoke up with sour sarcasm. He added, ¡°She¡¯s still just a young girl. Can¡¯t you at least reel in that dirty, pervy face of yours?¡± Ashton withdrew his gaze and no longer minded his friend being around. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear? I have ns tonight. You stay and keep working. I¡¯m heading out first.¡± Hamish looked stunned and pointed at himself. ¡°You¡¯re leaving me? Alone?¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear? She ising to my ce for dinner tonight. I have to go get ready.¡± Hamish was so angry heughed. ¡°You? You¡¯re a rich heir who¡¯s never touched a kitchen in your life. You¡¯re not even the one cooking! Can¡¯t you just order someone to make dinner at home?¡± Hamish threatened, ¡°No way. You¡¯re not leaving. If you dare walk out that door, I¡¯ll sell your little love chasing story to the tabloids. Wade family heir humbles himself as a library assistant for love¡®¡­¡± Ashton asked, ¡°Are you a damn dog or what?¡± ¡°Who cares if I am? The question is, does it work or not?¡± Hamish shot back, arms crossed, looking like he owned the ce. Hamish wouldn¡¯t let Ashton leave. He had ditched his sweet little lover today just toe here and suffer embarrassment with Ashton. There was no way he was letting Ashton ditch him like that. He knew Ashton hated being bothered, especially by those ever¨Cpresent paparazzi. Though they wouldn¡¯t dare reveal his movements directly, even a harmless photo or two could be traded to the Wade Group for some hush money. Not to mention the crowd of elite parents waiting outside the school. Every one of them was a major figure in Shoneport¡¯s social circle. No matter how indifferent Ashton usually was, he couldn¡¯t pretend they didn¡¯t exist. In the end, Ashton had to let Brandon go back and stay behind to ¡°apany¡± his friend to work. ¡®Shameless! Whose job is this supposed to be, anyway?¡® Hamish grumbled to himself. ¡°Le, even Ashton came to Shoneport University himself. Looks like our n to target Briar is doomed to fail.¡±¨C In a quiet corner of the library, Le, Abbie, and a few others hade early to grab spots after hearing the news. Watching the intimate interaction between Briar and Ashton, they were filled with jealousy. Le said, ¡°Not necessarily. The Campus Belle Contest is an internal school matter. No matter how much Ashton protects her, he can¡¯t meddle in everything at Shoneport University, can he?¡± Le was even more jealous than the others, but she had the pride of a rich young heiress and refused to admit defeat so easily. Winning the beauty contest was her best chance to beat Briar in something. ¡°Le, you¡¯re here too?¡± A cheerful voice sounded behind them. The girls turned around to see Beatrice approaching with two books in hand, dressed in a white dress. Le¡¯s eyes lit up when she saw, Beatrice, and a more perfect n immediately came to mind. She smiled and waved. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Beatrice. Come sit with us. We¡¯ll make room for you.¡± Beatrice happily rushed over. ¡°Thanks, everyone. You¡¯re all so nice.¡± ¡°Beatrice, you and Briar are sisters, right? Then why didn¡¯t you sign up for the Campus Belle Contest? With your looks, your chances of winning are pretty high.¡± Le asked with a seemingly casual smile while ncing toward a tall figure nearby. Beatrice¡¯s face stiffened slightly. She forced a smile and replied awkwardly, ¡°We don¡¯t get along too well. I¡¯m afraid if I join the contest, it¡¯ll make things even worse between us¡­¡± Robert, who hade over to look for someone, overheard Beatrice¡¯s soft, aggrieved tone. ¡°Beatrice, why are you always the onepromising? Briar wouldn¡¯t appreciate it anyway.¡± Robert Davis, a sophomore in the sports department at Shoneport University, was tall and brawny with a straightforward personality. He fell for the gentle and quiet Beatrice at first sight and had since be her most loyal simp. 20 Wherever Beatrice went, Robert was not far behind. Many in the sports department already knew that he liked the dance department i Beatrice. People always said sports and arts go hand in hand. One¡¯s an athlete, one¡¯s a dancer. No conflict, just a perfect match for a couple The Davis family, once one of Shoneport¡¯s four great families, might have declined, but it was still wealthy. The Davis family still had some standing among the upper ss. Beatrice looked at Robert gently. ¡°Robert, don¡¯t say that about my sister. She just came back from abroad and isn¡¯t used to social norms here. As the older sister, it¡¯s my job to give in to her.¡± Robert sighed. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t fight for anything, your rtionship with her won¡¯t improve overnight. Forget it. Don¡¯t worry about this. I¡¯ll figure something out for you¡­¡± AD Forsaken 125 Chapter 125 In theer, Le watched the entire scene unfold with a smile. She stopped Abbie, who was about to speak, and subtly shook her head. The two of them even considerately took a few steps back to give some space. Abbie looked puzzled. ¡°Le, what¡¯s up?¡± Le smiled as she exined, ¡°You still don¡¯t see it? Robert likes Beatrice.¡± Abbie raised her eyebrows. ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s it! But Le, aren¡¯t you worried? If Robert helps Beatrice run for campus queen, she¡¯ll be your rival too.¡± Abbie raised her eyebrows. ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s it! But Le, aren¡¯t you worried? If Robert helps Beatrice run for campus queen, she¡¯ll be your rival too.¡± If a conflict broke out, she could muddy the waters and seize the opportunity to push Briar out. Abbie didn¡¯t know what Le was plotting now, but as long as it was aimed at Briar, and as long as Briar suffered, she was more than happy. Everything happening on this side waspletely unknown to Briar, who was focused on her experiment in theb. Even if she had known, she wouldn¡¯t have cared. The experiment her research group had toplete today was simple. At least, in Briar¡¯s eyes, it was the kind of basic task even someone with no skill could perform. This kind of basic experiment was something she had done countless times when she was just beginning her studies under Tristan in traditional medicine. But to her surprise, what she thought was a piece¨Cof¨Ccake experiment only had a 50% sess rate among the 12 team members. Besides Briar, only Frank, Mason, Ted, group leader James, and Thomas, who came from a renowned medical family, were able toplete the experiment within the allotted time. The others either made mistakes halfway through or failed the final step. The mentor wasn¡¯t surprised that Frank, Mason, Ted, James, and Thomaspleted the experiment. They were all seniors in their fourth year. If they couldn¡¯t do even this kind of simple task, they couldn¡¯t graduate. What surprised Joshua was that Briar not onlypleted it but did so the fastest and with the highest standard. He was thrilled by her performance. Meanwhile, the remaining students who failed repeatedly almost got scolded into oblivion by Joshua. It was so embarrassing! And honestly, it wasn¡¯t even unjustified. Everyone felt embarrassed and ashamed. Getting yelled at was a mild punishment. Briar quietly stood by, asionally checking the time. It was almost 6 pm, which was dinnertime. Joshua, hoarse from scolding, finally dismissed them. ¡°Alright, those of you who didn¡¯tplete the experiment today, hand in yourb report before 8 am tomorrow. You can all leave now.¡± Briar turned and left immediately, her swift departure astonishing. As soon as she walked out of theb building, she saw a tall figure waiting nearby. She picked up her pace. ¡°Mr. Wade.¡± Ashton naturally took her backpack from her hands. ¡°Hungry? Dinner¡¯s already prepared at home.¡± Briar nodded and replied honestly, ¡°Yeah.¡± Experiments really drained her, both physically and mentally. She¡¯d been hungry for a while now. Ashton reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of white chocte. ¡°Here, have this to hold you over.¡± The chocte had melted slightly from being in his pocket, but it didn¡¯t affect the sweet, creamy taste. ¡®Does Ashton always have chocte on him, or what?¡® Briar couldn¡¯t help but wonder. Behind her, Frank and the others saw Ashton personally picking up Briar and sensibly turned around. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Let¡¯s take another route.¡± Briar kept quiet. They walked toward the school gate together. Along the way, they passed several people pretending to ¡°identally run into Ashton. But with his cold expression and demeanor, he didn¡¯t give anyone a chance to start a conversation. Just as they were about to exit the school gate, a man in a buzzcut and simple sportswear jogged past them. Normally, Briar wouldn¡¯t have paid him any attention, but as he passed, he turned around and gave a quick smile in their direction. She wasn¡¯t even sure who he was smiling at. That smile was something else. It was friendly, handsome, and totally maic. At least, to the girls nearby, it sent a little thrill through the crowd. ¡°That¡¯s Sawyer Hemsley, the campus doctor! He¡¯s going running again. Wow! Two hours of running every day. How does he do it?¡± ¡°Yeah, I once secretly followed him on my bike. He really ran nonstop for two hours, same pace all the way. Do you know how insane that is?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a legend! Our PE coaches should just hire him.¡± ¡°Rain or shine, every single day. His workout routine is more intense than the freshmen in the sports department!¡± ¡°Only you girls would say that. Just two hours. Any guy in the PE department could top that.¡± Some male students were clearly unconvinced. But they were quickly drowned out by the girls¡® admiration. When it came to good looks, everything else was irrelevant. Ashton raised an eyebrow, noticing Briar¡¯s gaze lingering on the retreating figure of Sawyer. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You know him?¡± Standing beside him, Brandon could smell the jealousy in the air. ¡®Is he really getting jealous over this?¡® Brandon thought. But Briar didn¡¯t catch the jealousy in his tone. She nodded. ¡°That guy gives me a weird feeling.¡± Ashton asked, ¡°Weird how?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Just¡­ something feels off. Maybe he¡¯s just not as handsome as you,¡± Briar casually replied, trying to brush off the topic. Ashton¡¯s cold eyes immediately softened into a warm smile. ¡°Good point.¡± Brandon kept quiet. Their car was parked just outside the campus. Brandon opened the door and let Briar in first, then Ashton followed. This little detail caused another stir among the onlookers nearby. People couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®Briar really isn¡¯t someone to mess with.¡® With Briar¡¯s help, the Jennings family might justtch onto Ashton for good this time. The car pulled away, leaving all those jealous onlookers in the dust. At an inconspicuous corner nearby, Sawyer stood watching the car drive away, his gaze sharp and intense. The smile on his face gradually twisted into something sinister, like a predator who had just spotted prey, full of bloodlust and anticipation. ¡°Briar Jennings? The daughter of that lunatic woman? Now that¡¯s interesting.¡± He sneered ¡°Dr. Hemsley! What a coincidence seeing you here!¡± A voice called from behind. Sawyer immediately swapped his expression for a gentle harmless smile and turned around. ¡°Yes, what a coincidence. Out for a jog too? Want to join me?¡± Two girls in athletic wear were smiling brightly at him. Clearly out for a jog, or maybe not just that. ¡°Can we?¡± one of the girls asked boldly, eyes lighting up. Sawyer¡¯s smile widened. He even gestured like a gentleman. ¡°Of course. It¡¯d be my honor to have two lovelydies join me They giggled, their faces flushing with excitement. The two excited girls followed Sawyer toward a park path nearby. They were so giddy that they didn¡¯t notice that he deliberately avoided all the surveince cameras along the way. Not a single other soul crossed their path. By the time the girls sensed something was wrong, it was already toote¡­ Forsaken 126 Chapter 126 There are thousands of teachers and students at Shoneport University, and all kinds of new things happen on campus every day. The sudden leave or absence of one or two boarding students wouldn¡¯t draw much attention. Only their roommates and counselors would care about their disappearance. In the sophomore girls¡® dormitory of the history department, a counselor was trying to call Aneesa Ortega and Vivian Koch, but both of their phones were turned off. She also failed to reach their families. So she first reported them for skipping ss and then informed the life teacher in charge of second year history students. Meanwhile, the campus king and queen beauty contest was in full swing. Today, a new strong contender had joined the race for campus queen. It was Beatrice, the belle of the dance department. Overnight, her vote count nearly caught up with the reigning campus queen, Le. Many thought Le would be furious, but surprisingly, she was seen having lunch at the cafeteria with her new rival, Beatrice. Beatrice, looking timid, said, ¡°Le, you¡¯re so kind to me¡­ I feel embarrassed. I really don¡¯t know how that senior managed to get me so many votes overnight.¡± Le smiled warmly and held Beatrice¡¯s hand. ¡°Oh,e on! The campus queenpetition is just a game. If it¡¯s not you, it would be someone else trying topare themselves to me. Your sister, for instance? I¡¯d rather have you beat me and feel at ease than have her constantly making me ufortable.¡± ¡°I feel bad!¡± Beatrice felt deeply soothed by Le¡¯s words, though she continued to act humble. ¡°I don¡¯t have your appeal, Le. You¡¯re the universally acknowledged campus queen. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll win again this time.¡± At that moment, Briar happened to walk past with Frank and his group. Hearing the childish conversation between the two girls holding hands, she raised her eyebrows and casually drifted past them. Frank sometimes really felt Briar was kind of annoying. She clearly knew they were talking about her, yet she deliberately walked past them. No way that was a coincidence. But he wasn¡¯t worried. After all, Ashton wasn¡¯t an ordinary guy. Even if something big happened, Ashton could handle it. Faced with Briar¡¯s silent provocation, Le and Beatrice were nearly driven mad. Beatrice especially wanted to rush over and teach Briar a lesson. But she didn¡¯t dare. She had begged her father for a long time that day, yet he still failed to persuade Briar to withdraw from the campus queen contest. If she got into a conflict with Briar now, it would surely affect her chances. Le, on the other hand, saw how close Briar was to Frank and wished she could tear Briar apart. ¡°Hey! Did you guys hear? Our school canceled the military drill. It¡¯s being reced with a campus sports event, and all students have to participate,¡± Mason said cheerfully at the lunch table. Tedughed. ¡°Where did you hear that? The military drill is a Shoneport University tradition. It can¡¯t just be canceled.¡± Mason remained mysterious. ¡°That¡¯s what you don¡¯t know! I happened to pass by the principal¡¯s office and overheard Mr. Goodwin saying it himself.¡± Charle got curious, ¡°Then it must be true. Mason, give us the details.¡± ¡°You guys know Mr. Goodwin used to be a special forces soldier, right?¡± Mason lowered his voice. ¡°Who doesn¡¯t know that? In our Shoneport, there are two legendary soldier kings, Reece and Hamish. After retiring, both turned into womanizing yboys.¡± ¡°You also know Hamish is now close to Mr. Wade, so he doesn¡¯t get involved in military stuff anymore. But Reece is different. The Goodwin family is involved in military matters, and many of the army¡¯s secrets circte in their social circle.¡± 14:15 Sat, 16 Aug. ¡°Okay, we know all that. Just get to the point.¡± Frank pped Mason on the back of the head. ¡°Keep it short.¡± He kept rambling on with all that random nonsense. He was casually bringing up military matters over lunch again. ¡°Ouch!¡± Mason realized he got too carried away. ¡°Anyway, what I heard is that this year¡¯s military drill might be held in Shoneport. Many schools training programs were downsized or canceled. For Shoneport University, since training is a tradition, they couldn¡¯t cancel it outright. So they changed the format.¡± ¡°Wow! That¡¯s intense. If that¡¯s true, the whole city will probably be under martialw.¡± Ted¡¯s eyes lit up. Frank thought for a moment. ¡°Most likely. If that¡¯s true, we should all behave ourselves for a while. Don¡¯t cause trouble, and definitely don¡¯t go wandering around.¡± As everyone knew, military drills in Dasmieca were never just for show. They were always targeted operations. A sudden shift of drills to Shoreport indicated that something serious was going on. Frank believed that Ashton¡¯s unexpected arrival at Shoneport University as a library administrator was more than just a coincidence. There had to be something going on. There was no way a cunning man like him would leave hispany behind and waste time at a university library. Ashton was a ruthless, ambitious CEO. He had never behaved so unreliably. Even if he were chasing a girl, he wouldn¡¯t abandon such a huge business. Throughout the conversation, Briar quietly focused on her meal, not joining in. Her lowered gaze carried a hint of coldness. A military drill would be the perfect opportunity. If it turned out to be a realbat exercise, she could use the chaos to probe certain people¡¯s secrets in Shoneport. A sinister smile appeared on Briar¡¯s stunning face. Frank caught it from the corner of his eye and shivered. He knew she must have thought of something fun. That smile was terrifying. After lunch, Briar and the others were heading to theb building when they ran into Ashton and Hamish. The rowdy group suddenly stood up straight and greeted them, ¡°Mr. Wade, Hamish.¡± Hamish waved a hand. ¡°You guys go have fun. We¡¯re here for Little Briar.¡± Briar frowned. ¡®What¡¯s with the ¡®Little Briar¡®?¡® Ashton beckoned to her. ¡°Briar,e here.¡± Briar slowly walked over, and Ashton led her toward the maple grove on campus. She didn¡¯t expect him to want to talk about the military drill changes too. He asked, ¡°You heard about the drill being reced by a sports event, right?¡± Briar raised an eyebrow. ¡°Wow, you really get the scoop fast.¡± They had just mentioned it at lunch, and the info had already reached Ashton. Ashton gave a mocking smile. The situation, in his words, was simply a game some people were ying behind the scenes. It was mainly r screen certain individuals who had recently returned from abroad with unclear backgrounds. He was worried Briar might get dragged in, so her in advance to be prepared. to arned Briar pressed her tongue against her pte. That incident at the police stationst time was not baseless after all. Forsaken 127 Chapter 127 Perhaps sensing the sudden chill that emanated from Briar, arge handnded gently atop her head and ruffled her hair. Ashton said softly, ei ¡®m telling you this just so you¡¯re mentally prepared. As for everything else, I¡¯m here. Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± Ashton didn¡¯t ask why Briar¡¯s records in Qathana were forged, nor did he question the real reason for her return to Dasmieca. He epted her secrets without condition. Aside from her grandfather and two uncles, few people had ever been this considerate of her feelings. To say she wasn¡¯t moved would be a lie. Briar pressed her lips together, suppressing the unrest rising in her heart. ¡°Mr. Wade, actually¡­ You don¡¯t have to be so good to me.¡± ¡®I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll never be able to repay you for this,¡® she thought. For someone like her, with no future and a heart filled with hatred and the darkest parts of humanity, being treated so kindly. It just wasn¡¯t worth it. Ashton¡¯s heart tightened. Hisrge hand slid from the top of her head to the side of her neck, gently squeezing. His palm wasn¡¯t hot, but it made Briar¡¯s body tremble slightly. Ashton pretended not to notice her flushed face. ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy for me to like someone. If I don¡¯t treat you well, who should I treat well? Besides, how I treat you is my business. You don¡¯t need to feel burdened, and you certainly don¡¯t owe me anything in return.¡± Being eight years older than Briar made Ashton a seasoned and cunning fox, far better at reading and handling people. Since Briar was hiding something, her expressions right now were easy to interpret. Briar didn¡¯t say anything more, but at least she didn¡¯t resist. She stood there obediently, letting Ashton rub and squeeze the side of her neck, like a kitten whose fur had been smoothed out. ¡°It¡¯s still early. Want to nap at my ce?¡± Ashton nced at his watch and suggested. Briar looked around the maple grove for Frank and the others, but they had already been chased off by Hamish. ¡°Okay.¡± As library administrators, both Ashton and Hamish had their own restrooms. They were small, one¨Cbed, private rooms. Ashton led Briar into his room, adjusted the air conditioning to afortable temperature, and handed her a thin gray nket from a small wardrobe. ¡°Sleep. I¡¯ll be outside and wake you when it¡¯s time.¡± Briar took the nket,y on the edge of the bed, and pulled it over her head. A few fingers clutched the edge of the nket. Its color contrasted starkly with her skin. She looked obedient, cute even. Ashton¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, hiding the emotion in them. He didn¡¯t linger long and turned to leave. As he came out, Hamish, who was bored ying Minesweeper, chuckled and asked, ¡°Not staying with her? What a great chance.¡± Unlike Ashton, who had no experience in rtionships, Hamish had a colorful dating history and countless tricks for winning girls¡® hearts. That was exactly why Ashton dragged Hamish along to Shoneport University, so he wouldn¡¯tpletely embarrass himself. Ashton¡¯s expression remained cool and indifferent. He didn¡¯t answer but sat down casually. His smile grew wider. ¡°She¡¯s not like your little girlfriends.¡± Hamish clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes, his flirtatious gaze brimming with stars and seas. ¡°Alright, alright. Your girl is the most special. Happy?¡± ¡®He hasn¡¯t evennded the girl yet, and he¡¯s already got her up on a pedestal? Soon he¡¯ll bepletely at her mercy.¡¯ Hamish thought. Just imagining the fearsome Ashton being all soft¨Cspoken and gentle at home. ¡®Man, that¡¯s a sight I don¡¯t want to see,¡® he thought. At that moment, Brandon hurried over, scanning the area near the counter. Not seeing Briar, he lowered his voice, ¡°Mr. Wade, where¡¯s Miss Jennings?¡± ¡°She¡¯s inside taking a nap. What do you need her for?¡± Ashton¡¯s eyes darkened. 1/2 Chapter 127 Brandon nced around again. Seeing that the nearby students were all huddled near the bookshelves, he leaned in and said, ¡°we just recen Two female students from Shoneport University went missing yesterday evening. This morning, their bodies¡­¡± Because the case was strange, Brandon kept his voice very low, afraid of being overheard and causing unnecessary panic. Ashton and Hamish exchanged nces after hearing the news, both of their eyes filled with grim resolve. Hamish even closed his game and sat up straight. ¡°Brandon, how far has the news spread?¡± Ashton¡¯swork had an underground intel¨Cgathering group in Shoneport. Often, they got information before it hit the mainstream channels. Brandon looked visibly frustrated too. He said, ¡°The bodies were found in a public park near Shoneport University. Since it¡¯s a free park, an elderly person out for morning exercise found them. We tried to intercept the news, but with those seniors¡® knack for spreading word, it¡¯s basically out of our hands Marvin had it blocked from leaking outside campus, but I believe he¡¯ll call you soon¡­¡± Just as he finished speaking, Ashton¡¯s phone rang. He looked at the caller ID. Sure enough, it was Marvin. Hamish spread his hands. ¡°Go ahead and answer. Looks like we came to Shoneport University looking for peace, but trouble found us anyway.¡± ¡°Mr. Goodwin.¡± Ashton¡¯s voice was as cold as his eyes, though it carried no discernible emotion. Over the phone, Marvin quickly summarized the situation. The incident had caught the schoolpletely off guard. If he hadn¡¯t acted swiftly to suppress the news, panic would¡¯ve already broken out within the school. ¡°That¡¯s the gist of it. I¡¯m on my way to the police station now.¡± ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll send someone to you right away.¡± While speaking, Ashton looked at Brandon, who nodded and left immediately. After hanging up, Hamish looked a bit grim. ¡°Ashton, who do you think this is targeting?¡± It was quite a coincidence. They just arrived at Shoneport University, and something major happened. Moreover, it was a murder case. A school was not afraid of poor academic performance, notck of des, but a student dying, especially something involving murder. If mishandled, it could destroy the century¨Cold reputation of Shoneport University! Ashton shoved his hands into his pockets and turned slightly, his gazending on the tightly shut door of the restroom. ¡°They better be targeting me.¡± ¡°I hope so too. Otherwise, I¡¯m afraid Shoneport¡¯s in for a storm.¡± Hamish¡¯s eyes held a mix of unease andplexity. Having grown up with Ashton, he knew exactly what those words meant. Ashton had likely already guessed the deeper motives behind this incident. Shoneport had been quiet for too long. Many had probably forgotten just how ruthless Ashton could be. dared to en Whe the f either v AD Forsaken 128 Chapter 128 In the break room, the deeply asleep Briar was abruptly awakened by a phone call. Being woken up mid¨Cnap made her expression rather unpleasant. When she saw it was Georgiana calling, her irritation only intensified. ¡°You better have a good reason,¡± Briar snapped. She was supposed to be on vacation right now. Georgiana shivered at Briar¡¯s icy tone. ¡°Briar, I really didn¡¯t want to call at this time, but something happened on your end.¡± All of them had location ess to Briar¡¯s phone, so they knew exactly where she was, and it was currently her nap time. Briar¡¯s notorious post¨Cnap temper wasn¡¯t something to take lightly. ¡°What happened?¡± Briar sat up and rubbed her throbbing temples. Georgiana hesitated, then blurted, ¡°Last night, two female students from Shoneport University disappeared after going out. This morning, their bodies were found with their organs cut open and dumped in a park near campus. And¡­ there¡¯s evidence pointing to you.¡± Briar¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What kind of evidence?¡± Georgiana answered cautiously, ¡°There¡¯s surveince footage showing you near the park¡­ and your fingerprints were found on the bodies¡­¡± Briar¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°My fingerprints? Under which identity?¡± Georgiana replied, ¡°Just your in, unimpressive Briar student identity.¡± Briar¡¯s voice turned cial. ¡°Looks like the rats from back then are finally poking their heads out again.¡± Georgiana trembled on the other end. ¡°Briar, are you okay? What are you going to do? When we got word, the evidence was already in the police¡¯s hands. Do you have a way out? Should we¡­¡± ¡°No need. If this is the best trick they¡¯ve got, they¡¯re not even close to touching me,¡± Briar cut Georgiana off. ¡°That¡¯s it. I¡¯m hanging up.¡± Georgiana rushed to say, ¡°Briar, take it easy, okay? Don¡¯t go overboard out there¡­¡± Briar had already hung up. There were still forty minutes before afternoon sses began, but she was fully awake now. She stood up, folded the thin nket neatly, ced it at the head of the bed, and walked out of the room. At the front desk, Ashton and Hamish were chatting. Hearing the door, Ashton turned his head. ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± ¡°Got woken by a call.¡± Briar¡¯s lips were pressed tight, and the sleepiness hadn¡¯t fully faded from her cold expression. Ashton poured her a cup of water. ¡°Want to sit for a bit? Or heading back to theb building?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll sit for a while.¡± Briar took the cup and drank slowly. If what Georgiana said was true, then it was only a matter of time before the police came looking for her. What she hadn¡¯t expected, though, was that instead ofing straight to her, the police first called Edgar. Which meant Briar got his furious phone call before anything else. He snapped, ¡°Briar, just what the hell have you been doing out there? Why are the police saying you need to assist in a murder investigation? Do you have any idea what this could do to our family¡¯s reputation? If you¡¯re involved in a murder case. How could you do that?¡± 1/3 14.15 Sat, 16 Aug. 71) Chapter 128 ¡°Shut up. My business is none of your concern,¡± Briar said tly, her face expressionless, as if Edgar¡¯s angry ranting on the other end of the line wash i even directed at her. Edgar choked. ¡°None of my business? I¡¯d love to not care, the ce! You¡­¡± but the police just called the house! And now the news about the bodies in the park all over Briar ended the call without hesitation, and when she looked up, she met Ashton¡¯s gaze, who had risen to his feet with a furrowed brow. At that moment, Ashton also received a message from Brandon on his phone. [Mr. Wade, the police found Miss Jennings¡¯s fingerprints on the two bodies. They¡¯re requesting her presence at the station for questioning.] Though Briar hadn¡¯t put her call on speaker, Edgar had been yelling so loudly that even Hamish sitting nearby couldn¡¯t pretend he hadn¡¯t heard it. He also caught a glimpse of the message on Ashton¡¯s phone. Hamish, who had been smiling moments ago, now stared in disbelief. ¡®Holy shit! So this whole thing is really targeting Ashton¡¯s girl? Shoneport¡¯s about to get real interesting!¡® Hamish thought. If someone were targeting Ashton directly, those people might still survive. But if they were going after Briar? With Ashton¡¯s infamous protectiveness and cunning, blood would definitely be spilled. ¡°Mr. Wade, I need to go to the station.¡± Briar shook the phone in her hand. She was calm, like she was just heading out to run an errand. Ashton grabbed his coat from the back of the chair. As he followed her out, he typed a reply to Brandon. ¡°I¡¯m taking her there myself.¡± Hamish watched Ashton¡¯s cold, nk expression and couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy/ Grabbing his car keys, he ran after them. ¡°Wait, I¡¯ll drive you two. And I¡¯ll pick up Marvin while I¡¯m at it.¡± Since this was targeted at Ashton and Briar, there was no way the matter would be resolved quickly at the police station. And Marvin, being an aging man, shouldn¡¯t be kept running around like this. It was better to pull him out early so Ashton had the room to fully respond. Ashton didn¡¯t refuse and pulled Briar into Hamish¡¯s car. They sped all the way to the district police station. Hamish parked right at the station entrance, the blindingly shy 00003 license te making the guards too intimidated to chase them off. Hamish yed the role of the arrogant heir to perfection. Spinning the keys, he grinned. ¡°Ashton, Briar, let¡¯s go.¡± The guards were furious but didn¡¯t dare speak up. At the police station entrance, even from a distance, they could hear Marvin yelling angrily, ¡°Ronan! If you dare brush me off on this matter, I swear I¡¯ll have you removed from that chief position the same way I helped you up there! The Haynes family might be powerful, but they¡¯re nothingpared to us!¡± ¡°Looks like Marvin is really pissed. He¡¯s even pulling the power card,¡± Hamish muttered. The Goodwin family usually didn¡¯t unt their influence, since their reach extended deep into the military. When they did throw their weight around, it meant things had gotten very serious. One wrong move from anyone else could mean copse. And with Reece alone being a major deterrent, few in Shoneport would dare cross the Goodwin family. But Marvin throwing down the gauntlet like this meant the conversation before they arrived hadn¡¯t gone well at all. Brandon spotted them first and hurried over. ¡°Mr. Wade, Miss Jennings, Mr. Parkinson. You¡¯re here?¡± Hamish looked as nonchnt as ever. ¡°We heard there¡¯s crucial evidence implicating Briar, so we brought her over. Where¡¯s the person in charge? Get them here. Let¡¯s get this over with. Our car¡¯s still blocking the gate, and we¡¯re in a rush.¡± Chapter 128 Hearing Hamish¡¯sid back tone, Marvin turned at once. His face changed the moment he saw Briar standing beside Ashton. ¡°Ashton! Why that et you bring this girl here?¡± Forsaken 129 Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Ronan looked over when he heard the voice. His eyes instinctively lit up when he saw Briar walking in behind Ashton and Hamish, but he quickly marked a clear directive. They only needed to get Briar to the police station. As for who interrogated her or how that was his reaction. The higher¨Cups had give none of their concern anymore Ever since the two mutted bodies of university students had been found early that morning in a park near Shoneport University, things had started feeling off. Ronan knew just how deep the waters ran in this case. So deep that even his father¨Cinw, Edmund, had called him privately to warn him not to get involved, just follow orders, and keep his mouth shut. Ronan¡¯s position as district police chief was thanks not only to the Haynes family¡¯s influence, but also to his own keen ability to read people and follow the winds of power. Normally, these powerful figures had nothing to do with each other. Yet now, because of two dead students, Marvin had personallye to inquire about the case and even ordered Edgar to contact Briar. And then Ashton and Hamish had escorted Briar to the station in person¡­ This was a battle between the big shots, and people like him were just coteral damage! ¡°Mr. Wade, Mr. Parkinson, I¡¯m terribly sorry to trouble you both with personally bringing her here. Since she¡¯s arrived, how about we follow standard procedure and have her brought in for questioning?¡± Ronan quickly stepped forward with respectful words, though his eyes had already drifted toward Briar, who stood calmly and unbothered. Ashton stepped sideways, blocking Ronan¡¯s direct and invasive gaze. His overwhelming presence forced Ronan to avert his eyes awkwardly and stop himself from calling anyone to take Briar away. Just then, someone else came striding over. Before he even entered the hall, his voice was already echoing, full of anger. ¡°Briar! You¡¯ve already caused trouble in Qathana. Now you¡¯ve juste back and are already involved in a murder! Do you want to ruin the Jennings family and drag us all down with you? Of all crimes, you had to pick murder!¡± Edgar entered, teeth clenched and spitting fury. But upon seeing Ashton, Hamish, and a furious Marvin beside Briar, his tongue froze. All the scolding speeches he had rehearsed on the way here got stuck in his throat. He stammered, ¡°Mr. Wade, Mr. Parkinson, you¡­ Why are you here too?¡± This case was supposed to only affect Shoneport University¡¯s reputation. Yet, these two living legends showed up at the police station. Briar¡¯s eyes were slightly red, and she let out a mocking chuckle, watching Edgar¡¯s poor acting performance. On the surface, he yed the disappointed father angry with his daughter, but in truth, he was working behind the scenes to pin the murder on her. What a show. Ashton didn¡¯t even nce at Edgar¡¯s instantly deted expression. He led Briar to a nearby desk, gently coaxing her like a child, and ced a candy into her hand. ¡°Sit here and stay calm. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be right here with you.¡± Briar¡¯s lips pressed into a line, the fringe on her forehead falling slightly, casting shadows over the chill gathering in her eyes. Whatever words she was about to say were interrupted by the warmth wrapped in that candy. In the end, she simply nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± It seemed she could sit back and watch the drama unfold. ¡°I wonder if the mastermind behind this whole drama will be so mad when they find out,¡® she mused. Ronan looked from the shielded Briar to the self¨Crighteous Edgar and felt a moment of panic. With Ashton and Hamish both present, than to secretly take Briar away was impossible. ¡°Mr. Wade, Mr. Parkinson. Since Miss Jennings is already here, how about we go ahead and follow protocol? Just bring her in to take a statement?¡± Ronan tried to negotiate, speaking carefully and deferentially. As long as he could get Briar away from Ashton¡¯s watchful eyes, he could still count this mission asplete. Ashton was just about to refuse, but before he could, Briar, now unwrapping the candy, spoke first. ¡°Alright.¡± Chapter 129 Ashton frowned and looked at her, confused. ¡°Briar, don¡¯t joke around. Briar gave him a dazzling smile. ¡°Mr. Wade, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be fine. It¡¯s just a statement.¡± Since the trap was set for her, if she didn¡¯t step into it, many more lives would be used to bait her. She didn¡¯t know who the real killer was, but she couldn¡¯t just watch others die because of her. Ronan was delighted. ¡°Exactly, Mr. Wade. Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll just be recording her statement. The minutes, that¡¯s all. Sound good?¡± case involves her, after all. It¡¯s just a procedure. Twenty Of course not. Ashton knew what violence often hid behind ¡°procedures.¡± Briar¡¯s delicate frame wouldn¡¯tst even two minutes under that kind of pressure, let alone twenty. But¡­ Briar ced the candy wrapper back into his palm and scratched lightly with her fingers. The rejection at his lips shifted into, ¡°Ten minutes. I¡¯m only giving you ten minutes.¡± Ronan quickly agreed, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll make it quick. Ten minutes tops.¡± Edgar stayed quiet. Hearing they¡¯d still take her down, he said, ¡°Briar, be honest. Don¡¯t hide anything. Confess, and the sentence is lighter. Resist and it¡¯s worse¡­¡± Briar turned without a word, leaving only a cold, proud silhouette in her wake. Marvin grew anxious. ¡°Ashton, how could you let them take Briar?¡± Others might not see through the trap, but Ashton definitely should. Without them backing her, Briar would be at the mercy of others. She would be bullied and abused! Ashton gave him a reassuring look. ¡°Mr. Goodwin, don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t let anything happen to Briar.¡± A few minutester, screams echoed from the direction of the interrogation room. ¡°You crazy bitch! Hold her down. Fuck!¡± Everyone in the lobby turned to look. Edgar craned his neck nervously. ¡°What¡¯s that sound? Are they fighting in there?¡± Just then, Brandon strode back in from outside, each hand dragging a man. ¡°Mr. Wade, I caught these two behind the police station, trying to slip away.¡± Before anyone could react, two more people were kicked out of the hallway near the interrogation room. Briar emerged, calm and unhurried, dragging a man whose head hung low. From his chest, a knife jutted out, blood still streaming¡­ Forsaken 130 Chapter 130 This bloody scene stunned everyone in the hall into silence. For a moment, only the groans of the captured men could be heard. Everyone was staring at Briar, who was surrounded by a chilling, murderous aura. No one spoke. It wasn¡¯t until quite a whileter that Hamish let out a yful whistle and sincerely praised, ¡°Wow! That was badass.¡± No one had expected that the seemingly frail Briar could fight like that. The way the knife had been stabbed into the man¡¯s body was masterful. It was close to the heart. It was enough to maim, but not to kill. Ashton had already reached Briar, kicking away the injured man at her feet, then began checking her up and down carefully. After confirming that she was unharmed, he finally managed to suppress the rage burning in his chest and asked in a low voice, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Briar was wearing a white T¨Cshirt today, with a long¨Csleeved ck id shirt on top. The shirt, which had been open before, was now fully buttoned all the way to the cor. She had buttoned it up only after entering the interrogation room. Perhaps in case she got hurt, and he wouldn¡¯t see. Worried she might have gotten injured but was hiding it from him, Ashton gently asked again. ¡°Nope.¡± Briar shook her head, eyes glinting yfully, her tone even carrying a light chuckle. ¡°That guy was too weak.¡± He really was. She¡¯d knocked him down with a few kicks, and when he panicked, he even tried to sh her with a knife¡­. Seeing that she still had the mood to joke, Ashton finally rxed. He grabbed a few tissues from a nearby desk and took her hand, carefully wiping the blood off each of her delicate fingers. Then he ced her behind him protectively and turned his cold gaze on Ronan, who was sweating profusely. He warned, ¡°Mr. Ramos, you¡¯d better give me a damn good exnation for why non¨Cpolice personnel were in your interrogation room. Otherwise, the Wade family won¡¯t let this go.¡± Briar had barely left his sight for a few minutes, and someone had already tried to kill her. Things like this shouldn¡¯t happen in the police station. While Ashton was busy fussing over Briar, Hamish had already taken a quick trip to the interrogation room ande back. Hamish returned from a quick trip to the interrogation room just then. His usualzy attitude was gone, and he spoke in a harsh tone. ¡°Ashton, there was a serious fight inside. Someone even passed out. And¡­ he had a gun on his waist.¡± Ashton¡¯s pupils shrank suddenly. The look he shot at Ronan couldn¡¯t be described as merely angry. It was outright murderous. Ronan wiped his sweat furiously, stammering, ¡°Mr. Wade, I swear I didn¡¯t know¡­ You have to believe me¡­¡± He really hadn¡¯t known they were carrying firearms. Now he deeply regretted not heeding his father¨Cinw¡¯s warning to stay out of it and protect himself. Everyone else in the hall, especially the other police officers, dared not make a sound. That female officer from earlier was pale. She finally understood the hidden meaning behind her mentor¡¯s warning. When she nced at her squad captain, who had been the one to sneak those men into the interrogation room, his face was equally grim. He wanted to find an to escape. Maybe Ronan had no clue how those guys slipped in, but she saw everything crystal clear. Those men were brought in by their own captain, sneaking them right into the interrogation room. She just couldn¡¯t wrap her head around it. A police station was supposed to keep people safe, but it was so full of red tape and power games. And when trouble hit, every single one of them suddenly went dead silent. Ashton wasn¡¯t in the mood to waste any more time with Ronan. He pulled out his phone, made a quick call, said a few words, and hung up Then he sat down with Briar, pulling her close and ignoring everyone else. Hamish, meanwhile, looked like he was having the time of his life watching a good show. He and Brandon handcuffed the captured men and dumped them in the middle of the hall. Hamish even took photos of them and cheerfully posted them to his social media. Less than thirty minutester, two police vehicles roared up to the station. When the final figure stepped out, everyone inside went rigid. Ronan stuttered in disbelief, ¡°Mr. Thiago Wade. You came?¡± It was Thiago, the younger brother of Griffin and the top official at Shoneport¡¯s police department. He was a proper high¨Cranking provincial¨Clevel officer, Compared to him, Ronan, a mere district chief, was nothing. More importantly, Thiago wasn¡¯t just any official. He was the very man who had personally trained Ashton in cunning and strategy. Of all the Wade family members, Ashton¡¯s formidable skills came from this man. Thiago barely nced at Ronan before his eyes fell on Ashton and the curious little girl poking her head out from behind him. Ashton pulled Briar out from behind him and made a brief introduction. ¡°Uncle Thiago, this is Briar. Briar, this is my third uncle.¡± Briar obediently greeted him, ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± Thiago nodded, managing to pull out a smile from his usually expressionless face. ¡°Scared you a bit, huh, kiddo?¡± Then he turned to Ashton. ¡°Alright, you¡¯re done here. Take your people and go. I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡± On the way there, Thiago had already been briefed. In Shoneport, connections and power were the only things that mattered. Had Ashton not stepped in, this neglected girl from the Jennings family would have been ruined. As for the so¨Ccalled evidence against Briar, it was nonsense. Surveince footage near the park that night had been analyzed and proven to be falsified. If the video was fake, then the fingerprints supposedly found on the bodies couldn¡¯t be trusted either. Ashton had no objections. In fact, he had only called Thiago to avoid wasting more time on this mess. Ashton said, ¡°Thanks, Uncle Thiago. I¡¯ll take them and go. Call me if you need anything.¡± Then, with Briar in hand, and apanied by Hamish and Brandon, Ashton walked out. Hepletely ignored Edgar, who looked utterly shocked. Edgar desperately wanted to follow them. The situation had spiraled far beyond hisprehension, and he needed to report back to Ben immediately. But just as he took a step, Thiago cast a nce his way, and Edgar instinctively drew his foot back. What the hell am I supposed to do now? How the hell am I supposed to get out of this mess?¡® Edgar thought. ¡®I didn¡¯t do anything! Why the hell is Thiago Wade keeping me here? Did they find something out?¡® With a guilty conscience and facing a high¨Cranking official like Thiago, Edgar was utterly panicked. Briar, on the other hand, walked quietly behind Ashton the entire time. Just as they were about to exit the hall, she suddenly turned around and gave Edgar a slow, sweet smile. Her smile was picture¨Cperfect, showing off eight little white teeth, but when Edgar saw it, a chill crept up from the soles of his feet, crawling all the way through his bones. Chapter 131. Forsaken 131 Chapter 131 ¡°Briar, get in the car,¡± Ashton called out, noticing she hadn¡¯t followed him. He turned and waved her over. Briar responded softly and obediently walked over, getting into the car. Her face at the moment looked nothing but well¨Cbehaved. As usual, Hamish was driving, following closely behind Brandon¡¯s car. ¡°Ashton, what¡¯s your n next? Are we going to dig deeper into this?¡± Thiago had stepped in, which meant certain things couldn¡¯t be brought to light. Otherwise, the image of the police would be affected. The officials had always been masters at covering things up. They preferred to suppress matters and deal with them under the table. But none of them expected that some people¡¯s influence could reach this far, even to the point of bribing a district police chief, Ronan didn¡¯t hold real power in Shoneport, a ce where powerful and influential figures were abundant. He still had the Haynes family of Shoneport¡¯s four great families behind him. Bribing him was faster and more efficient than reeling in someone else. ¡°Something¡¯s not right. Ronan¡¯s always been obedient to his father¨Cinw. Why is he suddenly so bold this time?¡± Hamish frowned. Ronan was basically a live¨Cin son¨Cinw. Usually, he got bossed around by his wife and listened to his father¨Cinw without question. This time, he was usually bold. Plotting against Briar and the Jennings family was one thing, but now that Briar had Ashton backing her, anyone with a working brain would have to think real hard about whether they had enough lives to risk going up against a big shot like Ashton. Ashton nodded. ¡°It¡¯s indeed out of character for him.¡± He hadn¡¯tshed out at Ronan on the spot precisely because of that. A man who was always timid wouldn¡¯t suddenly change his way of doing things overnight. Briar sat in the back seat, resting her chin on one hand as she looked out the window. Hearing the conversation between the two, her ¡°Maybe he really didn¡¯t know anything.¡± Ashton was surprised. ¡°Briar, did you discover something?¡± eyes flickered. Hamish also nced back at her, eyes full of anticipation. ¡°Yeah, Little Briar, the two guys you caught. One of them even had a gun on him. That means their boss must be someone with serious connections.¡± Guns were strictly banned in Dasmieca. Without special channels, it was impossible to get one, let alone swagger into a police station in Shoneport with a gun. There had to be serious backing behind that. ¡°Their goal was very clear. Right after I was taken into the interrogation room, those two rushed in and tried to attack me¡­¡± Briar began describing everything that had happened inside. ¡°More importantly, both of them had a wolf head tattooed on their backs.¡± She then dropped a bombshell. Ashton¡¯s eyebrows twitched. ¡°Wolf head? What kind of wolf head tattoo?¡± Briar took out her phone and opened her gallery. ¡°I took a photo.¡± She had initially nned to look into those two peopleter. But now that Ashton and the others were also suspicious, she was happy to hand over the findings. Hamish was stunned and leaned over to look. ¡°Nice! Briar, you even noticed this in such a short time? Wait, how did you see it? That location and angle¡­ Chapter 131 did you just lift up their clothes directly?¡± Briar met Ashton¡¯s gaze and coughed lightly in embarrassment. ¡°Well¡­ while checking them for other items, I identally lifted that cloth It was just instinct. She had checked those two from head to toe. She hadn¡¯t thought much of lifting another man¡¯s shirt. But with Hamish asking like that and Ashton giving her that look, she suddenly felt a strange sense of guilt. ¡°So you really did just lift their shirts!¡± Hamish wasughing so hard he pped the steering wheel. He added, ¡°Hey, Ashton, don¡¯t make that face. At that time, Little Briar was all alone. It was a special situation! Totally understandable!¡± ¡®What are these two even going on about? ¡®I just lifted their shirts, a quick check, nothing more. Do they really have to act like Ashton¡¯s drowning in jealousy or something?¡® she grumbled inwardly.. ¡°I know.¡± Ashton¡¯s voice dropped lower. He even pulled out a wet wipe and began wiping Briar¡¯s fingers. This time, he carefully wiped every one of her fingers on both hands from top to bottom. Seeing this, Hamishughed even harder. Briar didn¡¯t respond. After finishing, Ashton shot a death re the nearlyughing¨Cto¨Cdeath Hamish and grabbed Briar¡¯s hand. ¡°From now on, let me handle these kinds of dirty, tiring tasks.¡± Ashton looked so serious that Briar had to work hard to hold back augh. ¡°Okay From now on, I¡¯ll wait for you. I won¡¯t do it myself.¡± For the first time, Hamish was defeated by such a ridiculous reason for jealousy. ¡°Mr. Wade, seriously? Are you five? So what if she touched another man¡¯s body?¡± Ashton corrected him, ¡°Actually, it was two guys.¡± Hamish and Briar were left speechless. ¡°You¡¯re unbelievable.¡± Hamishughed so hard his whole body shook, and the car started swerving in an S¨Cpattern. Thankfully, there were no other cars around, or Briar had no doubt Hamish¡¯s shy sports car would¡¯ve crashed today. Ashton coldly stared at Hamish as Hamish swerved the car. ¡°You better hope you never fall in love.¡± He thought he was right. No man would let his girl do the dirty work. Hamish, suppressingughter, spouted ssic scumbag lines. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t give up the whole forest for one tree. I¡¯m young. I can still have more fun.¡± Worried the two childish men would start arguing again, Briar changed the subject. ¡°Mr. Wade, do you know what that wolf tattoo means?¡± She really didn¡¯t know much about these underground forces in Shoneport. Ashton exined to her, ¡°The wolf tattoo represents a former underground gray organization in Shoneport. Over the past few years, most of their territory has been shut down by the authorities. Members were either arrested or went straight. They¡¯re no longer a real threat.¡± Hamish got serious too. ¡°I thought those people had all run off by now. I didn¡¯t expect anyone to still dare use their name.¡± ¡®That¡¯s basically a death wish!¡® Hamish thought. Since Briar was present, Ashton didn¡¯t borate further, not wanting to scare her. ¡°My guess is these few guys are just disposable pawns. Whoever¡¯s behind this doesn¡¯t care if they get caught. ¡°So arrogant! I haven¡¯t seen anyone this brazen in Shoneport for a long time. Ashton, are you going to do something or not? This is basically a p in our face. Hamish asked in a mocking tone, ¡°They touched someone they shouldn¡¯t have. Of course, I¡¯ll do something¡± Ashton¡¯s tone betrayed no emotion. If they want to muddy the see if we¡¯ll give them that chance.¡± 1 ÊÐ AD Comment Forsaken 132 Chapter 132 Since it was still early, they returned to Shoneport University. However, the moment Briar appeared, the expressions of the few students who passed he changed noticeably. Briar frowned. ¡®What¡¯s up with that?¡® Ashton and the others immediately sensed something was off too. Just as they were about to have Brandon find out what was happening, Marvin hurried over and approached Briar. He spoke to her gently, ¡°Don¡¯t panic. It¡¯s probably because the incident involving the murdered students has spread. You all head to the library first I¡¯ll gather the mentors and counselors for an emergency meeting.¡± They absolutely couldn¡¯t let Ashton handle this personally. He Was Two students were murdered and their corpses dumped. That afraid Ashton might scare all the students off in a fit of anger. of horrifying news could be suppressed for a while, but not hidden forever. Now that the news had gotten out, Marvin wasn¡¯t surprised. He had already notified all the university mentors, and once the meeting ended, they¡¯d issue a school¨Cwide announcement to prevent unnecessary panic. Ashton looked at Briar. She nodded lightly, not caring much. ¡°Alright.¡± Only then did Ashton and Hamish head with her toward the library. But along the way, they couldn¡¯t avoid hearing snippets of whispered conversation. ¡°Hey, did you hear? Two students from our school were murderedst night, just after leaving campus. The way they died was brutal.¡± ¡°Yeah, Theard. Their bodies were covered in wounds, and all their internal organs were missing. And it¡¯s suspected the killer might be from our own school.¡± ¡°Wha¡­ really? That¡¯s terrifying. I also heard that if organs are removed like that, the victims have to be alive during the process¡­ Oh my god, who could be that cruel?¡± ¡°Right? Just the thought gives me goosebumps.¡± ¡°This killer is a total maniac. Who could it be?¡± ¡°I mean, I¡¯m just repeating what I heard. Don¡¯t take it too seriously. You can treat it as gossip, but don¡¯t go spreading it around, okay?¡± ¡°Rx! I¡¯m super tight¨Clipped. I won¡¯t say a word. Now tell me! Who is it? I¡¯m dying to know!¡± ¡°Yeah, me too!¡± ¡°I heard¡­ that the murderer of the two students¡­ is that genius girl from the traditional medicine department. Briar Jennings¡­¡± ¡°What? No way! She doesn¡¯t look like a killer. She¡¯s so petite and delicate! And it¡¯s not like she had anything to do with those two victims!¡± It happened to be between sses, and with the news being so disturbing, groups of students gathered, whispering amongst themselves. As Briar and Ashton walked past, it was impossible not to overhear. ¡°I don¡¯t know all the details, but I heard it from Beatrice from the dance department. Her dad supposedly got a call from the police saying Briar had to go in for questioning!¡± ¡°No wonder no one¡¯s seen her since this afternoon, not at the traditional medicine building or the library. She must¡¯ve been taken away!¡± ¡°So she was really taken by the police? Are you sure this is true? We shouldn¡¯t be spreading rumors. She has Mr. Wade backing her.¡± Chapter 132 ¡°I¡¯m just repeating what Beatrice said. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s true, bute on. They¡¯re half sisters. Why would she lie about something be ¡°She said it herself?¡± ¡°Yeah! Look! There she is, surrounded by people asking her questions.¡± ¡°Oh my god¡­ It¡¯s scary to think we go to the same school as Briar¡­¡± The whispers grew louder and more numerous. Everyone was clearly rattled by the murder news and the rumors about Briar. They didn¡¯t notice a nea group of people approaching behind them. Just as Beatrice was dramatically and ambiguously describing the scene of Briar being taken away by the police, there was a loud ¡°smack!¡± And the one who pped her? None other than the ¡°killer¡± they¡¯d all been whispering about, Briar herself. Everyone who¡¯d been gossiping just stared, wide¨Ceyed and freaked out. ¡°Briar¡­?¡± They thought Briar was taken away by the police. They didn¡¯t expect her to be back. Just a minute ago, Beatrice was swearing up and down that it was true, giving all the details. But now, Briar was standing right there, looking perfectly fine¡­ And Beatrice had just gotten pped in front of everyone. Suddenly, it hit some people. Maybe Briar was never in trouble at all, and Beatrice was just making stuff up this whole time. ¡®Why would she do that? Is it just for the Campus Belle Contest? Damn, that¡¯s one seriously messed¨Cup way to get ahead!¡® All of a sudden, everyone started giving Beatrice these weird, suspicious looks. Nobody would go around telling everyone their own sister¡¯s a murderer. Beatrice was obviously up to something. ¡°Do you really hate seeing me do well that much?¡± Briar¡¯s voice was icy, her anger palpable. If Ashton hadn¡¯t been beside her, and she didn¡¯t want to ruin her image of being gentle and frail, Beatrice wouldn¡¯t be leaving this campus in one piece today. Beatrice looked at her in disbelief, her cheek burning red and her heart sinking. ¡°You¡­ how did you get out?¡± Her father had said Briar was finished. She would face criminal charges, a permanent record, maybe even jail. Yet, she came back to school so soon. ¡°I never went in. Are you disappointed?¡± Briar nced at the crowd, who had just been gossiping about her. Her gaze was so sharp and chilling, most people faltered and awkwardly dispersed. It was beyond awkward. Badmouthing someone, only to get caught by the very person they were badmouthing. Briar might even p them out of anger. Beatrice just stood there, stunned and at aplete loss for words. ¡°You¡¯d better call your precious daddy and ask if he can get out of custody,¡± Briar said as she lightly patted Beatrice¡¯s face with the back of her hand, turning the other cheek just as red. Beatrice¡¯s lips moved, but no sound came out. ¡®What does she mean? What is Briar trying to say? Wait, so Briar¡¯s actually fine, and it¡¯s Dad who¡¯s in trouble?¡® Beatrice thought, her mind spinning in disbelief. Briar had no interest in seeing more of Beatrice¡¯s two¨Cfaced victim act. She shoved her aside and strolled away, hands in her pocke, lookingzy and carefree. Ashton and the other two followed after her. Once they¡¯d gone a bit further, Hamish gave Ashton a thumbs¨Cup and whispered, ¡°Ashton, your girl¡¯s temper is something else. Looks delicate, but she¡¯s got the fire of a little chili pepper.¡± Ashton looked proud. ¡°Having a temper is good. Otherwise, a girl that weak would get eaten alive out there? Hamish just stared at him, speechless. ¡®Dude, were we watching the same scene? Who exactly was getting bullied?¡® Hamish thought, shaking his head. Beatrice¡¯s face was humiliated, and she didn¡¯t even dare talk back. Yet in Ashton¡¯s version, it somehow sounded like Briar had been the one suffering This man¡¯s love filter was seriously thick. Comment Forsaken 133 Chapter 133 Chapter 133 The four of them soon arrived at the library. Afraid that people would point fingers at Briar again and upset her, Ashton coazed her into the lounge You didn¡¯t rest well at noon. Why not take another nap?¡± he suggested. Briar chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Ashton.¡± ¡®Is this guy being a little too careful? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m made of ss, she thought. Ashton reached out to ruffle the soft hair on the top of the girl¡¯s head, but didn¡¯t insist. ¡°Alright. Then pass the time with a game or something. We won¡¯t get news from Uncle Thiago so soon anyway.¡± ¡®She¡¯s so well¨Cbehaved and sensible. How could anyone want to go after her?¡® Ashton thought. Ashton even brought over a charging cable and naturally plugged Briar¡¯s phone in. Briar was slightly surprised. She didn¡¯t expect Ashton to notice even such a tiny detail as her phone being low on battery. So, she simply sat by the bed, charging her phone while ying on it. Then, someone knocked on the door. Ashton called out offhandedly, ¡°Come in,¡± and the door immediately swung open, with Frank poking half his head inside. Frank must¡¯ve run all the way there. There was a sheen of sweat on his forehead. ¡°Ashton, is Briar okay?¡± Hearing Frank¡¯s voice, Briar turned her head and replied, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Only then did Frank fully open the door and stride in. ¡°Phew, good thing you¡¯re okay. I heard you killed someone and got arrested? I was just about to find someone to bail you out.¡± Briar smiled. ¡°I didn¡¯t kill anyone, but I did take another spin around the police station.¡± sits Frank immediately sensed there was a story behind this. He leaned in, full of interest. ¡°Come on, tell me. Was it someone abusing their power? Then Ashton came like a hero to rescue the damsel in distress?¡± Briar rolled her eyes. ¡°Frank, you¡¯re way too old for those teenage hero fantasies. Give it a rest.¡± ¡®Seriously, what kind of cringey soap opera plot is this?¡® she thought. Frank clicked his tongue. ¡°Hey! What¡¯s so unrealistic about what I said? If anyone else did it, it¡¯d be cringe and fake. But if it¡¯s Ashton? Smooth, ssy, and perfectly executed.¡± Ashton, off to the side, let out a low, ambiguous chuckle. It was unclear whether he agreed or was mocking him. Frank had been used to Ashton¡¯s sarcasm since they were kids. He was immune to it by now and kept chattering away, unbothered. He continued to pester Briar, begging her to tell him what had really happened. Finally worn down by Frank, Briar gave in and briefly recounted the entire process of her second trip to the police station. Frank listened, both shocked and excited. ¡°So basically, the solid surveince footage and fingerprint evidence were all overturned. The whole thing was just a setup to lure you to the station and secretly kidnap you?¡± he summarized sinctly. Briar nodded. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s exactly how it looks right now.¡± Frank said, ¡°But why would they go this far? Kidnapping someone from a police station is too bold. No matter how clean the operation, traces would be left behind. And Ashton was there too. Weren¡¯t they afraid he¡¯d destroy them?¡± Chapter 133 Frank¡¯s expression grew serious as he turned to Ashton. ¡°Ashton, someone¡¯s trying to steal your girl!¡°. Luring her in and then sneaking her away. That was a direct challenge to Ashton¡¯s bottom line. if a man couldn¡¯t even protect his own girlfriend, that would be humiliating. Ashton nodded. ¡°Yeah, I know. I¡¯ve already sent people to handle it.¡± He wasn¡¯t as kind as Thiago. Anyone who messed with him had to pay the price. Briar was puzzled. Weren¡¯t they just together the whole time? When did he give the order? She hadn¡¯t even noticed. Frank breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Good, that¡¯s settled.¡± ¡°Oh right, I have good news for you!¡± he suddenly remembered the other reason he came.¡°The results from the campus king and queen elections are in. Guess who won this year at Shoneport University?¡± Briar didn¡¯t even hesitate. In the calmest tone possible, she said, ¡°You and me.¡± Frank was stunned. ¡°Can¡¯t you at least pretend to guess? You said it so fast. Have you considered my feelings? I ran over here excitedly the moment ! heard the news!¡± Briar rolled her eyes. Frank picked this moment to bring up the voting. The result was obvious. That little jester was soon back to pulling Briar into games, chattering non¨Cstop. The lounge gradually filled with light¨Chearted energy. Although neither Briar nor Ashton was talkative, most of the time it was Frank monologuing, he still managed to blow away the silent storm in Briar¡¯s chest. Ashton watched the smile bloom on Briar¡¯s face and couldn¡¯t help but smile too. Sure enough, calling Frank over was the right move. Briar might seem indifferent. However, being betrayed and having her own father fan the mes behind the scenes still hurt. Just then, another knock came at the lounge door. This time, it was Brandon who entered. ¡°Mr. Wade, something¡¯s happened.¡± Ashton stood up and turned to Briar and Frank. ¡°You two keep ying. I¡¯ll go check on it.¡± Briar¡¯s expression remained calm, but she had already guessed what was going on. Frank had been assigned by Ashton to cheer up Briar, so he immediately shouted, ¡°Help! Briar, save me! I¡¯m cornered!¡± Briar turned her focus back to the game and, with a few swift moves, rescued the cornered, fake¨Ccrying Frank. ¡°There are four left at the tower. Let¡¯s nk from both sides.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Frank replied. Outside the lounge, Ashton pulled over a chair and sat down. His stunning face was cold and sharp. As Brandon gave his report, the aura around him grew even more frigid. He began rolling up his sleeves as he asked, ¡°Looks like we¡¯ll need to clean out not just the pests outside, but within Shoneport University too.¡± ¡°Shoneport University¡¯s crisis PR response was way too slow this time. The situation¡¯s blown up. There are about two thousand parents outside demanding harsh punishment for the so¨Ccalled killer student. But the whole story smells fishy.¡± Hamish was idly twirling a pen as he spoke casually, though his eyes were just as cold. ¡°Some people must¡¯ve forgotten how we once purged the underground rot in Shoneport.¡± Unlike most spoiled rich heirs in Shoneport, Hamish wasn¡¯t just into food and fun. During his time in the military unit, his aggression him the title of the most elite soldier, after which he was forced to study medicine to temper his violent tendencies. ¡°Ashton, this opportunity¡¯s falling right into our Chapter 134 Hamish immediately perked up. ¡°Alright, you said it. If I end up flipping the whole Shoneport over and my old man starts chasing me down with a cage you better help hold him back. Ashton agreed without hesitation. Then the three of them got up and walked out. Inside Marvin¡¯s office, it was packed with peopl ¡°Mr. Goodwin, something this serious hened a be the school. You owe the students and their parents an exnation, don¡¯t you?¡± This came from one of the parent representatives. ¡°We sent our children to Shoneport University, hoping they¡¯d thrive in a safe environment. Now we can¡¯t even guarantee their basic personal safety? How can we trust this school anymore?¡± The other parents were outraged as well. ¡°Exactly! Mr. Goodwin, we need a proper exnation. We won¡¯t allow our children to be in the same environment as a murderer!¡± ¡°Yeah! Who knows if Briar will kill again?¡± After the incident blew up, the parents were emotionally vtile. If not for the school security acting quickly, stopping more parents from barging in, the whole front entrance would¡¯ve been swarmed. Even so, themotion was loud enough to attract journalists, now crowding the school gates, demanding an interview with Marvin. Faced with both parental pressure and waves of public scrutiny, Marvin lookedpletely overwhelmed, his graying hair practically standing on end. When Ashton walked into the office with his group, he saw Marvin was pitifully surrounded and harassed by a group of parents. After Ashton showed up, the previously rowdy room fell intoplete silence. Everyone instinctively made way for him. Their aggressive tone from earlier vanished. Marvin¡¯s eyes lit up when he saw Ashton, as if seeing a savior. ¡°Ashton, you¡¯re just in time¡­¡± Ashton shot a look at Brandon, who immediately understood and rushed forward, cutting through the crowd to help extract the pitiful principal from the encirclement. ¡°Mr. Goodwin, are you alright?¡± Hamish rushed to bring Marvin some heart medicine. Marvin sighed. ¡°I¡¯m fine. You can see it for yourself. These parents are demanding answers¡­¡± Ashton¡¯s presence alone silenced the ringleaders. When they met his mocking gaze, chills ran down their backs. They didn¡¯t think they were doing anything wrong, yet they still felt inexplicably guilty. Ashton sat down on the couch, long legs crossed, sweeping his gaze across every face in the room, noting their expressions. He let out a low chuckle. ¡°You want an exnation? For what? The students djed off campus, not on school grounds. Strictly speaking, this has little to do with the university.¡± Idren¡¯s Among the group of parents, a few genuinely worried about their children. One father stepped forward with some courage. ¡°Mr. Wade, you¡¯re not wrong, but¡­ we heard the suspect is a student here at Shoneport University, someone named Briar Jennings. We¡¯re only acting out of concern for safety.¡± yre on we¡¯re r reacting like this. If there¡¯s a killer roaming campus, that¡¯s terrifying!¡± Someone else quickly added, ¡°Exactly, Mr. Wade. That¡¯s the only ¡°Right! If the school won¡¯t punish the murderer, who¡¯s going to protect our kids? I demand Briar be expelled! Otherwise, I¡¯ll transfer my child out immediately.¡± ¡°Yes! Expel her, or we¡¯ll pull our kids out!¡± Everyone was talking at once, and there was no way to shut them up. Hamish watched the crowd getting riled up again. He could see this was no spontaneous protest. It was well nned, calcted, and targeted at c was as if someone had predicted that even Ashton¡¯s presence wouldn¡¯t stop protective parents from panicking. But Ashton still sat there, calm andposed. ¡°Oh? And who exactly told you that Briar is the killer? Where¡¯s your evidence? The police have found no proof implicating her. And yet, you¡¯ve already convicted an innocent student? Where is your proof? Let me see it.¡± His barrage of questions left the room stunned. Everyone said Briar was the killer. The rumor sounded so real, so everyone just believed it. And she had already been taken away by the police. Someone, wiping sweat from their brow, said weakly, ¡°Mr. Wade¡­ someone saw it happen¡­¡± ¡°So based on that hearsay, you storm the school demanding answers from Mr. Goodwin?¡± Ashton¡¯s voice sank even lower. ¡°You all were so easily manipted by someone¡¯s false ims, and now you¡¯re out here calling an innocent girl a murderer?¡± He let out a smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes, then turned to Hamish and Marvin, both wearing equally grim expressions. ¡°Mr. Goodwin, Hamish. Please record the names of these parents here. For future ountability. And prepare each of them a transfer application form, along with a note on their records. Participation in inciting group unrest.¡± Hearing that, everyone was stunned. Thatst linended like a thunderp. The whole office was instantly silent and pale¨Cfaced. The weight of those words was enough to snuff out everyone¡¯s outrage in an instant. ¡°Mr. Wade, we¡­ we were just acting for our children¡¯s safety. You can¡¯t do this¡­¡± Just then, the office door opened. Everyone turned instinctively to look. Frank stood there, grinning. ¡°Everyone¡¯s here, huh?¡± Then, before anyone could react, he stepped aside, revealing the person behind him. The parents had done their homework beforeing to the school. When they saw the sweet¨Clooking girl standing at the door, someone gasped. ¡°That¡¯s Briar!¡± They thought Briar was already arrested by the police as the killer! They watched her casually lean against the doorframe, one leg bent, arms crossed, eyes cold and mocking as she swept her gaze across them. Some of the smarter parents started going pale. They realized they¡¯d been used. ¡°Briar, what are you doing here?¡± Ashton stood up and gently pulled the girl, who was practically radiating cold air, to sit down beside him. Briar replied, ¡°Came to see how satisfying these people go we wrong.¡± A smile flickered in Ashton¡¯s cold eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t let my people be wronged.¡± Hamish seized the moment, grinning with barely concealed mischief, all can see, the so¨Ccalled murderer is sitting right here, perfectly fine.¡± He added, ¡°You don¡¯t want your kids in danger? That¡¯s fair. But we¡¯re not about to let an innocent student be punished either. So pleasee pick up your transfer applications.¡± Chapter 135 Forsaken 135 Chapter 135 Everyone looked at each other, speechless. No one dared go up to Hamish to collect the transfer forms. The whole ¡°student transfer¡± thing was just a tactic to pressure Shoneport University into punishing the so¨Ccalled killer. No one actually wanted to transfer their kid out. Getting into Shoneport University was already a monumental feat. No one would willingly give that up. But since no one moved, Hamish, ever so ¡°considerate,¡± walked over himself and shoved the transfer forms into their hands. While everyone had been busy ¡°debating¡± just now, Brandon had quicklypiled a list of all the students whose parents were present, especially those who had stirred the pot the most. Today, they needed an example. ¡°Parent of Riley Guerra, here, this is your child¡¯s transfer form. Take it.¡± ¡°Parent of Kacper Barry, this one¡¯s yours. Hold on to it.¡± ¡°Parent of Dhruv Bush,e,e, your child¡¯s transfer form. Don¡¯t lose it.¡± Hamish forcefully ced the three forms into their hands. These were the very parents who¡¯d been the most vocal just moments ago. The three parents were dumbfounded. They never truly wanted their kids to transfer. They were just venting in anger. They had never seen a school hand out transfer forms this readily. Hamish gave them no chance to plead. Waving the thick stack of forms in his hand, he turned to the rest, ¡°Anyone else want to transfer? Come get your form. Don¡¯t be shy. Mr. Goodwin is being generous today. Whoever wants one, we¡¯ve got plenty.¡± Hamish¡¯s move to make an example out of a few parents worked perfectly. Now that everything wasid bare, if anyone still couldn¡¯t see the trick behind all this, they¡¯d have to be idiots. 7 ¡°Mr. Goodwin, I just remembered something urgent at home. Since this was all a misunderstanding, let¡¯s handle things ording to school regtions. I¡­ I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± A middle¨Caged woman began inching nervously toward the door, forcing a smile as she went. Frank stood there, arms folded, totally entertained by the drama. When he noticed someone edging his way, he casually stretched out his long leg and blocked the doorway right on cue. No one was getting past him. ¡°Olddy, don¡¯t rush off now. Ashton hasn¡¯t spoken yet,¡± he teased, deliberately calling her ¡°olddy.¡± The woman didn¡¯t look anything like an ¡°olddy,¡± but Frank called her that on purpose. Ashton had said it himself. He never let those close to him suffer injustice. Anyone who ndered Briar wasn¡¯t going to walk out of here easily. Even being mocked as an ¡°olddy,¡± the woman didn¡¯t dare show any offense. Everyone in the Wade family was not to be messed with. Brandon handed a freshly printed list to Ashton, ¡°Mr. Wade, here¡¯s the list of all the students connected to those present.¡± Ashton took it and nced over it quickly. ¡°Looks like the price they were paid wasn¡¯t low enough to risk bankrupting theirpanies just to go against me?¡± With that sentence, the parents all turned pale, and even Marvin¡¯s face changed. ¡°Ashton, what do you mean by that?¡± Ashton¡¯s expression was terrifyingly cold. ¡°Don¡¯t you see? These people were pushed forward as pawns. They¡¯re disposable ones, not worth your sympathy.¡± Marvin clutched his chest, enraged again. ¡°You¡¯re right, something¡¯s off here. No matter how fast word spreads, it¡¯s impossible to gather this many parents so quickly, not to mention the media already showing up.¡± 9/2 Chapter 135 ¡°Mr. Wade¡­ we really don¡¯t know anything!¡± ¡°Yes, please believe us. We were misled.¡± Now they were truly panicking. Only now did they realize they hadn¡¯t just gone after some regr student. They had crossed Ashton. Their desperate pleas f¨¦ll t. Ashton sat still, not even sparing them a nce. Someone with a quicker brain turned toward Briar, who was seated beside Ashton. ¡°Briar, please say something for us. We were tricked and manipted. You¡¯re a student. You must understand how deeply parents care about protecting their children.¡± Briar let out a coldugh, her eyes glinting with a devilish light. ¡°Sorry, but I grew up without parents, so I really can¡¯t rte to your feelings. Then she turned to Marvin. ¡°Mr. Goodwin, I don¡¯t believe in abusing power. This matter should be handled by the school, in ordance with the rules. Marvin felt both angry and heartbroken. Briar had suffered so much. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t worry. The school will give you a proper resolution.¡± He turned to the parents. ¡°Parents, regarding your spreading of fear and false usations against Briar and others, the school will hold a meeting to determine disciplinary actions. For now, please go home.¡± With that, he signaled to Frank to let them leave. Frank pouted, reluctantly stepping aside. ¡°It¡¯s only because Briar¡¯s kind enough not to pursue charges. Consider yourselves lucky. Now get lost.¡± His smug look made everyone speechless. Lucky? Theirpanies might be bankrupt by tomorrow. After the crowd was cleared, Ashton finally spoke. ¡°Mr. Goodwin, this spread too fast. You should first check if someone inside the school leaked the information on purpose.¡± There had been too many people earlier for him to speak freely. Marvin nodded. ¡°I understand. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll find out who stirred this up.¡± From the moment he ordered the news suppressed until now, only a few hours had passed. Yet all these parents, even those from outside the city, had managed to show up. That couldn¡¯t be a coincidence. Someone must have leaked it. If it wasn¡¯t the police, the only other possibility was a school insider. Ashton said, ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll take Briar home first.¡± Briar¡¯s eyes were bloodshot. Whether from rage or hurtful words, Ashton didn¡¯t know, but he needed to get her home andfort her properly. ¡°Alright. You all go. Frank, you go with them too.¡± Seeing Frank smirking mischievously nearby, Marvin quickly shooed him away, worried he¡¯d stir up more trouble. ¡®Seriously?¡® Frank thought. In the end, Frank was dragged along to the Moonspring Estate by Ashton. He was immediately cheerful again. But Briar didn¡¯t go with them. She said she wanted to rest at home first. Ashton didn¡¯t think too much of it and let her go. In her bedroom by the window, Briar sat with herptop, fingers flying across the keyboard. On the screen, several surveince videos quickly appeared¡­ Forsaken 136 Chapter 136 Briar stared at the surveince footage expressionlessly. Although much of the important information had been tampered with or destroyed, ther still clues to be found if one was determined enough. The footage ying on herptop was from road surveince near the entrance of Shoneport University the evening before. Briar had specifically marked two female figures in the footage. They were Vivian Koch and Aneesa Ortega, the two victims who mysteriously vanished after leaving the school gate and wereter found brutally murdered. Her visit to the police station earlier hadn¡¯t been in vain. She¡¯d learned that those behind the incident were targeting her and Ashton. And these two innocent girls had lost their lives simply because they got caught in the crossfire. As her eyes caught a fleeting image in the footage, Briar quickly hit the pause button. Then she zoomed in¡­ and zoomed in again¡­ Her once emotionless face was reced with a wild, defiant smirk. ¡°Found you.¡± The video revealed a barely visible figure shing across the surveince frame. The person had received professional training. They were quick and deliberate in avoiding cameras. Had Briar not reyed the footage a dozen times and examined it frame by frame, she might¡¯ve missed it too. Even though the figure moved fast and the video had been blurred and edited, thanks to her top¨Ctier hacking skills, Briar still managed to recognize who it was. It was Sawyer, the campus doctor they¡¯d coincidentally encountered jogging outside the university gates that night. Briar dug into his background using herputer. But oddly enough, the data on this seemingly ordinary Shoneport University doctor waspletely inessible. She was just about to tap into her underground hackerwork when she paused. After a beat, she picked up her phone and called Ashton. He picked up immediately. ¡°Briar, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Mr. Wade, are you free toe to my ce?¡± she asked, hesitating slightly. He didn¡¯t even ask why. ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Surprised by how fast he agreed, Briar grabbed herptop and went downstairs to wait. Ashton arrived almost as soon as she sat down. ¡°Briar, what did you want to talk to me about?¡± Not just him. Hamish and Frank had followed along too. Seeing them all rush into her house, Briar was momentarily speechless. ¡°For real? Briar, did you find new evidence?¡± Frank was visibly excited when he saw theptop on herp. ¡°You¡¯re watching surveince footage too?¡± So, Briar yed the suspicious frame she had found and zoomed in to show everyone. ¡°Here. See this blurry figure? Mr. Wade, does he look familiar to you?¡± Ashton had sharp eyes. As soon as Briar highlighted the frame, he recognized the man. ¡°That¡¯s Sawyer, the campus doctor we saw jogging outside the gates the other night.¡± ¡°Exactly. I looked into his usual jogging route. It doesn¡¯t match where he appeared that night,¡± Briar said. Ashton and Hamish both looked thoughtful. Chapter 136 Only Frank fixated on something else entirely. ¡°Wait, hold on! Briar, your You restored that blurryfostage Briar just stared at him. ¡°Is that really the point right now?¡± Ashton dragged Frank away by the cor and reyed the video several times himself. After studying it carefully, he nodded, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s him.¡± Hamish was equally impressed. ¡°Nice job, Briar. I¡¯ll have my people dig into Sawyer right away.¡± Ashton nced over. ¡°If Sawyer is involved, surface¨Clevel info won¡¯t get us far.¡± Hamish wasn¡¯t ready to give up. ¡°I¡¯ll have them look into it anyway.¡± And as expected, his people quickly responded that parts of Sawyer¡¯s file were ssified and couldn¡¯t be a ¡°Damn it!¡± Hamish muttered. essed with regr clearance. Ashton pulled out his phone and called Xavion in the Spoivania, asking him to dig into Sawyer¡¯s full background, especially the sealed parts. ¡°Ashton, when do you think your Uncle Thiago will realize Sawyer doesn¡¯t belong at Shoneport University?¡± Hamish smirked, not missing a beat. ¡°Not anytime soon,¡± Ashton replied, eyes fixed I on the video. ¡°He¡¯s well¨Cdisguised. If Briar hadn¡¯t caught him frame by frame, we wouldn¡¯t have noticed either.¡± Xavion got back in under ten minutes, delivering a full dossier on Sawyer. The most critical part was his movementsst night. ¡°The timing of the victims¡® deaths oveps with Sawyer¡¯s jogging window,¡± Hamish said, ncing through the report. He didn¡¯t even have time to be shocked that this man was a returning medical prodigy from overseas. There was an obvious red g here. Ashton also focused on the final part of the report. The report was pretty detailed, but it still couldn¡¯t say for sure that there was something off about Sawyer. Though not enough to convict, the data was suspicious. A man with a consistent jogging routine suddenly changed course, managed to evade all surveince cameras, and during that time, two girls from Shoneport University were murdered nearby¡­ Frank jumped off the sofa. ¡°Ashton, this guy is definitely shady! Let¡¯s cuff him now!¡± Hamish smacked Frank on the back of the head. ¡°Idiot! You can¡¯t cuff someone without evidence.¡± ¡°Come on! Since when are we that ¡®by the book¡®? Arrest him and interrogate him until he talks!¡± Frank rubbed his head, grumbling. Briar raised a brow, looking at Ashton. ¡°So you¡¯re the real dangerous elements here.¡± Ashton cleared his throat awkwardly. ¡°Just some old scare tactics, that¡¯s all.¡± He shot Frank a re so fierce it nearly brought the guy to tears. Frank thought to himself, ¡®I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to blurt that out. It just slipped.¡¯ ees ¡°So what now? Do we turn the footage over to Thiago, or investigate ourselves?¡± Hamish asked. Technically, the proper move would be handing it to the authorities, clean, official, and justified. But Hamish noticed Ashton looking thoughtful.. Sure enough, he muttered, ¡°I¡¯ll investigate first. If I find proof Sawyer is the killer, I¡¯ll tell Uncle Thiago.¡± ¡°Figured as much.¡± Frank and Hamish exchanged a look, both seeing the exasperation in each other¡¯s eyes. 14:1 Sat, 10 Aug After all that talk, he just wanted to nab the guy and interrogate him personally. Forsaken 137 Chapter 137 Briar pretended not to notice the nces and subtle gestures exchanged among the others. She sat there obediently, wearing a ¡°whatever you say goes expression and didn¡¯t offer any opinion. Frank raised his hand to speak. ¡°Ashton, Hamish, we don¡¯t need to make thisplicated. Since Sawyer is our university¡¯s campus doctor, why don¡¯t! just approach him?¡± Ashton frowned at Frank, and even Hamish looked disapproving. Brandon was more direct. His contempt was nearly carved into his forehead. ¡°You?¡± Frank was about to explode. He shot up angrily. ¡°You¡¯re just judging me through a keyhole! I¡¯m not the same guy who used to get knocked out by a random punch anymore!¡± Brandon stepped to the side and hooked a finger at Frank. ¡°Come on then.¡± Brandon was a massive, muscr man with explosive strength. Frank looked at the bulging muscles on his arms and quietly swallowed. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not fighting you. I¡¯ll pick someone else.¡± ¡°Who do you want to fight then? Me? Or your Ashton?¡± Hamish askedzily, arms crossed, watching the show. ¡°Or do you want Frank was speechless. Hamish was a king of the battlefield, and even Ashton couldn¡¯t beat him. The only person left he could challenge was Briar. Briar noticed Frank¡¯s eager eyes settling on her and calmly said, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it. You can¡¯t beat me.¡± Frank didn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Impossible! I¡¯m pretty good at boxing!¡± to challenge Briar?¡± He couldn¡¯t beat Brandon or his other brothers, but surely he could take on Briar, a delicate little girl who looked soft and easy to bully. Ashton nced at Briar, who had a yful and dangerous smile on her lips, and asked, ¡°Feel like stretching your limbs a bit?¡± Briar arched her brows withzy confidence, sat up straight, and replied offhandedly, ¡°If he¡¯s not afraid of getting instantly taken down.¡± Frank jumped up. ¡°Briar, don¡¯t underestimate me! Come on! I¡¯m not scared of you!¡± Briar stood up from the couch leisurely, straightened out imaginary wrinkles on her clothes. ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s go.¡± Frank warned, ¡°Ashton, let me just say this first. If I identally hurt her, you can¡¯te after me for it.¡± Ashton, Hamish, and Brandon all remained silent. They just looked at Frank with nk faces and mocking smiles, like he had just funniest joke. Frank was speechless. ¡®Enough is enough!¡® he thought. ¡®I can¡¯t take this anymore! He had to prove himself no matter what. Even though bullying Briar seemed a bit unmanly. said the world¡¯s Briar stood across from Frank, one hand behind her back, the other gesturing politely, ¡°I let you use one hand. Go ahead and strike first.¡± As soon as the words fell, thezy aura around her shifted sharply. Her beautiful eyes turned ice¨Ccold. Frank was startled by her sudden change in energy and became serious too, throwing a powerful punch at her. 1/3 The tense battle began. But before his punch even touched her, Briar had already grabbed his wrist with a sudden move. Before Frank even realized what had happened, his ^¨C entire body was flipped over her shoulder and mmed hard into the floor. The pain ofnding on his back hit him a momentter, and he let out a miserable cry. ¡°What the hell?¡± But that was just the beginning. Before he could react, a shadow shed before his eyes. He was yanked up by the cor with brute strength, mmed against the wall, feet off the ground, staring wide¨Ceyed at Briar¡¯s cold, gleaming eyes. The whole thing was over in just a few seconds, leaving Frankpletely stunned and helpless. Cold sweat trickled down his temple as his mouth opened and closed, but not a single sound came out. Briar curled her lips into a cocky yet charming smile. ¡°Still wanna fight?¡± Frank, trembling, his face pale, stuttered, ¡°No more¡­¡± He thought, ¡®Damn! Is Briar even human? With moves like that, she could probably take me out for real in seconds! Still suspended in the air, Frank didn¡¯t dare meet her eyes. He turned his head with difficulty, looking toward the three guys on the couch like a monkey at the zoo begging for help. ¡°Ashton, save¡­ save me!¡± Hamish, impressed by Briar¡¯s clean and brutal technique, whistled yfully. ¡°Wow! That was hot!¡± Ashton also smiled warmly, but his words were ruthlessly cold. ¡°You provoked her first. You should beg her.¡± Frank whimpered, ¡°Briar! Briar! I won¡¯t do it again, please let me go!¡± Briar stared at him for a few seconds before finally releasing her grip. She stuffed her hands into her pockets, turned around, and with her usualzy calmness, sat back down on the couch like nothing happened. Frank¡¯s feet touched the floor, but his knees were still weak. He nearly copsed on the spot in a dramatic kneel, barely catching himself by grabbing the wall. That was close. Any more embarrassment, and he might as well dig a hole and disappear. This wasn¡¯t even a challenge. It was a one¨Csided massacre by Briar. She wiped the floor with him in just a few seconds. Hamish pped andughed. ¡°That over¨Cthe¨Cshoulder throw is beautiful! Perfect angle! Briar, you¡¯re a total gem!¡± Ashton smiled with warmth on his lips and undisguised pride in his eyes. ¡°That kid just has no strength.¡± Frank curled into a corner of the sofa, burying his face in his arms. He was too ashamed to face anyone. Brandon patted his shoulder reassuringly. ¡°I know this might make it worse, but¡­ I might not have been able to dodge that throw either. But if it were us fighting back, at least we wouldn¡¯t be picked up with one hand and pinned to a wall.¡± In the end, it came down to one thing. He was just too weak. From overconfidence to shattered in under ten seconds. All it took was one over¨Cthe¨Cshoulder m from Briar, and one line of cruel honesty from Brandon. Frank wailed, ¡°I wanna go home¡­¡± Hamish couldn¡¯t take it anymore and turned his head to Ashton. ¡°Ashton, what now? Are we still letting this kid approach the school doctor, or should we just nab him ourselves?¡± 14:17 Sat, 16 Aug Ashton looked at the weeping Frank. ¡°One more chance to redeem your pride?¡± Frank whimpered, ¡°Redeem myself how? I can¡¯t even take down Briar¡­¡± Ashton said, ¡°You approach Sawyer. Get evidence that he¡¯s a killer. You in?¡± Frank looked at Briar. She smiled. ¡°I can help you.¡± Frank replied, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do it! That Sawyer can¡¯t be as terrifying as you guys. I might not be able to beat you, but I¡¯m sure I can take on a campus doctor!¡± Forsaken 138 Chapter 138 Frank was filled with confidence, especially with Ashton and Briar both encouraging him. Brandon added fuel to the fire, cheering, ¡°Exactly! Not everyone can be as badass as Mr. Wade and the others, right? Go for it!¡± With everyone backing him, Frank returned to Shoneport University, nning to start tailing Sawyer that very evening. Watching Frank leave, Hamish looked a bit worried. ¡°Ashton, you¡¯re just gonna let that kid go? What if he gets caught? Could be dangerous.¡± Ashton wasn¡¯t concerned at all. ¡°No need. He¡¯s a Wade. Not just at Shoneport University. Even in Shoneport, no one dares touch someone from the Wade family. Unless someone doesn¡¯t care about surviving in this city anymore, nobody wouldy a finger on him.¡± Briar leaned on her palm thoughtfully. ¡°Mr. Wade, if no one dares to go after your family in Shoneport, then maybe¡­ those two murdered girls weren¡¯t, the real targets? Maybe it was me all along?¡± The Wade family was the head of Shoneport¡¯s four great families. They were indeed untouchable. So if Sawyer¡¯s goal wasn¡¯t the Wade family but her, maybe it was just a poor n with too many holes¡­ and they underestimated how much Ashton cared about her. Ashton paused. ¡°That¡¯s possible.¡± Briar had voiced the very concern that Ashton hadn¡¯t wanted to say out loud. The same suspicion that Hamish had kept in his heart. ¡®What had Briar done back in Qathana to attract this kind of attention? Enough to get targeted right after returning to Dasmieca, with two lives lost just to try and take her out?¡® He thought maybe it could be rted to her ssified, untraceable personal records. Hamish didn¡¯t speak, clearly agreeing with Briar¡¯s analysis. Briar lowered her eyes. ¡°Mr. Wade, how about we let¡­¡± ¡°No.¡± Ashton cut her off before she could finish. ¡°This happened in Shoneport, at Shoneport University. There are plenty of people to handle this. There¡¯s no reason for a little girl like you to stand out and take the hit. Just listen,¡± Briar thought she would just investigate it secretly. The next day at Shoneport University, the campus radio kept looping two announcements between sses. The first was an update on the investigation into the two murdered girls. Because of how serious things were, the police had set up a special task force and promised to crack the case within a week, so both the victims and everyone at Shoneport University could get some closure. The second announcement was all about Briar, the campus celebrity everyone had been talking abouttely. Ever since school began, rumors, both good and bad, had been circting about her. The school urged students not to spread baseless spection, especially the false and malicious ims that Briar was the murderer. They emphasized that such behavior would be met with serious consequences.. Punishments ranged from public reprimands and serious demerits to full expulsion and removal from academic records. When the official list of punishments came out, it shocked many. Especially the three students who were expelled. No one felt sorry for them. And the one who received the most severe demerit was revealed to be none other than Briar¡¯s half¨Csister, Beatrice. The entire campus was in an uproar. No one saw that twisting, but honestly, it made sense. Anyone with half a brain could tell Briar wasn¡¯t the killer. No onemitted a double homicide and then calmly showed up for ss the next day. 14:17 Sat, 16 Aug Chapter 138 She was just an 18¨Cyear¨Cold girl. Her psychological resilience would have to be superhuman, ¡°Briar! Our advisor is taking our research group to the hospital for an internship today. You¡¯re on the list. Don¡¯t be !¡± Briar had just arrived at theb building when she was stopped by James, the group leader. ¡°Oh, alright. Got it,¡± Briar replied nkly. Traditional medicine internships were treated just had basic colds and headaches. pretty boring. Most of the patients who were allowed to be James handed her an intern badge. ¡°We¡¯re meeting at the west parking lot of theb building at 10 am.¡± Turning around, he spotted Frank walking in, with dark circles under his eyes and yawning. James quickly handed him his pass too. ¡°Prince Frankie, here¡¯s your pass. Ten o¡¯clock sharp, west parking lot of theb building.¡± Frank groggily replied, ¡°Got it¡­¡± Briar looked at him, concerned by how out of it he seemed. ¡°Didn¡¯t sleep well? Did you find something?¡± Frank looked like he had a lot toin about. With a sour face, he grumbled, ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep at all! Got dragged around all night.¡± Briar was shocked. ¡°You got discovered that fast? No way! Your tracking skills are really that bad?¡± Feeling thoroughly insulted, Frank looked around to make sure no one was nearby, then lowered his voice. ¡°You guys were right. Sawyer is definitely not just some regr guy. I only followed him for half an hour during his night jog, and he already found me.¡± Briar raised an eyebrow. ¡°Being discovered after half an hour? That¡¯s actually pretty impressive.¡± Frank didn¡¯t think she wasplimenting him at all. ¡°Don¡¯t even mention it. Sawyer jogged for four hours straightst night. Not only was his stamina insane, but he also picked dark alleys and paths with no surveince. I was dodging and hiding the whole time just to avoid getting spotted. It almost killed me. And still, I got exposed in half an hour.¡± Briar gave him a pat on the shoulder, just like Brandon had the day before. ¡°Poor guy. Did you at least find anything?¡± That perked Frank right up. ¡°Of course I did! Even though I got exposed pretty quickly, I tracked Sawyer¡¯s initial route. Along the way, he met with three people. They talked for about five minutes. I caught keywords like ¡®dispose the bodies¡®, ¡®deal¡®, ¡®clean up, and ¡®offended Mr. Wade¡®. I already gave their descriptions to Ashton.¡± Briar pped. ¡°You can lip¨Cread?¡± Frank puffed up with pride. ¡°Of course! I¡¯m a Wade. If I didn¡¯t have skills like that, how would my cousin even let me hang around?¡± The Wade family didn¡¯t raise freeloaders. Even if he was treated like a prince at home, he still had to learn the necessary skills. Otherwise, a spoiled heir like him wouldn¡¯t bother suffering through traditional medicine studies. Briar praised him a few more times, then found an excuse to slip away to the restroom. Once she locked herself in a stall, she reassembled her phone into a miniatureputer and recreated Frank¡¯s tracking path, nning a new optimized route. That night, at 10 pm, Briar quietly walked alone along the new path. The area was dead silent, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. So when someone began tailing her from behind, Briar immediately noticed. This path passed through several dim, narrow alleys. There were no surveince cameras, and barely any working streetlights. 14:17 Sat, 16 Aug Forsaken 139 Chapter 139 Briar deliberately chose the darkest, narrowest alley and walked in. Sure enough, the footsteps behind her followed without hesitation. Perhaps the person thought that in this deserted alley, a weak little girl like her had nowhere to run and would be easy to handle, so they didn¡¯t even bother hiding their breathing. It was the sound of a dry branch snapping underfoot. Briar stopped at just the right moment. Without turning around, she swiftly shifted to press herself against the wall. The person behind her rushed up, and just as they were about to close in, she turned, firmly grabbed their shoulder, and before they could react,nded a heavy kick to their stomach. She had used seventy percent of her strength in that kick. Even seasoned mercenaries couldn¡¯t take a hit like that, let alone someone with such slow reflexes. This guy wasn¡¯t a trained assassin. A muffled grunt sounded, followed by a heavy thud. Briar flicked on a high¨Cpowered shlight that had appeared in her hand at some point, shining it directly into the person¡¯s face so brightly that they couldn¡¯t even open their eyes. When she saw the mess of colorful hair on the ground, her brows raised, and she gave a mockingugh. ¡°You got some nerves. Daring to follow me?¡± The many on the ground, his face twisted in pain, fear making him unable to speak aplete sentence. Briar¡¯s face remained expressionless. Under the harsh shlight, the ends of her upturned eyes gleamed with cold arrogance. ¡°Speak. Who sent you to follow me?¡± This guy looked like a typical street punk. There was no real malice or killing intent in his eyes. Clearly not someone sent to assassinate her. The man said, ¡°I¡¯m Billie Buckley, the big shot on this street. Someone paid me one thousand dors to follow you, rough you up a bit¡­¡± As he coughed and inched backward, trying to get away from this terrifying woman, he cursed inwardly. ¡®Damn it, they said she¡¯s a weak little girl. She kicked me, and it hurt so much!¡® He felt like his organs had all shifted, maybe even internal bleeding. When he got back, he was definitely going to squeeze more money out of that guy. This pain wasn¡¯t worth it. Briar nced at his pale face and chuckled coldly. ¡°So your life is only worth one thousand dors? Pretty cheap.¡± Billie¡¯s face turned even paler, his whole body going limp with terror as he panted desperately. ¡°Sorry! I was wrong, please, have mercy! I swear! won¡¯t do it again¡­¡± Briar grew impatient with his babbling. She grabbed him by the cor and mmed him against the wall. ¡°You want to live or die?¡± If her strong hands weren¡¯t wrapped around his neck, Billie might¡¯ve dropped to his knees on the spot. ¡°Live! I want to live! I swear I wasn¡¯t trying anything, I¡¯m just strapped for cashtely. I won¡¯t do it again!¡± Briar pulled out her phone, brought up a photo, and shoved it in front of his face. ¡°The one who sent you. Was it him?¡± ¡°Yeah! That¡¯s him! He looks all prim and proper, even wears sses¡­¡± Billie blurted out, practically jumping out of his skin. The person in the photo was none other than Sawyer, the university doctor at Shoneport University. ¡®Well, well, things are getting more and more interesting,¡¯ Briar thought. Justst night, Frank had been tailing Sawyer, and now, Sawyer had hired some street thug to follow her. So no matter who was acting, they all wanted to pin things on her. ¡°I¡­ I told you everything. Please let me off this once, I really won¡¯t dare do it again¡­¡± Even if they offered ten thousand or a hundred thousand dors 14.18 Sat, 16 Aug now, Billie wouldn¡¯t take it. He was too scared to spend money he might die for. Briar nced at the time on her phone. They¡¯d been in the alley for five minutes already. Five more to go. Ten minutes was enough for a person to do all sorts of awful things to someone else. She let him go. Briar wasn¡¯t even worried he¡¯d run. Just one casual nce from her, and Billie stood bolt upright, obedient as could be. They stood in silence in the alley for the full ten minutes. By the end, Billie¡¯s face was pale. He¡¯d even b¨²ried. started thinking about where he wanted to be After staring toward the alley¡¯s exit for a few seconds, Briar retracted her gaze and asked coldly, ¡°You know what to say when you go back, right?¡± Billie might¡¯ve been weak, but street punks like him were masters at reading the room. He knew he was safe, at least for tonight. ¡°I know if that guy asks, I¡¯ll say I knocked you out with a blunt weapon and gave you a good beating. Is that¡­ is that okay?¡± Briar smiled faintly. She didn¡¯t say if it was okay or not. She just turned off the shlight, sped her hands behind her back, and strolled slowly out of the alley. Billie, despite his pain, stayed pressed against the wall, unmoving. Only when he was sure she¡¯d truly gone did he clutch his stomach and limp out of the alley, step by painful step. ¡°Holy hell, that hurt!¡± Billie muttered, ¡°I must be cursed. Took a job for one thousand dors and ran into a real deal. I nearly lost my life! That punk better not show up again, or I¡¯ll gather my men and beat the crap out of him!¡± He grumbled his way down the street, disappearing into the dark. Meanwhile, hidden in the shadows, Briar stood silently. Her eyes, glowing faintly red with rage, gleamed in the darkness. ¡®Sawyer Hemsley, I won¡¯t let this slide,¡® she thought. The quiet street was empty, and the slim figure of Briar wandered slowly, pausing here and there. Fortunately, this was an old district full of elderly residents who had already gone to bed by this hour. Finally, near the end of the street, she found a suspicious location. She marked it on the map, then turned and used the same pace Sawyer had shown during his nighttime jog in the surveince footage, retracing the path while avoiding every known camera, all the way to Shoneport University, calcting the timing precisely. By then, it was already 11:30 pm. Briar left the peaceful old district and returned to a street bustling with traffic. She took a deep breath, found a blind spot not covered by surveince, and sent the route she¡¯d just mapped to Larry, who was currently offline. Briar: [Larry, find a familiar face and check out the marked location. likely one of their safehouses in Shoneport.] After sending the message, Briar deleted it, wiped her browsing traces, and hummed a tune all the way back to Moonspring Estate. Three hourster, Larry had just returned from a business lunch with a partner when he saw the message. Normally unaffected by alcohol, he flushed with excitement. After all this time, they¡¯d finally found a trace of those people in Dasmieca. AD Comment Forsaken 140 Chapter 140 ¡°Ruben, Briar sent more good news!¡± Without caring about anything else, Larry rushed into Ruben¡¯s office, carrying hisptop. After closing the door behind him, he eagerly pulled up the chat interface and showed it to Ruben. Usually calm andposed, Ruben¡¯s pupils contracted slightly upon reading the message. It was indeed good news, but he still reminded the overly excited Larry, ¡°Larry, this is apany. Mind your emotions. Don¡¯t let anyone with ill intent notice anything unusual.¡± In order to draw out the big fish hiding deep beneath the surface, they deliberately let those small fry stay in thepany. Sometimes, they even let those ¡°fish¡± catch glimpses of their movements inside thepany. Larry took a deep breath, forcing himself to suppress the excitement on his face, and I nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± Only then did Ruben lower his voice and begin discussing with Larry who they should send into Shoneport to carry out the task Briar had just sent. Too many negative rumors had been circting around Shoneport Universitytely. For the sake of the school¡¯s image and reputation, the student council went all out this year for the annual campus king and queen contest. Not only did they double the usual rewards, but they even hosted a small dance party to apany the event, inviting all faculty and students to join the festivities. The university generously provided a massive auditorium that could hold nearly ten thousand people, adding to the lively atmosphere. As for this year¡¯s campus king, there was no doubt. Just likest year, it went to Frank. To all the female students at Shoneport University, this alcof prince had an unmatched charm. But thepetition for campus queen was fierce. Fromst year¡¯s winner, Le, to the up¨Canding Beatrice, all were strong contenders. Yet in the end, they were all defeated by the controversial Briar. So, the campus queen title went to her again this year. Briar stood expressionless, epting the congrattions from the crowd. Some were envious, some jealous, some resentful. ¡°Thanks¡­¡± Frank stood beside her, grinning more brightly than the roses around them, like he had just won campus queen himself. ¡°Thanks to everyone¡¯s support! Let¡¯s all have fun tonight at the dance!¡± The legendary aloofness of Frank was nowhere to be found. His smile was so wide it was practically free. Even the usually dense Mason couldn¡¯t take it anymore and nudged him. ¡°Prince Frankie, tone it down a little. You¡¯re scaring people away.¡± Frank showed eight sparkling teeth, still smiling hard. ¡°I¡¯m just too happy! Winning the campus king two years in a row. What an honor!¡± Mason didn¡¯tment. Frank¡¯s good mood carried right into the evening¡¯s dance party. Even when Briar declined the opening dance, he didn¡¯t mind. When other girls came to invite him, he epted every single one. He was like a walking heart¨Cthief, lighting fires in hearts across the floor, full of irresistible charm. Le sat in a corner of the rest area, watching the scene with Lydia, Mia, and Abbie. Watching Frank spinning on the dance floor, she felt like she was seeing a god tear himself down from his pedestal Mia held it in as long as she could, but finally asked, ¡°Is that really our Prince Frankie?¡± Lydia took a deep breath. ¡°I think so¡­?¡± Abbie took a big sip of juice. ¡°So Prince Frankie¡¯s this friendly because the campus queen is Briar this year? That¡¯s why he¡¯s so happy?¡± As soon as she said it, Le¡¯s face dropped, ¡°What¡¯s there to be happy about, over a girl who won her title through gossip and randal? As much as she hated to admit it, the reality was right there. in past years, after winning the campus king title, Frank always kept a low profile. The moment he saw girls, he would practically vanish on the spot The difference was night and day. Of course, all the noise and excitement had nothing to do with Briar. She sat alone in a corner near the buffet, holding two tes of food. She ate leisurely, bored, watching theughter and merrymaking on the dance floor. The dance party was open to all faculty and students. Briar saw Sawyer. He was dressed sharply in a tailored suit and looking every bit the refined gentleman. He walked toward her, but her face didn¡¯t show the slightest reaction. ¡°Our campus queen. Why are you hiding here instead of joining the party?¡± Sawyer asked naturally, holding a ss of pale blue¨Cpurple cocktail. Briar nced at him ndly. ¡°Inconvenient. I¡¯m injured.¡± Sawyer raised an eyebrow and pretended to show concern. ¡°Injured? Briar, how did it happen? Is it serious? Do you need me to take a look?¡± Briar smiled, ¡°Dr. Hemsley, did you forget I¡¯m a doctor too? It¡¯s just a scratch. No need to bother the school doctor over something so minor.¡± Sawyer tapped his temple with two fingers, faking a sheepish look. ¡°Must be the alcohol. My brain¡¯s not working. Totally forgot about your brilliant medical skills¡­¡± Briar acted like she didn¡¯t catch the probe hidden in hispliment and nodded calmly. ¡°Decent enough. Haven¡¯t lost a patient yet. My hands are clean of blood.¡± Sawyer¡¯s gaze flickered. He masked the twitch at the corner of his lips with a sip of wine. So, Briar really was suspicious of him. He wondered if it was the mysterious and powerful Ashton who discovered something, or maybe Briar herself caught on. ¡°Hey, Briar, what are you doing here? We¡¯ve been looking everywhere for you.¡± Frank came over with most of theirb group, except Mia. They were loud and energetic, almost pushing Sawyer aside. Then he plopped down right into the seat Sawyer had just left and shed his usual dazzling grin. Briar fought back a twitch in her lip and yed along. ¡°I was hungry. Just came here for food.¡± ¡°You¡¯re injured. You should eat more good stuff to recover. Themp chops are amazing. I¡¯ll go get you some¡­¡± Frank talked the talk, but his butt stayed glued to the chair. Instead, it was straightforward Mason who dashed off and returned quickly with two sizzlingmb chops. Briar took them and nodded politely. ¡°Thanks, Mason.¡± Mason grinned. ¡°No problem at all!¡± Everyone was quite familiar with Briar by now, and they quickly got chatting. Perhaps intentionally or not, the conversation remained firmly on the topic of traditional medicine,pletely ignoring the only modern medicine representative present, Sawyer. Eventually, he left quietly, wearing a polite but awkward smile. Frank thought, ¡®That guy¡¯s trouble. With Ashton not around, I¡¯ve gotta keep an eye on Briar.¡® Briar smiled and shook her head. ¡°Too obvious, Prince Frankie.¡± Frank didn¡¯t care. ¡°Let it be obvious! You think I¡¯m scared of him? If he dares touch me, Ashton¡¯ll have a perfect excuse to take him out.¡± Ted looked puzzled. ¡°Since when did you have this much hostility toward a school doctor?¡± Forsaken 141 Chapter 141 Sawyer was most likely the real murderer of the two female students at Shoneport University. Before Ashton and the police had solid evidence, Frank didn¡¯t mention it to anyone else. So, when everyone saw Frank acting so abnormally toward an insignificant, powerless school doctor, even Ted and Mason were curious. Frank waved his hand. ¡°Isn¡¯t it just because he¡¯s deliberately trying to get close to our junior? I¡¯m just helping to get rid of him.¡± Mason immediately epted this reasoning andughed heartily. ¡°So you¡¯re afraid Sawyer will steal her from our traditional medicine department! That¡¯s not happening. Little Briar is so outstanding, she has to be our department¡¯s treasure.¡± Briar went silent. Thanks to Frank and Hamish, everyone in theb group called Ted was more perceptive than the easily fooled Mason. He nced between Frank and Briar, clearly suspicious, but didn¡¯t say anything. The others weren¡¯t too concerned about Frank¡¯s hostility toward Sawyer. Their attention was already captivated by the dazzling senior and junior girls on the dance floor. With such a perfect opportunity, they wouldn¡¯t pass up a chance for a fateful encounter and possibly some romantic progress. It would be a total waste of a good dance party. Soon, they were all lured away by the charm of the upperssmen and undersswomen. Mason was especially restless. He dragged Ted onto the stage, and with the help of a little alcohol, the two of them danced several rounds without pause. Only Frank and Briar were left in the buffet area. Frank leaned in and said quietly, ¡°Briar, until Ashton and Hamish make a move on Sawyer, don¡¯t be alone with him. It¡¯s dangerous.¡± Briar nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I absolutely won¡¯t meet him alone.¡± If Sawyer were really one of those people, it wouldn¡¯t be her job to take him out. There were plenty of others willing to do the job. Frank said, ¡°After tonight, you and I will be the center of attention. You can also use the students way for your future.¡± Having finished his serious talk, Frank grinned and offered some senior wisdom. ¡°So? What kind of student council won¡¯t give them to you, I¡¯ll find a way to get them for you myself.¡± resources to expand yourwork and pave the sources are you interested in? Just pick. If the Briar slowly munched on hermb chop, then dered with a bold tone, ¡°I don¡¯t need Shoneport University¡¯s resources. I am my own best resource.¡± Frank was amused by her proud little tone. He held up his fingers to show a tiny pinch. ¡°You? This much? Don¡¯t joke. No offense to the Jennings family, but with the limited resources they have right now, what can they really offer you?¡± Briar didn¡¯t even nce at his mocking gesture. ¡°Who said I need to rely on the Jennings family to survive in Shoneport?¡± Frank was doubtfu!. ¡°Not the Jennings family? Then Ashton¡¯s resources? His personal resources are too brutal and bloody. Not suitable for you.¡± Briar chuckled. ¡°I already said, I don¡¯t need to rely on anyone. I am my own resource. You have no idea how valuable Lam.¡± Pick any one of her skills, and it¡¯d be enough to shock him. Frank honestly didn¡¯t know. After spending all this time with her, she hadn¡¯t shown any particrly amazing talents. Though being Tristan¡¯s only disciple was pretty impressive. She was also decent withputers, but just these things weren¡¯t enough to make her a powerhouse among the elite families in Shoneport. She¡¯d need serious capital to back her up¡­ Chapter 141 But considering she was only 18 and had grown up in Qathana, maybe she didn¡¯t fully grasp these things yet. But it was better to leave those Ashton. After all, Briar was Ashton¡¯s girl. Ashton just wouldn¡¯t just let her flounder. Halfway through the dance, Frank and Briar, the stars of the evening, couldn¡¯t hide any longer and were pulled onto the stage The crowd cheered for the campus king and queen to perform. Someone suggested they dance together, but Frank immediately shut it down Ashton hadn¡¯t even danced with Briar. If he stole that opportunity, Ashton would have someone beat him up tonight. Lovestruck men had the weirdest ways of getting jealous. Best not to risk it. In the end, Frank and Briar decided to sing a duet. After much back and forth, they picked ¡°You are my sunshine,¡± a ssic, cheerful song with absolutely no romantic tension, and the only song Briar feltfortable singing. ¡°You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.¡± ¡°You make me happy when skies are gray.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll never know, dear, how much I love you.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t take my sunshine away¡­¡± As Frank and Briar stood on stage, they were expressionless. They sang the sweet, old¨Cfashioned melody line by line, and the entire audience fell into a strange, stunned silence. Other than the chirpy melody and the alternating male and female voices, not a single sound was heard. Everyone stood frozen in ce. They were young, energetic college students! At such a vibrant, youthful dance party, the most beautiful pair on campus sang this. Once the song ended, all thoughts of romance, flirting, and dreamy vibes evaporated. Everyone¡¯s minds echoed with the haunting refrain. ¡°You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.¡± ¡°My only sunshine.¡± ¡°You make me happy¡­¡± Mason¡¯s brain was fried. ¡°What the hell? I never imagined the ethereal Prince Frankie would one day sing such an old¨Cschool, wholesome folk song. This is surreal.¡± Ted looked around at the crowd, who wore expressions of disbelief, yet whose heads had started unconsciously bobbing along to the beat. ¡°Even I can¡¯t make sense of this.¡± Charle and Thomas¡¯s faces were unreadable. Their normally aloof friend had just broadcast a painfully innocent image to the entire student bo Charle muttered under his breath, ¡°Thomas, do you believe this? After tonight, so many girls at Shoneport University are gonna be heartbroken. The contrast is too brutal.¡± Thomas nodded. ¡°I believe it.¡± He had already seen his sister frozen in ce, stunned and visibly distressed. Just how hard is she crushing on Frank?¡® Thomas wondered. She was so smitten that no matter what Frank did, she thought he was absolutely amazing. And yet, even she was shaken by this emotionless, oddly timed performance. It felt like her idol had suddenly be human. In the weirdest way. Le and the others were speechless. Their jaws dropped. ¡°That was Frank? Did something short¨Ccircuit in my brain?¡± Mia looked devastated. She had always felt she had the upper hand, with more chances to spend time around Frank than others. But thinking about how a man who always seemed untouchable had just sung a luby in front of the entire school. There was no charm. Only shock. Çú Forsaken 142 Chapter 142 As the duet ended, the audience apuded with a scattered, awkward rhythm. They stared at their freshly elected campus king and queen as the pair stepped off stage, their faces unreadable, their performance burned into everyone¡¯s memory like a fever dream. Never in their lives had they seen campus royalty with so little concern for appearances. Shoneport University¡¯s campus idols weren¡¯t actual celebrities with mizable influence, but they still had ess to exclusive opportunities, elite internships, and first¨Cpickworking circles. Those weren¡¯t things just anyone could get. But with that performance, they might have thrown the opportunities away. The guy who had first suggested that Frank and Briar perform was now stumbling off to a corner, curling up in shame. He knew he¡¯d screwed up. He was full of regret. He really shouldn¡¯t have said anything. All he¡¯d wanted was to see the gorgeous campus queen dance. Instead, he got a deadpan, overly cheerful rendition of ¡°You are my sunshine.¡± And now, the tune wouldn¡¯t leave his head. No one dared suggest the duo perform ever again. That performance had nearly shattered the collective fantasy. Any remaining filter of untouchable perfection was hanging by a thread. Pretending nothing had happened, the crowd quickly pushed other students to the stage to revive the mood. Backstage, Mason dragged Ted over and plopped down beside Frank and Briar. shing a huge thumbs¨Cup, he grinned. ¡°You Weaponizing cringe? Whose idea was that?¡± guys are vicious. Frank chuckled. ¡°What are you talking about? Do we look like the scheming type?¡± Mason snorted. ¡°Maybe not Briar. But you? A guy with tons of schemes? Please. Swear on something sacred, and maybe we¡¯ll believe you.¡± At first, Mason had been truly baffled by that performance. But after Ted patiently walked him through the logic, it all made sense. This was Frank¡¯stest genius tactic. He self¨Csabotaged in public to avoid being mobbed by female admirers for the rest of the year. Reputation damage in exchange for peace and quiet. This was the kind of spotlight others would kill for. However, these two were desperate to escape it. Frank raised an eyebrow, amused. ¡°Well, well. Look who¡¯s catching on.¡± Mason puffed up proudly. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not the same meathead you met freshman year.¡± Frank didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Yeah, right. Robert probably exined the whole thing to you.¡± They¡¯d been friends too long for Mason to fool him. The guy had muscles for days but not a single strategic bone in his body. Whatever brains he had were used up just getting into Shoneport University. And ever since he started getting all touchy¨Cfeely with Ted, his IQ had dropped even further. Frank was half¨Cconvinced the guy would forget to breathe if Robert wasn¡¯t around. Mason was speechless. He decided to pretend he hadn¡¯t heard that. Real friendship means letting some things stide. Ted shook his head. ¡°You really went to all this trouble just to avoid a few girls chasing you around campus? You¡¯re graduating soon, What¡¯s one more year? 10:35 Mon, 18 Aug Besides, starting next semester, their entire research group would be off¨Ccampus doing hospital rotations. They¡¯d barely have time to breathe, let alone socialize. Frank gave a meaningful nce at Mason and Ted. They were still holding hands like it was the most natural thing in understand my pain.¡± Only then did Mason realize their hands were still firmly sped. His ears turned red as he awkwardly tried to pull away. world. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t 20 Though they were often close in private, he was still self¨Cconscious in public. But Ted held tight and didn¡¯t let go. ¡°Don¡¯t tease him, Frank. He¡¯s not exactly built for subtlety.¡± Frank surrendered with augh. ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯ll behave.¡± Honestly, calling Mason ¡°dense¡± in matters of the heart was being generous. They shared an apartment, a room, and even a bed. Ted had basically stake his im sign, and somehow Mason still hadn¡¯t caught on. Everyone in their group knew. Everyone but him. That paper¨Cthinyer of usible deniability hadn¡¯t been broken yet. And somehow, Ted had the patience of a saint. If it were hot¨Ctempered Ashton¡­ Frank nced sideways at Briar, who was s seate I quietly nearby, sipping from a stic cup like she hadn¡¯t just sung a luby on stage. ¡®Hang on. Now that I think about it, Ashton isn¡¯t doing any better. He still hasn¡¯t managed to get anywhere with Briar, has he?¡® Frank mused to himself. He couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue. ¡®Love really does make fools out of everyone.¡¯ Briar sat peacefully, watching Mason and Ted¡¯s tightly sped hands. She smiled faintly. Having grown up in Qathana and spent her formative years at a certain special ops base with an almost exclusively male roster, this kind of dynamic was practically normal to her. Male¨Cmale pairings were somon they were practically expected. Ted caught her gaze and looked Over. Briar didn¡¯t look away. She raised her Cup in a faux¨Ctoast and said smoothly, ¡°You know, I¡¯m pretty skilled in traditional medicine. Especially when it Ted choked on his own breath. His eyes darted from their interlocked hands to¡­ somewhere a little more south. Ted coughed hard, trying to cover up the sudden awkwardness. ¡°Thank you. But I think we¡¯re good for now,¡± he stammered, yanking Mason away before thetter could react. Frankughed out loud. ¡°Briar, you¡¯re too much.¡± But honestly, he couldn¡¯t help it. He¡¯d seen a lot. Even if he didn¡¯t have firsthand experience, hanging out with yboys like Hamish and those other wild types had definitely broadened his horizons. ¡°I¡¯m being serious,¡± she said, touching her nose. Back at the special ops base, there was no shortage of guys sneaking over to ask her for prescriptions to help them stay in top form. Frank chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re so open about this stuff. Does Ashton even know you¡¯re like this?¡± TU.35 Mon, 18 Aug 0 Briar replied with a perfectly straight face, ¡°He doesn¡¯t need any help. He¡¯s in perfect shape.¡± Frank couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore and burst outughing. 76/1 20 ¡°See? Women who use their looks to get ahead really are something else. She¡¯s not even trying to hide it. She¡¯s already hitting on guys in public again.¡± Mia sneered, her voice full of contempt. Le was gripping her wine ss so tightly it looked like it might shatter. ¡°What¡¯s the point of being jealous? Isn¡¯t it tradition at Shoneport University for the campus king and queen to pair up?¡± But even as she said it, the jealousy in her tone was obvious to everyone. As the former campus sweetheart, Le never had the luck to be the perfect match with Frank. It wasn¡¯t that she wasn¡¯t good enough. It was just that Frank went out of his way to avoid her, never giving her even the slightest chance to get close. Because of that, Le ended up being the punchline of jokes in their high¨Csociety circles for a while. ¡°My sister isn¡¯t like that. Don¡¯t forget, she¡¯s the one who¡¯s closest to Ashton now,¡± Beatrice¡¯s soft voice chimed in. Robert, sitting next to Beatrice, scoffed. ¡°Come on, Beatrice, stop sticking up for Briar. With the way she¡¯s acting right now, she doesn¡¯t have even a shred of decency as Ashton¡¯s girlfriend.¡± Forsaken 143 Chapter 143 16% 20 Ever since he found out that the campus queen title originally meant for Beatrice was snatched away by Briar through underhanded means, Robert had harbored intense resentment toward Briar. He felt indignant on Beatrice¡¯s behalf. ¡®They¡¯re family, and Briar is Beatrice¡¯s sister. How can she be so immature? Why does she always have thought. Sure enough, Beatrice was right. Briar didn¡¯t return to the Jennings family a go after the things Beatrice likes?¡® Robert Briar was studying traditional medicine. No matter how skilled living. she all reunion. She came to tear them apart and bring chaos. could do was sit in a hospital in Shoneport, diagnosing patients for a It might sound noble, but in truth, she was just dealing with desperate people who had nowhere else to turn. Snatching the campus queen title was meaningless. Figh for Shoneport University¡¯s resources would be futile. Even if she wanted tond a job at a top hospital after graduation, one word from Ashton would make it happen anyway. But Beatrice was different. She had genuine talent in dance, had won international awards, and was currently a student of Jolene, the vice president of Dasmieca Dance Association. She was the one who truly needed all the avable resources. If Frank hadn¡¯t been sticking to Briar like glue this whole time, Robert would¡¯ve already stormed over to scold her. ording to his older brother, Briar often relied on her medicinal expertise to get special treatment from professors and skipped regr group work in theb. Someone like her didn¡¯t deserve to be Shoneport University¡¯s campus belle. She wasn¡¯t even qualified to be in the medicine department¡¯s research team. But Robert also understood that Briar had the Wade family backing her. Ordinary people couldn¡¯t mess with her without serious consequences. His brother had warned him repeatedly to avoid causing trouble for Briar. If Frank, or worse, Ashton were angered, their Davis family might not be able to protect them. Just as Robert was fuming with nowhere to vent, a soft hand gently covered the back of his. He turned and noticed that Le and Mia had unknowingly walked off, leaving only Beatrice beside him. Robert met Beatrice¡¯s gentle eyes. Though she was clearly full of sadness, she still said, ¡°Robert, don¡¯t me Briar. She¡¯s still young. I¡¯m her older sister. It¡¯s only right give way to her.¡± Robert¡¯s anger, which had slightly died down, instantly surged again. ¡°Young? She¡¯s already 18, an adult. And who says older sisters have to give in to younger ones? Beatrice, you¡¯re just too kind.¡± Mist welled up in Beatrice¡¯s eyes, and her tears clung to hershes, threatening to fall. As if afraid to let Robert see her sadness, she turned away quickly and wiped her tears. She said, ¡°Don¡¯t say that. Dad said it too. Briar only just returned to the Jennings family. It¡¯s understandable that she resents me, my mom, and my brother. After all, she never experienced a warm family growing up, while we¡­¡± As Beatrice spoke, the sorrow in her heart outweighed her grace and kindness. The tears she had tried to hide finally fell,nding on Robert¡¯s hand and stabbing at his heart. Robert said, ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Beatrice. I¡¯ll find a way to teach her a lesson. It¡¯s not your fault she didn¡¯t grow up with love or family. She shouldn¡¯t be taking it out on you.¡± Watching her cry silently, Robert¡¯s heart softened . ¡°You¡¯ve done nothing wrong. None of you has, It¡¯s Briar. She just doesn¡¯t want you all to be happy 1/3 10:35 Mon, 18 Aug ? They were tucked away in a corner of the ballroom, and after seeing Beatrice cry, Robert quickly led her to an even more secluded spot. So almost no one saw what happened. But Briar, who had been walking around to escape the noisy party, happened to pass by. She heard the twisted, upside¨Cdown conversation between the two. Briar frowned. Briar had been too busytely with all kinds of messes and had temporarily forgotten about the maniptive Beatrice. That day, when Edgar called to pressure her to give up the campus queen spot, she had already had it with Beatrice. And now Beatrice had the audacity to smear her behind her back again. Briar¡¯s fists clenched. Beatrice seemed to have forgotten that she was already engaged. Javier was the golden bachelor she and her mother, Halle, had schemed so hard to snatch. Since Javier was no longer at Shoneport University, Beatrice clearly nned to move on and find a new backer. Briar never held grudges overnight. She struck when it was time to strike. Silently gliding past the two, her hand in her pocket moved subtly. In her phone, a photo had just been added. One showed Beatrice and Robert in intimate, lovey¨Cdovey pose. Reaching a quiet corner, Briar sent the photo anonymously to Javier, who was busy learning how to take over the family business. Late at night, a perfect time to give dear Javier some ¡°motivation¡± after a hard day¡¯s work. Without leaving a name, Briar watched as Beatrice¡¯s phone rang less than two minutester. Seeing the panic and fear on her face, Briar¡¯s eyes curved into a pleased smile. She put away her phone and left as quietly as she came. Robert, who had been neglected by Beatrice, caught a glimpse of someone darting through the shadows. But when he looked again, there was no one there. Just as he was about to go check, Beatrice¡¯s anxious voice cried out, ¡°No, Javier, please let me exin, I didn¡¯t. How can you say that about me¡­¡± Robert frowned. ¡®Javier?¡® He figured that was Beatrice¡¯s Javier, the man she loved but could never truly have. Jealousy twisted Robert¡¯s face. Javier was supposed to be back home managing his family¡¯s business. Everyone said Javier¡¯s mother looked down on Beatrice. And yet, here he was, still interfering and trying to contact her. With just one photo, Briar shattered the fragile sweetness between Beatrice and Robert, unleashing the wrath of Javier upon them. A simp always chose to be someone¡¯s backup n came with the risk of ending up with nothing. At 10 pm, as the party was ending, Frank came to find Briar. ¡°Briar, don¡¯t run off. Ashton said he¡¯ll pick us up soon. Let¡¯s sneak out through the side door.¡± Briar smiled and nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± As she followed Frank toward the exit, just as the side door closed, Briar suddenly turned back. Her cold eyes met a pair of eyes hidden in the dark, Startled by the sudden stare, Sawyer¡¯s heart clenched hard. Before the door fully shut, he seemed to catch a glimpse of Briar smiling at him, provocative and fearless. He had underestimated Briar. 2/3 10:36 Mon, 18 Aug She was far more tenacious and entertaining than her mother. But the real question now was whether those eyes of hers would still be so cold and defiant when she stood on hisb table.. AD Forsaken 144 10:36 Mon, 18 Aug Chapter 144 After the side door was tightly closed and no on was paying attention anymore, Sawyer slowly emerged from the dark corner and blended into the stream of students leaving through the main entrance of the auditorium. At this moment, the sinister look on his face was reced by gentleness and friendliness, once again bing the familiar warm school doctor. He walked out with the others, chatting andughing along the way. The female students giggled as they said goodbye to him, ¡°Goodbye, Dr. Hemsley!¡± Sawyer smiled back at each of them. ¡°Goodbye.¡± Le also left with Mia and the others. As she passed by Sawyer, her gaze briefly and subtly met his. But neither of them spoke. Le held her head high, looking noble, with a faint sneer on her lips as she walked away. Mia, ever observant, noticed the eye contact between Le and Sawyer. A flicker of suspicion crossed her mind. This proud youngdy acted differe toward a school doctor than she did toward others. Still, it had nothing to do with her. The brief curiosity that arose in her heart was quickly suppressed. Ashton¡¯s car was parked in a lot not far from the auditorium. Frank and Briar hade out earlier and didn¡¯t run into any other students along the way. By the time people starteding out of the auditorium, their car had already left the school. The driver tonight was different. It was not Brandon, but a buzz¨Ccut man in camouge, whom Briar had never seen before. Noticing her curious look, Ashton introduced him, ¡°This is Connor. He¡¯s been in charge of my overseas business. He just got back tonight.¡± ¡°Good evening, Miss Jennings.¡± Connor¡¯s voice was low and firm, with that sharp edge unique to military men. But Briar understood clearly that none of the four men closest to Ashton came from the military. All their skills were personally cultivated by Ashton. These four were powerful. Even though they never appeared on international assassination rankings, any mercenary or faction that knew of them kept a respectful distance. The Hacker Alliance had little information on these four. Ashton¡¯s shadow forces were even more mysterious. Briar responded with a smile, ¡°Good evening.¡± She understood that Connor was in charge of Ashton¡¯s overseas operations and usually didn¡¯t return to the country easily. His sudden return tonight likely had something to do with the uing military exercise in Shoneport. Sitting in the passenger seat, Frank suddenly said, ¡°Ashton, aren¡¯t we going back to Moonspring Estate?¡± This route clearly wasn¡¯t the way back to Moonspring Estate. Frank began to believe that Ashton had finallye to his senses and was taking Briar to the Wade family home. Ashton shot a sideways nce at the grinning Frank and said to Briar, ¡°You probably didn¡¯t get to eat much at the ball. I¡¯m taking you to get some food first.¡± Briar nodded. ¡°That¡¯s perfect. We really didn¡¯t eat much.¡± The only thing she ate a lot of was a te of grilled chops. The rest were cold dishes. She looked like she was eating nonstop with a full te but ¡ü barely anything actually made it to her mouth, 1/3 10:36 Mon, 18 Aug Frank immediately rattled off a list of dishes he wanted, but what responded to him was the slowly rising privacy panel in the back seat. € 76%L Frank turned to Connor, who was driving with a straight face, and whined, ¡°Connor, is Ashton being too cruel to me? Aren¡¯t I still his favorite little brother?¡± Connor didn¡¯t even lift an eyelid. ¡°Drop the act.¡± ¡®Man, after all this time, he still doesn¡¯t know how to sweet¨Ctalk me a little?¡® Frank grumbled to himself. In Shoneport, everyone recognized Ashton¡¯s ride. Whenever people spotted his car on the road, they¡¯d steer clear. Nobody dared get close to the car, let alone the people inside. So they reached the restaurant in just twenty minutes. It was a private kitchen¨Cstyle ce, uniquely decorated, and the dishes they served were extremely delicious. Frank sat next to Connor, wolfing down food, and this aloof, tough guy even helped him peel shrimp and remove fish bones. If Frank had a tail, he¡¯d be wagging it into the sky. Briar had always thought Frank kept his distance from school girls because he didn¡¯t want to attract trouble. She now realized she had underestimated him after seeing this different side of him tonight. Her gaze toward Frank turned subtle. Frank had hidden this part of himself well. Even she, a doctor who had seen countless men, hadn¡¯t seen through him. ¡°Briar, eat properly.¡± Noticing Briar¡¯s distraction, Ashton ced another piece of rib in her bowl. Hearing this, Connor looked over at her. Briar quickly lowered her head and started eating. ¡°Okay.¡± Only then did Ashton begin casually chatting with Connor. The two talked about international affairs, some so secretive and dangerous that just hearing about them could mean death. Briar chewed as she silentlyined. Ashton didn¡¯t see her as an outsider. These kinds of topics were fine for Frank as a legitimate Wade family member, but he had included her too. It wasn¡¯t just Briar who found it odd. Even Frank and Connor were shocked at first. Especially Connor. Initially, he had thought of Briar as just another disposable little fling of Ashton. Even if she had cured Griffin¡¯s illness and helped with Ashton¡¯s insomnia, that didn¡¯t make her irreceable. There was certainly no shortage of capable people in this world. But living on the edge like he did, Connor didn¡¯t truly recognize Briar as someone he needed to protect until tonight. Now, even the look in his eyes carried a touch of respect. ¡°Mr. Wade, the goods from Fierce Tiger will arrive at the airport at 3:30 a.m. Our people are tracking them all the way. The shipment is secure.¡± Connor handed over a printed document to Ashton. Ashton took it, flipped through it, then casually ced it on the table. Sitting next to him, Briar only needed a quick nce to see the bold title on the first page that said Arms Transaction. She realized that while it was nice that he trusted her, there were some things, like sensitive business dealings, that probably didn¡¯t need to be shared so casually. She also recognized Fierce Tiger. Based on the intel she had seen, they were ranked among the top thirty arms dealers on the international cklist. Briar calmly averted her ¡°identally¡± wandering eyes and, like Frank, stayed uninvolved. She focused on the food in her own bowl. After the meal, Ashton and Connor finished their discussion. The document was returned to Connor, and he left with Frank, 2/3 U.30 10 AUY Ashton personally drove Briar back to Moonspring Estate. In the car, Ashton asked her as she slumped contentedly in the passenger seat. ¡°Did what we talked about earlier scare you?¡± 3/3 AD Forsaken 145 Chapter 145 Briar shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It sounds dangerous, but I¡¯m not scared. Actually, I¡¯m pretty brave.¡± Ashton chuckled. ¡°As long as you¡¯re not scared. I¡¯ll take you to see some other businessester. You can pick the ones you like. Then I¡¯ll gift them to your two uncles from the Grant family.¡± Briar was surprised. ¡°Gift them to my uncles?¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°Yes, to them. I want to steal away their beloved niece, so I have to show some sincerity.¡± Briar frowned. It sounded like Ashton already had their wedding all nned out, ¡°That¡¯s not necessary, okay? My uncles are all in legitimate businesses¡­¡± Briar struggled to get the words out after a long pause. Now it was Ashton¡¯s turn to choke. ¡°Briar, aside from tonight¡¯s shady business, I also have plenty of legitimate ones.¡± Briar covered her mouth, stifling augh. ¡°I know, but really, it¡¯s not needed. No matter how many businesses you bribe them with, once they find out you¡¯re trying to take me away, they¡¯ll still be mad.¡± In her uncles¡® eyes, no one could ever take her away. Ashton kept quiet. His expressions were too rich, which amused Briar even more. By the time their car pulled into Ashton¡¯s vi courtyard, Briar still hadn¡¯t stoppedughing. ¡°Briar, stopughing. We¡¯re home now.¡± Ashton turned off the engine and looked at the girl, still giggling with crinkled eyes in her seat. Briar barelyposed herself and forced back herughter. ¡°Okay. I¡¯m doneughing.¡± But even though she said that, the curve of her lips just wouldn¡¯t go down. It was harder to control than the AK recoil in her favorite game. Ashton squinted, eyesplex as he stared at the smile she couldn¡¯t hide. Then, under her startled and flustered gaze, he leaned over and kissed her lips. Sess. Ashton had effectively stopped her fromughing. Briar¡¯s eyes widened. Instinctively, she tried to push him away, but he was faster. He grabbed both her hands and held them tightly. Whether Ashton was gripping too tightly or she was struggling the wrong way, her hands were trapped. She was unable to escape, unable to move. The entire car suddenly fell silent. So silent that Briar could only hear her own wildly beating heart. Ashton¡¯s tall, burning body was getting closer and closer, until she was pressedpletely into the seat. It was a strange sensation. Their bodies were pressed so close there wasn¡¯t even a sliver of space. Briar could feel that Ashton¡¯s heart was racing just like hers. Tongues entangled, breaths intertwined, saliva exchanged. asionally, their noses would brush because of his clumsy but fiery kisses. Briar felt like the air inside her was being drained at an indescribable speed. She couldn¡¯t breathe. She wanted to escape, but she couldn¡¯t. In the end, all that came out was a helpless little whimper, or maybe just a soft sigh. Finally, the weight on her body lifted slightly, and her hands were freed, But the breath she exhaled through her parted lips was hot, shy, angry, and confused. 1/3 10.30 MON, 18 Aug Briar waspletely confused about how things escted. She had justughed at him a little. That littleugh somehow resulted in her being pinned down and kissed senseless in the car. Ashton didn¡¯t just kiss her. He nearly made her faint. There was no way she¡¯d admit this was her first time being kissed like that. She also had no intention of admitting that she didn¡¯t know how to breathe while kissing. ¡°Briar, still feel likeughing?¡± Ashton teased after taking advantage, his hand caressing her embarrassingly flushed cheek, eyes lingering on her brows, her eyes, and her slightly swollen lips. Sensing danger, Briar immediately raised her hand to cover her mouth and weakly surrendered. ¡°I¡¯m notughing anymore. Just don¡¯t kiss me again.¡± Any more and she really would pass out. Getting kissed until she fainted. If word got out, her reputation as a tough girl would bepletely ruined. Her panicked and embarrassed reaction was too adorable. Ashtonughed lowly, the sound echoing in the steamy, ambiguous car. He gently pulled her hand down and coaxed, ¡°Okay. I won¡¯t kiss you again tonight. Don¡¯t be mad.¡± Under normal circumstances, Briar would¡¯ve immediately caught the meaning behind his words. His implication was clear. Once midnight passed, the promise would be null and void. There were only minutes left before the day changed. But right now, Briar¡¯s brain had been turned to mush by that sudden and intense kiss. She just stupidly believed him. Ashton got out of the car, walked around to the passenger side, opened the door, and leaned down. Looking at the nearly limp Briar, he reached out to tuck the hair beside her cheeks behind her ears and gently asked, ¡°Briar, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to sleep again tonight, Will youe andfort me?¡± Briar¡¯s eyes widened, full of disbelief. Ashton was seriously asking her tofort him after what he had just done. First, he had taken liberties with her, and now he was acting like the victim who needed soothing. His shamelessness knew no limits. Ashton stood tall, arms and legs long, blocking the door, gazing at her with deep, tender eyes. He looked genuinely sincere and tired, like a man who hadn¡¯t rested in days. Faced with his devastatingly handsome face up close, a face¨Cobsessed girl like Briar couldn¡¯t resist at all. Besides, they had just shared such an intimate moment. Even if she was mad, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to be too harsh. She raised a hand to cover his overly affectionate eyes and gave in, ¡°Fine. I¡¯llfort you. Just stop looking at me like that!¡± Ashton smiled, letting her cover his eyes. ¡°Alright. Then should take you home first? I think your legs¡­ are probably still weak¡­¡± He obviously believed her legs had gone soft from the kiss. ¡°Ashton!¡± She snapped, her tone freezing over, ¡°Try pushing your tuck one more time!¡± Seeing her shame turn into anger, Ashton wisely stopped teasing her. He straightened up with a serious, restrained look on his face. ¡°As usual, I¡¯ll be in my room after I shower, waiting for you.¡± Briar jumped out of the car and stormed off without looking back. But the scorching gaze trailing her like a shadow didn¡¯t let up. In the end, Briar broke into a run and rushed home. Her actions made it perfectly clear. Her legs were absolutely not weak! With a loud bang, she mmed the door shut/The force of it was like smashing it right into Ashton¡¯s face.. ¡®How can she be this cute?¡® Ashton couldn¡¯t help but think, watching Briar dash off. Watching her from the yard, Ashton couldn¡¯t stop the smile. 2/3 10:36 Mon, 18 Aug Aug j C Forsaken 146 hapter 146 Chapter 146 Ashton¡¯s so¨Ccalled ¡°usual routine¡± was that they¡¯d each go to their own rooms to shower, then one of them would quietly slip into the other¡¯s bedroom. One would obediently lie down with eyes closed, trying to fall asleep, while the other would sit nearby, gaming away. One still, one moving, peaceful and serene, as if time itself stood still. Because of the awkwardness, after Briar entered Ashton¡¯s bedroom, she didn¡¯t say a word. She went straight to the single armchair in the corner and started ying a game on her phone. Ashton was sensible enough. Hey down obediently, closed his eyes, and waited to fall asleep. After finishing two rounds, Briar finally looked up at Ashton. He was wearing a slightly open robe, unintentionally revealing his sexy chest. His breathing was steady and long. Phew! He¡¯s finally asleep!¡® Briar thought, finally letting out a breath of relief. The weight on Briar¡¯s heart lifted. She touched her still¨Cburning face, then her lips, which were no longer swollen. She felt the lingering ripples in her chest. Men, especially handsome ones, were truly seductive. That kiss in the car hadpletely messed with Briar¡¯s mind. Even while gaming, she was totally distracted. She slumped further into the armchair, resting her head on her hand. As her tense expression rxed, drowsiness crept in. Probably because she felt safer now that Ashton was asleep, Briar let herself close her eyes. Half an hourter, her breathing steadied, and she drifted into a deep sleep. Meanwhile, Ashton, who was supposedly asleep, opened his eyes. There was no trace of sleepiness in his gaze, just rity. He mimicked Briar¡¯s posture, propping up his head as he watched the sleeping girl. Because she was curled up in the chair, her sleeping position looked ufortable. Soon, her head began to bob forward and back¡­ Ashton¡¯s eyes were gentle, amused by her awkward sleeping pose. Briar slept exceptionally well that night, surrounded by alternating softness and firmness, a warm cocoon. She didn¡¯t wake until her rm red. Still groggy, she reached out blindly for her phone, but instead, her handnded on something smooth and warm. As she opened her palm, she could feel a strong, rhythmic heartbeat underneath. ¡®Wait, is that¡­ a heartbeat?¡® Briar wondered. And not just any heartbeat. It seemed familiar, like Ashton¡¯s, Briar¡¯s fuzzy brain instantly cleared. She opened her eyes, and a giant close¨Cup of Ashton¡¯s handsome face was right in front of her. Startled, she jumped up in ce, nearly tumbling off the bed. A pair of strong arms quickly wrapped around her waist and steadied her. ¡°Careful¡± ¡°Ashton, you¡­1¡­¡± Briar stammered, her mind spinning. She wanted to ask, ¡®What are you doing in my bed?¡® But the room¡¯syout and the bedspread clearly weren¡¯t hers. So she switched gears and thought to ask, ¡°Why am I in your bed?¡± 1/3 10:36 Mon, 18 Aug Mon, 18 Au (320) But she distinctly remembered falling asleep on the armchairst night. However, she woke up on Ashton¡¯s bed, and they were sleeping in each other¡¯s arms. The smooth, warm skin she touched earlier, and the strong heartbeat under her palm. Those told her everything. She hadn¡¯t just slept with Ashton. Her hand was touching his bare chest. ¡®Oh god!¡® Briar squeezed her eyes shut in mortified despair. ¡®Please, someone tell me this is just a dream and I haven¡¯t actually woken up yet!¡® Briar thought frantically. ¡°Briar, are you okay? Did I scare you?¡± Ashton¡¯s concerned voice, tinged with amusement, sounded. His hand resting on her waist shattered herst illusion. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Briar forced her eyes open and pried his hand off her waist, trying her best to put on a straight face. ¡°Morning, Mr. Wade.¡± Ashton caught every flicker of emotion on her face and held back a chuckle. ¡°Morning. Want to get up now or sleep a bit longer? The time is¡­¡± He turned and picked up Briar¡¯s still¨Cringing phone from the nightstand, nced at it, and said, ¡°It¡¯s only six in the morning¡± ¡°I¡¯m up. Time for my morning workout. Mr. Wade, see youter.¡± Briar snatched the phone, silenced the rm, then bolted out of bed, threw on her shoes, opened the door, shut it behind her, and vanished. From the outside, it looked like a calm, coordinated routine. But inside, she was panicking. Ashton sat on the bed, watching her escape like a heartless yboy who¡¯d been abandoned after a one¨Cnight stand, amusement dancing in his eyes. Briar was flustered. She hadn¡¯t even stopped to question him about why she was in his bed. She just ran. She must¡¯ve thought she climbed into his bed while half¨Casleep. Truth be told, Ashton really understood Briar. Briar had genuinely assumed she¡¯d unknowingly climbed into his bed in a sleepy daze. Briar dashed back home, straight into the bathroom. Looking at herself in the mirror, her eyes were full of panic and helplessness. Am I out of my mind? How could I just sleepwalk my way into Ashton¡¯s bed? How am I ever supposed to look Ashton in the eye again?¡± Briar thought, her heart pounding like crazy. Briar was a restless sleeper. Whenever she dozed off, she¡¯d end up hugging whatever was within reach, If she really did crawl into bed and hug Ashton, with his high alertness, he probably noticed the moment she got close. Oh god, just let me die of embarrassment already!¡® she groaned inwardly. After hiding in the bathroom for over thirty minutes, she finally changed into her workout clothes and went downstairs. But the mental walls she¡¯d just managed to patch together instantly copsed when she spotted Ashton Wade, also in workout gear, sitting on her living room sofa like he owned the ce, just waiting for her. ¡°What are you doing in my house?¡± Briar asked warily, knowing full well the answer. Ashton answered with a breezy calm, ¡°Waiting to go jogging with you.¡± Briar frowned. She wasn¡¯t really in the mood for jogging with him today. But Ashton didn¡¯t give her a chance to refuse. He was already heading out, and Briar had no choice but to trail behind him. 2/3 76% Feeling guilty, she kept her distance the whole run. No matter how fast of stow Ashton went, she refused to run beside him, fully aysiding him. Later, after picking up breakfast, Frank, dragged out of bed by Connor, got out of the car and immediately noticed the awkward distance between Ashton and Briar. ¡°Little Briar, did you two have a fight?¡± Briar replied, ¡°No.¡± Frank squinted at her suspicious tone. ¡°Did Ashton bully you? It¡¯s okay, tell me. I¡¯llin to Grandpa.¡± Briar felt even more guilty. Compared to the awkwardness of Ashton kissing herst night, it almost felt like she was the one taking advantage of him. She basically strong¨Carmed him into cuddling and sharing a bed. 3/3 Forsaken 147 She ended up identally sleeping with Ashton Test night. If she didn¡¯t calm herself, Briarwould have definitely woken up this meeting ready in righteously p him in the face. And she would¡¯ve thrown in a ¡°You pervert!¡± for good messUTE. After all, Ashton had forced a kiss on her in the carst night. He took advantage of the fact that she was vulnerable this good looks and hates him gas away with it. Butpared to Ashton kissing her without permission, Briar realized that her identally sleeping with him was, appare ya mucis mere verlore offense. In this scenario, Ashton had suffered more than she had. Feeling shecked the moral high ground, Briar decided to just move on from the whole thing. She wouldn¡¯t hold Ashton secountable for the list anymore. He kissed her, and she slept with him, so it could be considered even now. Then came Frank,pletely oblivious to the tension, who wouldn¡¯t stop asking whether Ashton had bullied her, looking all ready to fight Frank either didn¡¯t notice the expression on Ashton¡¯s face or assumed that with Connor back, he was safe from a beating Briar was very aware of how Connor, the iron¨Cblooded alpha male, operated in his protective mode. He¡¯d give all the sweetness to Frank and all the suffering to himself. If Frank got beaten, Connor wouldn¡¯t just stand by. Taking hits in someone else¡¯s ce was practically a standard move for guys like Briar saw the truth very clearly. Among the countless times Frank had been beaten up, Connor had taken many of those hits for him. ¡°Briar, don¡¯t be scared. Ashton may look a bit fierce and hit hard, but he¡¯s actually pretty tolerant toward family, Frank said with exaggerated confidence. He had probably eaten too wellst night and now felt invincible with Connor by his side. He winked and nudged Briar, trying to provoke her into reacting. ¡°So if he bullied you, just give me a wink. I totally stand up for you. Hey Before he could finish, Connor grabbed him by the cor from behind, lifting him effortlessly and dragging him toward the house, he gave a star in warning. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to watch me get beaten up, then shut up.¡± Frank iled helplessly in the air. ¡°Hey! Can you stop grabbing my cor all the time? i¡¯m not a kid anymore. It¡¯s so embarrassing if someone sees 1 And besides, I didn¡¯t even say anything wrong! Why are you scolding me again?¡± But Connor was unmoved. Silently, he carried Frank away, leaving Ashton and Briar with space to talk Ashton stepped in front of Briar, who was clearly trying to sneak back home. ¡°Briar, are you still mad at me? Briar lowered her gaze. ¡°No.¡± Ashton asked, ¡°Are you avoiding the because you slept holding mest night and I didn¡¯t push you away? Briar was annoyed. Ashton just had to bring up the most embarrassing part Briar gave a quiet, cracked response ¡°No¡± ¡°Then are you upset because I kissed youst night without asking? Even though Briar was dodging left and right, trying to escrow faro, Aunene may al close, pressing her with question. 1/3 10:36 Mon, 18 Aug a He was determined to talk things out and wouldn¡¯t give her a chance to run away. The more he asked, the guiltier Briar felt. ¡°I¡¯m not, I didn¡¯t, don¡¯t overthink. I¡¯m just sweaty from running and want to go home and shower.¡± Ashton wasn¡¯t going to let her off so easily. They¡¯d only jogged 6 miles at a snail¡¯s pace this morning. She wouldn¡¯t be sweaty at all. Plus, Briar had kept a solid few feet behind him the whole way, refusing to run beside him. That was clearly avoidance. Ashton admitted that he¡¯d acted impulsivelyst night by kissing her without permission. Still, even if she was mad, he didn¡¯t regret it. He could tell that Briar liked him. She had feelings for him. The way she clung to him in her sleep, trusting, soft, dependent. It wasn¡¯t fake. But once she woke up, she tried to act like nothing had happened, even looking ready to back out of the situationpletely. Ashton couldn¡¯t ept that. He asked, ¡°Briar, I know¡­ to someone like you, a man my age might seem old, right?¡± When the direct approach didn¡¯t work, he switched to ying the soft, vulnerable card. Ashton suddenly looked dejected, his voice tinged with mncholy. Gone was themanding, aloof presence others saw in him. Briar hesitated, ncing at Ashton. The light in his eyes had dimmed noticeably, and her heart tightened a little. She instinctively tried tofort him. ¡°It¡¯s not that. I don¡¯t think that. You¡¯re great. Anyone would like you.¡± Ashton¡¯s drooping eyes and wounded expression looked so genuinely pitiful that she couldn¡¯t bear it. Briar immediately started trying to soothe him. Ashton¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Really? So¡­ do you like me?¡± Briar¡¯s brow twitched. She was speechless for a moment. ¡°So I guess I¡¯m not one of the people you like¡­¡± The moment his eyes began to shine, that hopeful spark started to fade again. Briar gritted her mrs. ¡°Ashton, don¡¯t push it. This pitiful act doesn¡¯t work on me¡­¡± Ashton sighed. ¡°Alright, maybe I was overthinking. I thought that when you were hugging and holding mest night, it meant you were agreeing to be my girlfriend¡­ It¡¯s fine. I got ahead of myself.¡± ¡®Seriously, have you no shame?¡® she grumbled inwardly. Ashton knew she was feeling guilty about the whole situation and still kept steering the conversation toward it. He knew exactly what he was doing. He knew his domineering persona didn¡¯t match this overly dramatic, emotionally maniptive act at all¡­ But Briar, no matter how stubborn she was, had to admit. This move of his always worked. Every damn time. Because she just couldn¡¯t bear to see him act hurt and wronged, even though she knew it was all an act. Seeing that he was about to sigh and y the tragic card again, Briar couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She red at him. ¡°I like you, alright? I like you! Satisfied now? if you keep acting, I¡¯m going to punch you!¡± Now she was mad for real. Ashton grinned and stepped forward, closing the distance between thempletely. His low, maic voice brushed against her ear. ¡°So¡­ that means you¡¯ve agreed to be my girlfriend, right? My girlfriend.¡± 3/3 10:36 Mon, 18 Aug He emphasized the word girlfriend with particr weight. Briar exhaled deeply. Honestly, she was really at a disadvantage because of her age. Ashton¡¯s ability to twist words and manipte meaning was simply unmatched. She wanted to deny it. But when she met his soft, affectionate gaze, she just ¡°Whatever!¡± and ran off in a hurry. couldn¡¯t say
  1. no.
In the end, she shoved him away hard, muttered Ashton stood with one hand in his pocket, watching Briar¡¯s retreating figure with a smile that screamed mission aplished. Just as Briar was about to run into the house, Ashton called out behind her, ¡°Hurry up ande eat breakfast after you shower¡­ Honey¡± The moment the wordsnded, Briar stumbled, nearly tripping over her own feet. Thankfully, she caught herself on the doorframe. She looked back, furious, only to meet Ashton¡¯s bright, gleaming eyes. The anger on her face fizzled out in an instant. She couldn¡¯t stay mad at him. ¥¤¥ó AD Forsaken 148 Chapter 148 Half an hourter, Briar still appeared in the dining room, dragging her feet. Frank greeted her enthusiastically, ¡°Briar, over here,e sit Briarpletely ignored Ashton, who was watching her eagerly, and walked straight past him to sit beside Frank. She said nothing and silently ate her breakfast. At Shoneport University, Frank had long grown used to Briar¡¯s cold and quiet demeanor. He didn¡¯t find it strange at all and happily whispered to her as they ate. However, Connor, who had spent years in theplex and dangerous border areas, immediately noticed that Briar was intentionally giving someone the cold shoulder. His gaze turned to Ashton, and he mouthed, ¡°Mr. Wade, she¡¯s mad.¡± Ashton mouthed back, ¡°I know.¡± Connor continued, ¡°Want me to drag Frank away?¡± Ashton shook his head to decline. If Connor forcibly dragged Frank away, Briar might m up even more. Lacking experience in rtionships, Ashton rubbed his temples in frustration and mentally asked, ¡®How do I coax an angry girlfriend?¡± After breakfast, Briar refused Ashton¡¯s offer to drive her to school and instead walked to Shoneport University with Frank. Watching the girl with the backpack walking away without even looking back, Ashton looked utterly helpless. He turned to Connor with sincerity. ¡°How do you usually coax Frank when he¡¯s mad?¡± Connor raised an eyebrow. ¡°Mr. Wade, my way of coaxing might not work for you¡­¡± Ashton looked puzzled. ¡°Why not?¡± Connor cleared his throat and replied inly, ¡°Frank is tough and can take a lot of¡­ rough handling.¡± That made Ashton cough awkwardly. ¡°Yeah, that method definitely doesn¡¯t work for me.¡± Briar was soft and delicate. She couldn¡¯t handle that kind of roughness. Besides, he couldn¡¯t even bear to see her cry. Now that she was mad, he didn¡¯t know what to do. Connor shrugged, clearly unable to help further. When the campus king and queen arrived at school together, many students at the gate saw them. They rushed to snap photos. The school forum immediately made Frank and Briar¡¯s joint appearance the top headline again. Countless people were jealous, envious, or secretly bitter. But Briar, who had been invited by retired Shoneport University professor Wyatt to hisb, was ¡± Joshua smiled as well. ¡°Briar, Wyatt has been holed up in theb recently and only got a chance to check his phone yesterday. That¡¯s when he saw your performance in the open ss.¡± Briar nodded in realization. ¡°So that¡¯s what happened.¡± That exined why, as soon as she arrived at the research building, someone told her to to thisb. Someone was looking for her. Wyatt said, ¡°Yes, Briar, your demonstration of the golden needle technique was impressive. I wanted to ask if you¡¯d be interested in joining my . Perhaps¡­I wonder if I have the honor of being your teacher?¡°. 1/3 10:36 Mon, 18 Aug o Wyatt beamed with kindness as he looked at Briar. ¡°Of course, I know you already have a mentor. What I mean is, if you¡¯re interested, you can still join myb and work on some research projects with us.¡± Briar smiled. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Dutton, my mentor doesn¡¯t allow me to take on another. But if there¡¯s an opportunity, I¡¯d love to join yourb and contribute to the experiments and research.¡± There were two top traditional medicinebs at Shoneport University, one led by Joshua in the main medical research building, and the other was Wyatt¡¯s renowned, selectively openb. Many dreamed of joining it, but few were chosen. Although a little disappointed, Wyatt still nodded with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s great. Before the end of the year, I¡¯ll be assembling a core research team for an important project¡­¡± Meanwhile, Frank stood awkwardly on the side, feeling thoroughly ignored. Finally, when they finished discussing business and were about to let Briar leave, Wyatt turned and noticed, ¡°The Wade family kid? When did you get here?¡± Frank responded, ¡°Mr. Dutton, I came with Briar.¡± Wyattughed awkwardly. ¡°Oh, really?¡± Joshua knew that whenever Wyatt started talking about his beloved traditional medicine, he¡¯d forget everyone and everything else around him, u quickly changed the subject. He said, ¡°Then it¡¯s settled. In a few days, I¡¯ll have Briar officially report to yourb.¡± Wyatt nodded repeatedly. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll add her to the list ofb members right now.¡± Joshua then led Briar and Frank out. Frank said, ¡°Mr. Swift, this big research project of Mr. Dutton¡¯s¡­ with all the confidentiality and national¨Clevel experimentation, isn¡¯t it risky to let someone as young as Briar in? Won¡¯t she get bullied?¡± He was genuinely worried. Politics andpetition inbs could be just as brutal as in the real world, especially when national¨Clevel projects were involved. If things went wrong, having research stolen was the least of the problems. There could be frame¨Cups or sabotage too. Joshua knocked him on the head. ¡°You think Mr. Dutton is some useless old man? When has anyone in hisb ever caused that kind of trouble?¡± ¡°Ouch, that hurt!¡± Frank covered his head. ¡°I was just worried Briar might get bullied. She seems like the kind of girl that¡¯s easy to pick on.¡± Upon hearing that, the quiet Briar nearly tripped and fell. She quickly rified, ¡°I¡¯m actually pretty capable¡­¡± She didn¡¯t know how Frank got the impression that she was weak and easy to bully. Frank caught her just in time. ¡°You see? You can¡¯t even walk without tripping. How capable could you be?¡± Briar thought it made sense. She couldn¡¯t argue back. Joshua reassured them, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Since Mr. Dutton personally invited Briar, he¡¯ll protect her. Besides, with you and that Ashton boy watching over her, who in all of Shoneport would dare go against her?¡± After a pause, he added, ¡°Besides, with you and Ashton watching her back, who in all of Shoneport would even think about crossing Briar?¡± Frank thought about it and agreed. ¡°True.¡± Briar thought, ¡®Seriously, does no one believe I¡¯m actually tough? 2/3 10.30 Mon, Tu Aug Meanwhile, in a presidential suite at a certain hotel. ¡°What? Mr. Dutton¡¯s confidential experiment included Briar? She¡¯s just a student from the traditional medicine department. What gives her the right to enter hisb?¡± In upper ss circles, some news always spread fast. For example, the news that Wyatt was forming a national level confidential research team had already made its way through the elite social scene. They had their own channels to gather intel, and the Wade family was always among the quickest to respond. They were already well prepared Emily was one of those who got the news early. As a top student in the modern medicine department, she had been racking her brain for a way into Wyatt¡¯sb. Participating in a national¨Clevel confidential project would gild her resume like nothing else. She had even tried asking Ashton for help, only to be tly refused. And now, Ashton had helped Briar get into the project instead. 3/3 AD Forsaken 149 d in a red knitted robe, Emily hurled her wine ss across the room in a fit of tage. She shoved her lover away and stormed to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, her voice sharp as she spoke into her phone. ¡°Are you sure about this? Did ite from Wyatt himself?¡± ¡°Yes, our guy heard it straight from the source. There is no doubt about it,¡± the voice on the other end replied. Emily¡¯s grip on her phone tightened until her knuckles turned white as she spat, ¡°Find a way to get Briar off that list.¡± ¡°That might be tough. Mr. Dutton had personally invited her. Furthermore, Mr. Wade and Mr. Stone were present to support it. However, if we were to slip one of our people in, we could still cause Briar some trouble down the line,¡± the voice on the other end suggested. Emily was seething as she thought, ¡®Briar stole my spot on the top¨Csecret research team. She¡¯s going to pay for this! She replied without hesitation, ¡°Fine. idents happen in research all the time. Even fatal idents are normal.¡± The person on the other end chuckled softly in response, ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, Miss Wade.¡± Emily hung up without another word. She turned to her lover, who was sitting on the couch with his head down as he peeled walnuts for her. She at coyly, ¡°Baby, did you hear what I just said?¡± Her gorgeous lover calmly replied, ¡°No, Miss Wade, I didn¡¯t hear a thing.¡± Upon hearing this, Emily finally smiled, walked over, and sat down on hisp. She chuckled, ¡°That¡¯s good. I¡¯m still not bored with that pretty face of yours. Even if you did overhear something you shouldn¡¯t have, you¡¯d better take it to the grave for me. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Got it,¡± he nodded obediently as he held a piece of walnut up to her lips. ¡°Here, Miss Wade. Let me feed you some walnuts.¡± Emily grinned before opening her mouth and biting down on the walnut, taking his fingers into her mouth along with it. Her lover swiftly lifted Emily into his arms and carried her directly to the bedroom. Before long, the room was filled with sounds that would make anyone blush and quicken their heartbeat. Three hourster, he impatiently pushed the woman curled up in his arms aside, Ignoring the fresh bite and scratch marks all over his body, he walked out of the bedroompletely naked, picked up his phone from the couch, and made a call. ¡°Mr. Goodwin, I have some news about Ashton¡¯s girlfriend. Are you interested in buying it?¡± A couple of minutester, his private ount received a transfer of 17 thousand dors, not too much, not too little¨Cjust enough to keep things under the radar. Reece had been pretty busytely as his superiors roped her in to work for free. It¡¯d been ages since hest hung out with Ashton and the rest of the crew. At three in the afternoon, Reece called Ashton, asking, ¡°Hey, Ashton, what have you, Hamish, and the others been up to? It feels like forever since you guys dropped by my ce. I¡¯ll be at the shop tonight. How about the guys get together for a little reunion?¡± Ashton had just finished a meeting with the R&D management team, and his brows were still tightly knit. He picked up Reece¡¯s call without even thinking about it before answering, ¡°I am not going. I¡¯m busy.¡± ¡°Aw,e on. I¡¯ve got some hot gossip about your little girlfriend getting picked on. Don¡¯t you want to hear it?¡± Reece teased, sounding even more unserious than usual. Ashton paused momentarily before asking, ¡°What time?¡± ¡°Same time as always, nine o¡¯clock tonight,¡± Reece said with a grin. ¡°And make sure to bring the rest of the guys!¡± Ashton hung up before Reece could finish his words. Jalen, who had overheard the call, leaned in and questioned, ¡°Ashton, do you want me to have someone check it out beforehand?¡°, 1/3 10:36 Mon, 18 Aug Reece might be a bit of a yer, but he never made empty promises. If he said he had some scoop about someone giving Briar a hard time, he meant it Ashton¡¯s already tense expression grew even colder. He answered, ¡°There¡¯s no need to. It¡¯s probably not urgent.¡± ¡®If he¡¯s still in the mood to invite us out for drinks, it can¡¯t be anything urgent,¡® he inwardly reasoned. Jalen nodded in understanding, ¡°Got it.¡± Ashton added, ¡°You¡¯reing with me tonight. And call Hamish and Frederick too.¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll get right at it,¡± Jalen replied. He paused briefly before asking, ¡°Should we invite Frank, too? He threw a fit for days when we left him outst time.¡± Ashton rolled his eyes in annoyance as he replied, ¡°He can¡¯t hold his liquor- two drinks and he¡¯s out. Inviting him is just giving him a new ce to pass out.¡± Jalen chuckled and nodded, ¡°But now that Connor is back, we don¡¯t have to babysit him anymore.¡± Ashton said, ¡°In that case, let¡¯s invite him too.¡± Jalen grinned, ¡°Alright!¡± Once he stepped out of the CEO¡¯s office, Jalen called Frank first. Sure enough, Frank was delighted to get the call and said he and Connor would be there on time. Meanwhile, Briar received a call from Ashton. Once the call connected, she greeted, ¡°Hey, Ashton, what¡¯s up?¡± Ashton nced at the clock before asking, ¡°Are you done with ss? Will you be stayingte in theb tonight?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve nothing nned tonight so that I can leave early,¡± Briar replied. After a whole day to let things settle, she could finally talk to Ashton without feeling awkward. After a moment¡¯s thought, Ashton said, ¡°I¡¯ve a little get¨Ctogether with some friends tonight. Hamish, Frank, and the rest of the crew will be there. Do you want toe hang out with me?¡± Briar hesitated before replying, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be a bit out of ce for me to join a guys¡® night?¡± ¡°Not at all. They¡¯re all my close friends, and I¡¯d really like you to meet them,¡± Ashton said sincerely. ¡°Briar, I¡¯ll pick you up tonight, okay?¡± Briar tested the waters as she carefully probed, ¡°Is this about something to do with me?¡± It wasn¡¯t strange that Briar would think this way. The truth was, Ashton¡¯s attitude didn¡¯t seem like he was in a hurry to introduce her to his friends. Instead, it felt more like he was taking her along to cause trouble, speaking with a tone that was both eager and full of anticipation. Ashton let out a low ¡°Mm,¡± before asking, ¡°So, will you be joining me?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Briar didn¡¯t bother to y coy, and she quickly agreed. Ashton¡¯s voice noticeably lightened, and he said, ¡°Great, see you tonight.¡± ¡°See you tonight,¡± she replied. As soon as Briar hung up the call with Ashton/her phone rang again. It was from an unknown number, but the area code was from Shoneport. She answered, her voice cool, ¡°Who is this?¡± A hesitant, sweet voice came through the line, asking, ¡°Um, is this Briar?¡± 2/3 10.30 Mon, 18 Aug Briar raised an eyebrow at that unmistakably sweet voice, She knew exactly who it was and rified, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s me. You¡¯re Arlene, right?¡± Arlene replied, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me. Briar, where are you right now? Could youe to the dorm? I need to talk to you about something¡± Without hesitation, Briar agreed, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll head over now.¡± ¡°Great, we¡¯ll be waiting for you,¡± Arlene said before hanging up. Briar had no idea what Arlene wanted to talk to her about. As she made her way towards the girls¡® dorm, she logged onto the school forum and quickly found out. The school¡¯s sports day, which had reced the military training, was now open for sign¨Cups. When Briar arrived at the dorm, all the other girls from the Traditional Medicine Department had gathered around as they waited for her. As soon as she walked in, Arlene announced that the sports day would be held in about two weeks and sign¨Cups were now open. Since the Traditional Medicine Department hadn¡¯t signed up early, most of the good events were already taken, and there weren¡¯t many spots left to pick from. 3/3 AD Comment Send gift No Ads Forsaken 150 On the sign up sheet, the most ringly empty spot was for the women¡¯s two mile run. It was the least popr event, and everyone chose to ignore it. As Briar was thest one to arrive, all the easier events had already been taken by the time she got there. When Arlene handed her the sign¨Cup sheet, the long, empty section for the women¡¯s two¨Cmile run was right there in her face, like it was just waiting for her. Briar stared at it and could not help but wonder, ¡®Do I even get a choice here? ¡®Looks like they¡¯ve already decided for me.¡® Noticing Briar staring at the sign¨Cup sheet without blinking, Arlene thought she might give up. Quickly, she put on her best pleading face and said, ¡°Briar, how about considering signing up for the women¡¯s two¨Cmile run? No one else wants to do it, and we can¡¯t just leave this event empty forever, right? Please, please!¡± Before Briar could say anything, someone nearby jumped in to help persuade her, ¡°Yeah, Briar, you¡¯re the campus belle of Shoneport University no should take the lead and sign up for school events!¡± ¡°Yeah, if you sign up, then- then I¡¯ll join too,¡± another girl added. A third person chimed in, ¡°I¡¯ll sign up as well.¡± Arlene persuaded, ¡°Now we¡¯ve already got three girls signed up, Briar. Why don¡¯t you join too? Winning or not is another story. It¡¯s all about taking part!¡± Everyone started talking over each other, obviously ganging up to push Briar into taking on the spot. Briar nced around at the people making sarcasticments. As her gaze swept over them, they all avoided her eyes. She gave a shortugh, ¡°Alright, I never said I wouldn¡¯t sign up. Put me down for the women¡¯s two¨Cmile run.¡± Arlene didn¡¯t care about the kind of drama that was going on behind the scenes. As long as she could get all the events on the sign¨Cup sheet filled and handed in without a hitch, that was good enough for her. Everyone had a valid point. Briar was now the campus belle at Shoneport University, and her example truly mattered. As expected, all those girls who¡¯d been chiming in earlier suddenly volunteered to join the moment Briar¡¯s name went down. That made Arlene absolutely over the moon. ¡®Who would¡¯ve thought Briar had such strong rallying power?¡® she marveled. Briar ignored the looks from those who were just waiting to witness some drama unfold. After signing up, she turned on her heel and walked away, turning down their offer to go running together at the sports field. In contrast to the delicate college students who frequently voiced their frustrations about their bodies deteriorating, Briar¡¯s level of physical fitness was exceptional, She was so physically fit that many guys would hesitate before confronting her. Besides, she ran 6 miles almost every morning. The women¡¯s two¨Cmile run didn¡¯t even register as a challenge in her mind. Briar would much rather head back to herb building and wait for sses to be over. As she stepped out of the dorm, Briar ran into Beatrice and Le, who wereughing and chatting as they headed toward the entrance. From a distance, Beatrice spotted Briaring their way. She broke into a smile, about to call out and greet Briar. However, Briar walked right past them, not even sparing the two of them a single nce. 1/3 Mon, 18 Aug of Realizing this, Beatrice stood rooted to the ground, feeling awkward as she thought, ¡®Briar, sooner orter, I¡¯m going to shatter that superior attitude of yours.¡® Witnessing this exchange, Le tried to stifle herughter as she inwardly chuckled, ¡®Sure enough, the tension between these half¨Csisters had reached its peak.¡® Beatrice forced a smile, ¡°Le, you saw it yourself. My sister wants nothing to do with us. I¡¯m not sure I can help you with that¡­¡± Le replied, ¡°No worries. It¡¯s not a big deal anyway. If you¡¯re not up for it, I can always ask someone else.¡± Beatrice hesitated momentarily before responding, ¡°That¡¯s alright, I¡¯ll try again.¡± It was really tough for Le to get close to Briar and find out the information she needed. However, the reward that Le had promised was simply too tempting to ignore. The Haynes family was one of the four elite families in Shoneport. Even the scraps of resources they let slip through their fingers were more tempting than anything her father could ever offer. Beatrice realized she had to make an effort, no matter the oue. If she didn¡¯t, Briar would have total control over them, and Beatrice would ne able to improve the situation in the Jennings family for the rest of her life. ¡°Alright, good luck. I¡¯ll be waiting for your good news,¡± Le stated, not caring one bit how tough things were for Beatrice. She sneered, ¡®Please there¡¯s ever a free lunch in this world. If you want something badly enough, you have to give something up in return. That¡¯s just how it works! ¡°Hey, Briar,e here! Over here!¡± Frank, who was in theb office, called out, acting all secretive as he shed a sneaky grin. Briar walked over and asked, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Frank lowered his voice, looking all mysterious as he said, ¡°I¡¯m going out for drinks and a party with Ashton and the guys tonight. Did Ashton let you know about his ns?¡± Briar raised an eyebrow andughed, ¡°Yeah. Is there a chance I might be going too?¡± Frank¡¯s eyes went wide in disbelief, and he gasped, ¡°Wait, Ashton¡¯s being that well¨Cbehaved? The guy looks like a total yer, a real heartbreaker. Since when does he report his ns to you and openly invite you along like it¡¯s nothing?¡± Briar chuckled, shaking her head as she walked away, asking, ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask Ashton to his face?¡± Frank shuddered and eximed, ¡°Ha! Don¡¯t egg me on. I wouldn¡¯t dare to do that.¡± Since she was joining the party that night, Briar kept her dinner simple and just had a pizza to tide her over. She even ended up sharing a couple of slices with Frank, who insisted on mooching off her dinner. ¡°Save some room for the good stuff at Blue Bar,¡± Frank said, grinning. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, the fruits and pastries at the bar are all made by a five¨Cstar chef. They¡¯re amazing.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Briar nodded, finishing off her Coke in a few quick gulps. At seven that evening, Ashton came to pick up Briar after he had finished work. As usual, Connor was driving, and Frank shamelessly imed the front passenger seat, leaving the back all to the two of them. Ashton handed Briar a cup of smoothie as he asked, ¡°What did you have for dinner?¡± Briar took it, poked the straw in, and took a big sip before answering, ¡°Pizza.¡± Ashton frowned in response, ¡°Pizza? You call that food? There¡¯s no nutrition in that at all.¡± 2/3 Briar continued sipping her smoothie as she replied, ¡°Frank said the desserts at Blue Bar are to die for, so I¡¯m saving, my appetite for those.¡± Ashton was momentarily speechless at her response. He pulled out his phone and called Reece, telling him to have the chef make a few dishes. The request floored Reece as he answered, ¡°Whoa. Ashton, are you serious? You¡¯re calling my bar to order food? What is this? Do you think this ce is a restaurant now?¡± Ashton replied coolly, ¡°What is wrong with that? Didn¡¯t you spend a fortune hiring that chef? Don¡¯t tell me he can¡¯t even cook up a few dishes.¡± ¡°Wait a second. Are you bringing your little girlfriend over or something?¡± Reece teased, suddenly catching on. There was a low, amused snort from Ashton, Reece immediately got the hint and replied, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll have them get right on it.¡± ¡®Wow, he¡¯s bringing her out to meet his friends. Looks like Ashton is serious about this one,¡® Reece thought in amusement. Since Ashton was bringing his girlfriend along, Reece decided to scrap the little show he had nned. ¡®Oh well, guess we¡¯ll just stick to a proper drinki session,¡¯ he thought. Briar was honestly taken aback by Ashton¡¯s request, and murmured, ¡°Ashton, I¡¯m not that hungry. The desserts alone will probably fill me up¡­¡± AD Forsaken 151 Chapter 151 ¡°I have to make sure you eat well,¡± on replied a as he opened a bag of chocte cookies for Briar. Briar pondered as she obediently munchoqte I on them, ¡®What else can I do? Guess I¡¯ll just eat.¡¯ As night fell, the Blue Bar was packed and lively, every private room and VIP seating area buzzed with noise and excitement. Tonight, Reece had invited Ashton, Hamish, and Frederick over to hang out. The bar manager ensured that the head of security on duty was notified well in advance. ¡°Anyone who dares to cause trouble tonight gets kicked out¨Cno exceptions. We can¡¯t let anyone mess up the night for those VIPS,¡± the manager warned. Besides, Reece had made it clear that Ashton was bringing his girlfriend along, so everyone was on their best behavior, extra cautious not to slip up. Everyone knew Ashton had been Shoneport¡¯s most eligible bachelor for 26 years, and he had never once had a woman by his side. They had listened to all the tales about women trying to get close to him, believing they could use their beauty to advance their careers. However, in end, they always left disappointed. But now, this legendary man who never spared a nce for women was rumored to have fallen for an ordinary college girl. To win her heart, he set aside his ego and took the time to pick her up and drop her off at school himself. He also spent a considerable amount of money on a fancy house near her campus so that they could be close to each other. Everyone was dying to know who Ashton¡¯s mysterious girlfriend was and what kind of magic she had to conquer the legendary ice king himself. ¡°Everyone, stay sharp tonight. Keep your eyes peeled. When you see Mr. Goodwin and Mr. Wadeing in, be sure to block anyone who tries to get too close to them,¡± the manager, Philip Westin, reminded again in a serious tone. ¡°You got it, Mr. Westin. Rx, there¡¯s no way the guys will mess things up for Mr. Goodwin tonight,¡± the security captain, Jake Simpson, said with a big grin, throwing an arm around Philip¡¯s shoulder and ruffling his thinning hair. Philip swatted Jake¡¯s hand away, scowling, ¡°Touch my head again and I¡¯ll have someone beat you up!¡± Jake justughed, not the least bit offended. He simply loved messing with Philip. Philip appeared to be the picture of a distinguished schr, with his balding head and intellectual demeanor, yet he found himself managing a business in the entertainment industry. While he had gained a bit of weight over time, his lively movements told a very different tale. Jake couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®Man, this guy could take on five guys at once and not even break a sweat. ¡®No wonder Mr. Goodwin had his eye on him. After all, everyone he picked is seriously tough.¡® Just then, the valet¡¯s voice can be heard over the walkie¨Ctalkie, ¡°Mr. Westin, they¡¯re here. Mr. Goodwin and the rest of the group had just arrived.¡± Philip immediately straightened up as he acknowledged, ¡°Got it. Stay sharp, everyone.¡± Jake didn¡¯t need to be told twice. He immediately got up and led his guys outside. Whenever these prominent figures showed up together, there were always some sharp¨Ceyed people who spotted them and hurried over, especially when Ashton was among them. The number of women trying to use the chance to ¡°identally bump into him¡± was overwhelming. As soon as Reece exited the car, he couldn¡¯t help but peek behind Ashton, asking, ¡°Ashton, where¡¯s your girlfriend? Come on, let me see her.¡± Hamish and Frederick just stood by Frank, not nearly as interested in Briar as Reece was. Ashton couldn¡¯t be bothered with Reece¡¯s antics. He just turned around and reached into the car, looking every bit the gentleman. 1/3 Right after, Reece saw a fair, delicate hand slip into Ashton¡¯s palm. The next moment, a sweet, adorable girl was carefully helped out of the car. Ashton was treating her like she was the most precious thing in the world, and the loving sight left Reecepletely dumbfounded. ¡°Briar, let me introduce you. This is Reece Goodwin, the Briar shed Reece a dazzling smile and Ashton then introduced her to the evel Downer behind the Blue Bar,¡± Ashton said, still holding Briar¡¯s hand as he led her over to Reece ¡°Hello, Mr. Goodwin,¡± she said. ¡°This is Briar Jennings, my girlfriend.¡± ¡°Hello, Miss Jennings. Wee, all of you.se,e inside,¡± Reece said, his eyes crinkling with a smile. But as he caught the looks from his friends, he quickly corrected himself. With that, he took the lead and guided everyone inside. The group handed their cars over to the valets and walked into the bar,ughing and chatting the whole way. With Reece and Hamish around, there was never a dull moment. This group,prising handsome men and beautiful women, each a well¨Cknown and influential figure in the capital, instantly drew a wave of attention the moment they appeared in the lobby on the first floor. Among the crowd was Camden, who hade to the bar with some friends to drink and check out the girls. He stared in shock as he watche being surrounded by Ashton and Reece, as the group was being escorted up to the second floor. Camden thought in disbelief, ¡®Briar¡¯s really dating Ashton?¡® ¡°Hey, Camden! What are you staring at? I heard that the girl is Ashton¡¯s girlfriend. Do, don¡¯t even think about making a move on her! You mess with her, and Ashton will send his guys after you,¡± one of his friends warned after noticing Camden¡¯s intense gaze toward the second¨Cfloor entrance. Camden was well¨Cknown for being a flirt, and whenever he spotted a pretty girl, he just couldn¡¯t resist looking. His friend probably assumed he was interested in a girl who was with Ashton and the rest of the group. Camden wiped his face, rolling his eyes in response, ¡°Of course I know that. Do you think I¡¯m that dumb? Did you think I would just walk right into Ashton¡¯s line of fire for fun?¡± He just hadn¡¯t expected to run into Briar here, and it threw him for a loop. ¡°You guys go ahead and continue drinking. I¡¯m gonna step out and make a call,¡± he said. Without even waiting for his friends to answer, Camden strode straight for the door. His friends exchanged puzzled looks and asked, ¡°What¡¯s with him? Why is he reacting so strongly just seeing Ashton¡¯s girlfriend?¡± ¡°Who knows? Could he be interested in Ashton¡¯s girl?¡± one of them guessed. Another friend eximed in shock, ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t say stuff like that. If Ashton¡¯s guys hear you, you might end up getting beaten up too.¡± ¡°Whatever, it¡¯s none of our business. We didn¡¯t say anything, so Ashton¡¯s guys won¡¯te after us. Come on, let¡¯s just keep drinking,¡± someone else chimed in. One of them said, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s drink up!¡± After leaving the Blue Bar, Camden found an empty corner down the street, squatted down, and called Edgar. As soon as the call connected, Camden blurted out, ¡°Dad, do you know who I just saw at the Blue Bar?¡± Edgar was taken aback, and he asked, ¡°Who did you see?¡± Camden didn¡¯t have time for small talk, and he got straight to the point, ¡°Briar. I saw Briar. She was with Ashton, Reece, Hamish, and Frederick. It¡¯s true, Dad. Briar and Ashton are together.¡± 2/3 10:37 Mon, 18 Aug o By the end, Camden¡¯s voice was trembling. Ashton had a reputation for not being interested in girls. However, Briar was different, she was the only girl he was often seen with. He even invited her to spend time with his closest friends, which was something he had never done for anyone else before. That just proved that Briar and Ashton weren¡¯t just dating, he was totally into her. ¡°So, what are you going to do about it?¡± Edgar asked. Camden replied without hesitation, ¡°Dad, you pissed Briar off so much she won¡¯t evene home now. You need to go apologize and coax her to return.¡± Edgar froze for a couple of seconds, then exploded in anger, ¡°What? You want me to apologize to Briar? Why should I even apologize? What did I even do wrong?¡± Camden shrank back at his father¡¯s roar and reasoned, ¡°Dad, why are you getting so worked up? It¡¯s just bowing your head and admitting you were wrong, that¡¯s all. Do you even realize how much business value Briar could bring to the Jennings family if you just coax her back home?¡± Forsaken 152 Chapter 152 Upon hearing this, Edgar¡¯s anger came an abrupt halt as he contemted, ¡®Yeah, with her current rtionship with Ashton, if I could just get Briar toe back to the Jennings family¡­ No, no, I¡¯ve thought about this before. It¡¯s not going to work. I¡¯ve already tried to win her hack But Briar was never going to give the Jennings family another chance. With a heavy heart and a deep sense of regret, Edgar sighed, ¡°It¡¯s toote.¡± Camden sensed what Edgar¡¯s sigh meant, but he wasn¡¯t willing to back down just yet. He felt a strong sense of responsibility for the future of the Jennings family. If he could make things even better before he officially took the lead, it would be a huge aplishment Besides, he wasn¡¯t the one who had to swallow his pride and apologize to Briar. He pressed on, ¡°Dad, are you giving up? Briar is my sister and your daughter. What kind of grudge could she possibly have that would make her turn her back on her father? ¡°And if one apology doesn¡¯t work, then make it two. If two don¡¯t work, then make it three¡­ As long as we can coax Briar back home, we¡¯ll have the right to negotiate a partnership with the Wade Group. ¡°Come on, Dad! This is all for the sake of thepany, for the sake of the Jennings family. You can¡¯t give up so easily!¡± Camden¡¯s words finally swayed Edgar, and he thought, ¡®Yeah, that¡¯s right. No matter how capable Briar is, she¡¯s still part of the Jennings family. A end of the day, she¡¯s one of us. ¡°Everything Briar has done, and all those benefits she gained, should belong to the Jennings family. *Even if Briar ends up mocking me, or if we fall out again, that father¨Cdaughter bond is something that can¡¯t be broken.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll try again,¡± Edgar finally agreed. Camden¡¯s face lit up at his words, and he added, ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about, Dad. You always told me that when there¡¯s a 30% profit at stake, you put your pride and backbone aside. And if we can win Briar over, the benefits for us could be nearly 100%.¡± Meanwhile, Briar, who had already stepped into the private room, had no idea what Edgar and Camden were talking about on the phone. She was too stunned by what she saw inside. On the bar counter, next to the bartender, instead of the usual selection of drinks and cocktails, there was a surprising sight. About a third of the space was filled with seven or eight piping hot dishes, giving off an incredibly delicious aroma. Hamish was the first to lose it at the unusual sight, bursting outughing at how out of ce it all looked. Frederick joined in,ughing too. He chuckled, ¡°Wow, who came up with this? That¡¯s pretty clever.¡± Reece rubbed his nose in response, ¡°What are youughing at? These are for Briar.¡± After saying that, he couldn¡¯t help but shoot Ashton a re. Ashton led Briar casually over to the bar and had her sit down. He said gently, ¡°These are all your favorite dishes. Eat a little to fill your stomach first, and I¡¯ll get them to bring some desserts overter.¡± Briar nodded in response, ¡°Alright.¡± Honestly, it wasn¡¯t just Hamish and the others who were surprised¨Ceven Briar thought it was quite amusing. Eating Zakian food, which is known for its vor, in a bar felt unusual for that kind of atmosphere. Frank was a total lightweight, so Connor had him sit down next to Briar and said, ¡°Hey, you haven¡¯t had dinner either, right? Sit down and eat with Missi Jennings and keep herpany.¡± Frank let out a resigned sigh in response. ¡°Alright.¡± Great, looks like I¡¯m not getting any drinks tonight, he thought helplessly. Briar and Frank were seated together, enjoying their meal while the rest of the group gathered around the bar, asking the bartender to make various drinks. Although Briar and Frank seemed a bit awkwardpared to everyone else, the atmosphere in the room soon became upbeat and energeti Whenever Achton and his crew get together, they just couldn¡¯t help but talk shop. Once the drinks started flowing, the conversation naturally shifted to business deals andpany coborations. ¡°Hey, did you ever look at that proposall had someone send youst time? Are you interested or not?¡± Pence asked, raising his ss to achten. Ashton nced up before teasing, ¡°Yeah, I saw it. I tossed it straight into the shredder. Who wrote that thing? it looked like some grade school essay¡± ¡°What the hell? I pulled two all¨Cnighters to finish that proposal myself, and you just tossed it in the shredder?¡± Reece eximed, and he was about to lose
  1. it.
¡°How dare he question my writing?¡® he thought. Frank was munching on his food and eavesdropping on the conversation. When he heard Reece speaking in a very sad voice, he just couldn¡¯t hel and startedughing out loud. ¡®Figures. Ashton¡¯s ruthless streak isn¡¯t just aimed at me. He strikes whenever an opportunity arises, Frank thought. Reece immediately turned to him with a menacing look and demanded, ¡°What are youughing at, you little brat?¡± However, Frank wasn¡¯t the least bit intimidated tonight. He instantly whined to Connor, ¡°Connor, he¡¯s picking on me again. Go, beat him up!¡± Seeing the confident and somewhat spoiled look on Frank¡¯s face, Connor¡¯s expression immediately softened. He yfully messed up Frank¡¯s haw and said, ¡°Okay, okay, the adults are having a conversation here. It¡¯s best for kids to step aside and eat their food.¡± As Ashton¡¯s most ruthless right¨Chand man, Connor could go toe¨Cto¨Ctoe with Reece and Hamish, who were both ex¨Cmilitary powerhouses. He could take them on if he wanted, but honestly, there was no need for that. Connor shooed Frank away and then gave Reece a respectful nod before stating, ¡°Mr. Goodwin, please go easy on him, will you? He¡¯s still just a kid.¡± Reece rolled his eyes and grumbled, ¡°You¡¯re just spoiling him!¡± ¡®Frank¡¯s probably the most innocent one in the entire Wade family. Even Emily, the youngest, is always scheming something, he thought. After a bit more small talk, Reece suddenly remembered the news he had received and perked up again. He announced, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get down to business¡­¡± Just as he was about to speak, he realized Briar was sitting right there. He paused and asked, ¡°Ashton, is it cool if I talk about this in front of Briar?¡± Briar, who was already half¨Cfull, waszily sipping on some mushroom soup. When she heard Reece mention her name, she nced over with curiosity. Ashton met her questioning gaze and gave a straightforward exnation, ¡°Reece got some news about you today. Someone¡¯s put a price on your head.¡± Briar¡¯s eyes lit up with interest, and she asked, ¡°Spill it! Who is it? How much is the bounty? Is it up on the dark web? Can I int the hit myself?¡± Back in Qathana, she had taken plenty of jobs like that, and those gigs paid well. Reece was thrown by her reaction. He froze for a second before asking, ¡°Seriously! Are you not even a little freaked out? Someone wants you dead!* Briar just grinned, totally unfazed. ¡°Why would I be scared? I¡¯ve got you guys, haven¡¯t I?¡± ¡®Besides, if someone wants to kill me, they would have to get close to me first,¡® she inwardly added. 2/3 After Briar casually reacted to the news, Reece started to feel attracted surprise you¡¯re with Ashton! You¡¯re really amazing!¡± ¡°So, who¡¯s trying to kill Briar?¡± Frank asked. her. He gave her a thumbs¨Cup and eximed, ¡°That¡¯s impressivet it¡¯s no Reece didn¡¯t drag it out. He shot Ashton a look like he was ready for some drama and stated, ¡°It¡¯s someone we all know. Emily, from your family¡± Thinking he must¡¯ve misheard, Frank gasped, ¡°Who? Emily?¡± Connor¡¯s brow furrowed, and he nced worriedly at Briar, who didn¡¯t seem fazed. He turned his attention to Ashton, whose face was starting to turn cold. ¡®Emily? What kind of trouble is she stirring up this time? ¡®Wait, Emily is part of the extended family, a descendent of Mr. Griffin¡¯s second child. Does that mean their family is trying to farget Miss Jennings? he thought. 3/3 Forsaken 153 Emily and her immediate family had always been eyeing Ashton¡¯s business empire with envy. If it weren¡¯t for Ashton¡¯s ruthless tactics and his refusal to give them any opportunities, they might have already seeded in overthrowing him. Others might have no clue what tricks they were up to, but Ashton knew precisely what they were capable of. After all, every time they hired assassins from overseas, it was his mercenaries who let those channels slip to them. Ashton¡¯s face was beyond grim at this point. Whether Emily went after Briar because of her family or her personal grudge, she had managed to enrage him. ¡®How dare they try toy a finger on someone I treasure and protect?¡® Ashton thought, his anger simmering. Noticing Ashton¡¯s grim expression, Reece burst outughing, ¡°Ashton, what do you think? This information is entirely urate. I paid 17 thousand dors for it. Is it worth it or what?¡± Infected by his friend¡¯s gloatingughter, Hamish exchanged a look with Frederick and grinned, ¡°Oh man, looks like someone¡¯s about to have a terrible day.¡± Frederick gave a little cough and reminded him, ¡°Hamish, you¡¯reughing way too loud. Careful, or Ashton might just deck you.¡± Hamish didn¡¯t care at all and responded confidently, ¡°Rx, at best he can only tie with me. Plus, there¡¯s no way he¡¯d embarrass himself in front of his girlfriend.¡± Frederick fell silent as he thought, ¡®Seriously, you¡¯re just asking for it, aren¡¯t you?¡® Frederick often found himself questioning whether Ashton¡¯s bad temper was primarily due to Hamish and Reece teasing him. The two had mouths sharper than knives. Since they couldn¡¯t beat Ashton in a fight, all they could do was tease him. If it were Frederick, he¡¯d be mad as hell, too, at the constant teasing. Just as Ashton¡¯s icy aura filled the room and no one dared to step forward to calm him down, Briar suddenly spoke up. ¡°Ashton, don¡¯t be mad. She can¡¯t hurt me,¡± she said as she walked oyer to him, gently poking his shoulder. To everyone¡¯s surprise, the chill around Ashton visibly melted away in an instant. Ashton caught Briar¡¯s mischievous finger in his palm, and he reassured, ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t be mad. But I won¡¯t let anyone hurt you either.¡± It seemed he¡¯d been way too kind to some people, and this had made them believe that he was easy to mess with. Still fanning the mes, Reece asked, ¡°So what now? I bought the information, but the problem¡¯s not solved yet. Ashton, are you gonna send someone to handle it, or do you want me to help? I just hired a bunch of new guys, and this will be a perfect opportunity for them to have some practice.¡± He thought, ¡®Ashton is still way too lenient on the Wade family. Judging from the way they¡¯re always looking for trouble every few days, Reece believed that it was because Ashton had spoiled them rotten, ¡®If he just put them in their ce once and for all, qut off all their options, and made them live off a bare minimum sry every month, would they still dare to act up? ¡®They¡¯d be stuck groveling at Ashton¡¯s feet, wagging their tails and sucking up to him every single day.¡® Frederick let out a silent sigh before pulling Reece aside. In a lowered voice, he advised, ¡°Stop fanning the mes, will you? Ashton¡¯s got his troubles. Mr. Griffin¡¯s health has only just begun to improve. If things get out of hand and something happens to the old man again, then what?¡± Ashton was often hard on the other members of the Wade family, but he had a special admiration for Griffin. Throughout the years, he had spent a lot of 1/3 IVICH TO money to ensure Griffin stayed healthy, but kept it all quiet and out of the public eye. All that money came straight from Ashton¡¯s pocket, and even these guys, who were but be shocked. spoiled rich kids that burned through cash like water, couldn¡¯t help The good thing was that Ashton knew how to make money. He poured hundreds of millions into maintaining Griffin¡¯s health every year. Otherwise, who knows what kind of shape Griffin would be in now! At this point, Hamish knew it wasn¡¯t the time to stir things up anymore. He asked, ¡°Yeah, you think Ashton doesn¡¯t want to crush the Wade family members once and for all? But there¡¯s still Mr. Griffin who is stuck in the middle, and the old man can¡¯t take any more shocks.¡± He contemted, ¡®Otherwise, with Ashton¡¯s scheming personality, would he have let Emily and her family act so arrogantly for this long? ¡®But this time, Emily had kicked the ho¡¯s nest. She had no idea that if she even tried to go after Briar, Ashton would wipe out her entire family without hesitation.¡¯ Reece threw up his hands in defeat as he replied, ¡°Come on, you think I don¡¯t know that? That¡¯s exactly why I said if Ashton can¡¯t make a move, I¡¯ll handle it for him. That way, Justin Wade won¡¯t go running to Griffin to whine again.¡± Emily¡¯s father, Justin, was known as the most troublesome and dramatic member of the Wade family. He was also the second son of Griffin. Even though Briar had been standing right next to Ashton, she¡¯d heard every word of their conversation. After listening to their analysis, she couldn¡¯t butugh. When Ashton looked over at her, she teased, ¡°I didn¡¯t know you could be so softhearted, Ashton.¡± Ashton squeezed her hand and asked, ¡°Are you making fun of me?¡± Briar smiled in response, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare! But I do have a way to deal with Emily and her family for now. While doing so, I will also make sure Mr. Griffin remains healthy.¡± Ashton¡¯s expression turned serious as he replied, ¡°Briar, don¡¯t joke around about it. I¡¯ll take you seriously.¡± Briar pulled a small stic bag out of her pocket, the same kind she¡¯d used to hold pills the first time they met. She said, ¡°Of course it¡¯s real, Ashton. How about a life¨Csaving pill for 16 million dors each? Will you be interested in them?¡± Inside the bag were two pills. The pills were ck, round, and shiny, resembling the chocte ballsmonly found in supermarkets. Ashton¡¯s eyes lit up in surprise as he replied, ¡°Of course I¡¯m interested, Briar. However many you¡¯ve got, I¡¯ll buy them all.¡± Briar rolled her eyes as sheughed, ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. I only made 20 of them. Are you nning to spend 320 million dors to buy them all? Two pills are more than enough for Mr. Griffin¡¯s health. I¡¯ll give you a friendship discount. You can have them both for just 24 million dors.¡± Ashton nodded in response, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll have someone transfer the money right away.¡± With that, he pulled out his phone and called Jalen, who was still stuck in traffic and hadn¡¯t arrived yet. He asked, ¡°Where are you?¡± Jalen¡¯s voice came through as the door to the private room swung open, ¡°Ashton, I¡¯m here.¡± Ashton hung up the call and instructed, ¡°Jalen, transfer 30 million dors to Briar¡¯s ount right now.¡± Everyone turned to Jalen, their faces full of curiosity. Jalen blinked in confusion before responding, ¡°Alright, Ashton, I¡¯ll transfer it right now.¡± However, Briar stopped him as she repeated, ¡°Ashton, I told you I am giving you a discount, and it will be 24 million dors.¡± Ashton replied, ¡°The extra 6 million dors will be your pocket money.¡± 2/3 10:37 Mon, 18 Aug Briar was about to refuse when Frank chimed in, ¡°Briar, if you don¡¯t want it, just hand it over to me. Ashton¡¯s got nothing but money, and fie can¡¯t even spend it all. Don¡¯t be shy.¡± Briar paused, then said, ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll just get some fancy herbs for Griffin to help with his health.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Ashton didn¡¯t refuse. ¡°So, how are you nning to deal with Emily¡¯s little hitman stunt?¡± Ashton may not have the ability to get back at Emily and her family fully, but regardless of the chaos they caused, he still had control over them. He was just curious to see what clever n Briar had in mind. Jalen had already transferred 30 million dors to Briar¡¯s ount, and just like everyone else, he crowded in, eager to hear what she had to say. Then, they all heard Briar speak in an unhurried, steady voice, ¡°It is simple. An eye for an eye.¡± Frank, who was the curious one, asked, ¡°So, how are you nning to get even? Are you gonna hire a hitman to take her out?¡± 3/3 Forsaken 154 Chapter 154 When Frank said that, no matter how you listened, it just sounded off. And when he got to the part about ¡°taking her out,¡± his eyes were practically twinkling. It was obvious he was dead serious and sincere about it. It was clear that he hated Emily. Briar knew Frank wasn¡¯t the type to be violent or aggressive, and she asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s the deal? Do you not like her?¡± Frank pouted, his face full of open dislike for Emily, ¡°Who would ever like her? Among everyone in the Wade family, Justin¡¯s family is just the worst. Seriously, every time I go back to the Wade Mansion, it¡¯s always them who pick on me the most. ¡°Briar, you have no idea how rough my childhood was. All the misery I went through was thanks to Justin¡¯s family. And don¡¯t even get me ¡°farted on Emily¨Cevery time she yed tricks on me, she¡¯d always end up luring me into the doghouse¡­¡± Even though Frank sounded genuinely miserable, Briar almost burst outughing as she thought, ¡®Tricked into the doghouse? Is he serious? ¡®Getting tricked into the doghouse once is bad enough, but every single time? That¡¯s impressive!¡¯ Frank grew increasingly upset as he spoke. He buried his face in Connor¡¯s chest and sobbed, ¡°There were a few times when she¡¯d lock me in doghouse and just forget about me. I had to spend the whole night in there all alone. One time, it even started pouring rain in the middle of th and I cried and screamed, but nobody heard me¡­¡± Connor gently patted Frank¡¯s head andforted, ¡°There, there. You don¡¯t be scared. Didn¡¯t Ie looking for you and get you out in the end?¡± After that incident, Frank became especially attached to Connor. As long as Connor was around, Frank would cling to him like a little ko, following him everywhere he went. After hearing Frank¡¯s tragic tale, Briar barely managed to hold back herughter and gave his shoulder a sympathetic pat. ¡°Even though you¡¯re aware that Justin and his family are trouble, you still keep getting caught up in their schemes? That shows some impressive ability,¡± Briar thought. ¡°So, you want me to take out Emily? With these harmless hands of mine?¡± Briar teased as she held up her soft, delicate hands in front of Frank and wiggled her fingers. Frank fell silent. Ashton pulled Briar over to sit next to him and said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get down to business.¡± ¡®These two were gentle and kind¨Chearted. If anyone thought they could do something sneaky or unfair, the troublemakers would have already made a run for it,¡¯ he inwardly sighed. With the life¨Csaving pills in his hands, it was obvious Ashton wanted to get back at Emily and her family. The group huddled together, whispering and plotting their next move. Briar was left hanging on the sidelines, utterly speechless. ¡®If I¡¯d known, I wouldn¡¯t have handed over those pills so fast. Great, now they don¡¯t even need me for anything. ¡®How annoying!¡® Briar grumbled inwardly. Frank was probably used to scenes like this by now, and he didn¡¯t mind at all. Heforted, ¡°Briar, don¡¯t be mad. You¡¯ll get used to it. Come on, let¡¯s grab something to eat.¡± What else could Briar say to that? She ended up hanging out with Frank, snacking, and goofing around. Even if she wasn¡¯t part of Ashton¡¯s scheming, she still caught every bit of their plotting, whether she was supposed to or not. 10:37 Mon, 18 Aug One of them asked, ¡°No matter who she ends up hiring, if we spread the word, no one will dare to take her contract. Ashton, what do you think?¡± Ashton paused, ncing sideways at Briar, who was ying with Frank. His half¨Clidded eyes held azy gentleness as he agreed, ¡°Fine, If they can behave for once, we¡¯ll just treat this as a warning for them.¡± Hamish and Reece exchanged a knowing nce. It was clear that Ashton had no intention of letting Emily and her family off easy. They all knew Emily and her family had always pushed their luck and never knew when to quit, If they ever found a chance to strike at Ashton, with the way those people are, there¡¯s no way they¡¯d just let it slide. Honestly, when it came to being cunning and calcting, no one could hold a candle to Ashton. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s the n. I¡¯ll spread the word and see how Emily reacts,¡± Reece said as he pulled out his phone. ¡°And don¡¯t forget to make sure the informant doesn¡¯t get exposed,¡± Hamish reminded him as he took a couple of sips from his ss. Reece shed an ¡®OK¡® gesture, then got up and headed off to make the call. With the situation pretty much wrapped up, Ashton, who was still lost in thought, suddenly felt something cool being pressed into his hand. He snapped out of it and looked down to see that Briar had handed him an orange. Ashton shed a graceful smile, ¡°Would you like an orange?¡± Briar had noticed the hint of sadness and loneliness in Ashton¡¯s expression and wanted to distract him, worried he might be feeling down. But Ashton misunderstood her intentions, thinking she wanted to eat an orange but didn¡¯t want to peel it herself. With his long, graceful fingers, Ashton began to peel the orange for Briar, moving with a slow, unhurried elegance that was simply mesmerizing. Before long, Ashton had peeled the orange and, with thoughtful care, separated it into neat segments before cing them back into Briar¡¯s hand. Briar lowered her gaze to the orange in her palm. For some reason, Ashton¡¯s effortless kindness sent ripples through her heart. ¡°Come on, you need to eat,¡± Ashton said when he saw Briar staring at the orange in her hand. He gently squeezed her hand to encourage her to take a bite. Briar nodded and slowly ate the orange, one segment at a time. Reece had only called everyone together tonight to give Ashton a heads¨Cup. Now that all the serious talk was over, it was time to go wild and just have some crazy fun. Before long, the private room was filled with loudughs and excited shouts. The loudest one was Frank, who grabbed the karaoke microphone and refused to share it, even though he couldn¡¯t sing at all. He just wouldn¡¯t let anyone else have a turn! To be honest, describing his singing as ¡°ear¨Cshattering¡± is an understatement. Among those present, only Connor seemed to like it; the others made a point to stay as far away from Frank as possible. Briar covered one ear, and she asked, ¡°Ashton, is this why you never want to bring Frank out with you?¡± Ashton pressed his throbbing temple and sighed, ¡°Yeah, this guy is just way too much chaos.¡± Hamish kept a straight face andmented, ¡°If were Emily and had a brother who sang like that, I¡¯d lock him in the doghouse too.¡± Reece stayed chill. After all, he owned the bar and had heard worse than Frank¡¯s singing. Heughed, ¡°Hey, that¡¯s not fair. Look at Connor. He seems to enjoy it.¡± Hamish snorted, ¡°Connor¡¯s got it bad for him. Frank could do anything, and he¡¯d still think it¡¯s great.¡± 2/3 10:37 Mon, 18 Aug 2764 Jalen nodded silently. Out of everyone present, Connor was the only guy who could be both cold blooded and hopelessly lovesick at the same time, and somehow, that image fit him perfectly. Once Frank finished his out¨Cof¨Ctune singing, the crowd quieted down. Just at that moment, Reece¡¯s phone started ringing. He gave Frank a quick ¡°be quiet¡± sign because Frank was still pretty excited, then he answered the call and put it on speaker so everyone could hear. ¡°Go ahead,¡± Reece said. The person on the other end immediately reported, ¡°Mr. Goodwin, we¡¯ve got the information you requested. Thest person Emily called was someone named Hayden from the Garzas family in Shoneport.¡± Reece replied, ¡°Got it,¡± then hung up and looked over at Ashton. Ashton narrowed his eyes, a brief look of confusion shing across his face, like he was trying to remember who the Garzas family in Shapeport even was. AD Forsaken 155 Chapter 155 Honestly, Ashton couldn¡¯t be bothered with this so¨Ccalled Garza family. They weren¡¯t even on the radar of Shoneport¡¯s top tier families, so it made sense that he didn¡¯t know much about them. Both Ashton and Hamish turned their eyes to Reece, who instantly lit up. Reece had people from all walks of life under his wing. When it came to the city¡¯s hidden corners and shady dealings, there was hardly anything he didn¡¯t know. Reece rubbed his short, prickly hair and spoke up, saying, ¡°The Garza family has roots that trace back to the Grza family. A long time ago, during some tough times, they changed theirst name to Garza to stay under the radar and avoid trouble. Even after things improved and they moved to Shoneport, they never really caught the attention of the wealthy people around here. Most of their business dealings are a bit shady and happen mostly overseas they hardly interact with people in ourmunity.¡± Hamish, clearly getting annoyed, cut in, ¡°Reece, just get to the point. Tell us about this Hayden guy.¡± Briar and Frank nodded in understanding before Frank added, ¡°Yeah, spill more information about that guy.¡± Reece chuckled, ¡°His name¡¯s Hayden. He is the youngest in the Garza family, just 20 years old. He is incredibly intelligent, and he holds a double from Atrington University overseas. He only returned this year, and met Emily at a banquet¡­¡± As he spoke, Reece nced at Hamish before adding, ¡°Oh, and that banquet? It is the one your family hosted.¡± Hamish was left speechless. ¡°So what¡¯s Hayden into these days?¡± Ashton, who¡¯d been silent this whole time, finally zeroed in on the real question. Reece shot a nce at Ashton, who wasn¡¯t in a good mood, and replied, ¡°Gray market stuff. Ashton, you know how it goes¡­¡± A lot of things like looting and violence were legal abroad, and nobody even bats an eye at it. Ashton nodded in understanding, then slowly turned to Briar, who was practically buzzing with curiosity. He asked gently, ¡°Briar, you said you wanted to handle this guy yourself, right?¡± Briar raised an eyebrow, quickly catching on to what Ashton meant. She probed, ¡°Ashton, what are you nning? As long as you don¡¯t kill him or ruin their ns, I¡¯m fine with whatever.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Ashton replied as he ruffled Briar¡¯s hair before turning his gaze to Reece. ¡°I will get my men to take care of him.¡± Reece made a ¡°do as you like¡± gesture, then leaned back next to Hamish with a clear conscience, ready to see what Ashton would do next. ¡°Conner,¡± Ashton said coolly. ¡°I want Hayden to lose a hand and a leg.¡± Connor instantly straightened up with a serious expression and replied, ¡°Got it, Ashton. Consider it done tonight.¡± The group hung out at the Blue Bar until 11:30 PM before finally heading out. On the way back, Connor didn¡¯t tag along with Ashton and Briar, and Ashton drove Briar home himself. Connor took Frank in another car and left a few minutes ahead of the others. Briar gazed at the neon lights streaming past outside the window, her mind clear about what was going on. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Ashton asked/driving with one hand while stubbornly holding onto Briar¡¯s left hand with the other. He nced at her, noticing her eyes glued to the window. Briar snapped back to reality and responded, ¡°I was just thinking about that dude Connor¡¯s targeting tonight.¡± 1/3 A smile flickered across Ashton¡¯s face as he softly chuckled, ¡°Are you curious? Do you want to watch?¡± Briar grinned in response, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m pretty curious about it. I want to see, but if it gets too bloody, I¡¯ll just look away. I¡¯m terrified of that stuff.¡± Ashton turned the car sharply at the intersection, saying, ¡°Whenever Connor is in charge of things, you can be sure that as long as he doesn¡¯t bring out a gun, there won¡¯t be any bloodshed.¡± He nced over and added, ¡°If you¡¯re curious, let¡¯s go and find out for ourselves.¡± Instead of taking Briar home, Ashton called up Connor to ask where they were In no time, their car sped off down the road. Hayden, the spoiled child of the Garza family, owned several homes in the city of Shoneport. Coincidentally, he was living in the same neighborhood where Emily had bought her house justst year. Their homes were only three houses away from each other. As their car pulled into the neighborhood, Ashton¡¯s gaze turned incredibly cold. With this many ¡°coincidences¡± stacking up, it was starting to feel less like fate and more like something was up. 1:|:: Out of Ashton¡¯s view, Briar couldn¡¯t help but smile slightly as she silently mused, ¡®No matter how much those people try to hide in Dasmieca, having someone as clueless as Hayden on their team must be frustrating for them. It seems like Uncle and the others were onto something. Betting on Hayden to be our key to sess was a smart move.¡¯ Ashton¡¯s car pulled up to a vi with its outer gate wide open. He rolled down the window and listened closely for any sounds from inside. The fron was shut, and there was nothing but silence. Well, that was just like Connor¡¯s way of working. He never left a trace, and there was no way he¡¯d leave behind something as obvious as a clue. ¡°If you get scared once we¡¯re inside, we¡¯ll just leave, alright?¡± Ashton said, holding Briar¡¯s hand as they got out of the car. As they walked toward the front door, he did not forget to reassure her. Briar agreed, ¡°Okay.¡± When they knocked on the door and walked in, they saw an utterly pathetic¨Clooking young man kneeling at Connor¡¯s feet, tears and snot streaming down his face as he begged for mercy. His miserable state was enough to evoke sympathy in anyone. Well, anyone except the stone¨Ccold Connor, and Frank, who was lounging on the couch with headphones on, totally focused on his game. The whole atmosphere was eerily weird, yet oddly fitting. In the living room, Hayden¡¯s wailing paused for a split second when Ashton and Briar walked in. The moment he recognized them, he looked like he had just spotted his savior. He immediately let go of Connor¡¯s leg and scrambled to crawl over to Ashton. But there was no way Connor was going to let him go, not with Hayden looking so pathetic. He wasn¡¯t about to let Ashton see that mess. With a sharp kick, Connor sent Hayden sprawling to the floor before he started another ruthless round of beating. Years of running jobs overseas had made Cormor an expert in this matter. Every punchnded hard, but except for a bit of blood at the corner of Hayden¡¯s mouth, his body looked spotless. It was obvious that all the damage was on the inside, not the outside. Only someone who had spent years fighting could pull off moves like that. Frank was really into the game when he noticed someoneing toward him. He turned around and was surprised to see Briar standing behind Ashton. His first thought was to make sure she didn¡¯t get scared. So, without thinking twice, he quickly pulled Briar over to sit next to him on the couch. He said, ¡°Don¡¯t look at the screen, it¡¯s super intense. Kids like, us shouldn¡¯t be watching stuff like this.¡± Ashton, too, casually positioned himself in front of Briar, as if shielding her from the scene. It was clear all the guys thought scenes like this would freak her out. Briar stared at it and could not help but wonder, ¡®Do I even get a choice here? To be honest, this kind of violence didn¡¯t bother her in the slightest. If it were her doing the beating, she¡¯d probably go even harder. Too bad all three guys insisted on treating her like she was made of ss. Briar could only y along, acting all soft and delicate as she sat obediently on the couch, listening to Hayden¡¯s cries like it was some kind of background music. 2/3 10:37 Mon, 18 Aug With her wealth of experience, she could even tell which part of Hayden¡¯s body was getting wrecked just from the sound of Connor¡¯s punchesnding. AD Comment Forsaken 156 Chapter 156 Hayden was sprawled on the ground, beaten so badly by Connor that he couldn¡¯t even get up. Frothy blood surged up from his lungs and spilled from the corner of his mouth, more and more with each passing second. It ran down his chin and soaked into the cor of his white shirt, blooming into vivid crimson flowers that were strikingly bright. But Hayden was too terrified even to wipe it away. He begged in panic, ¡°Mr. Wade, did I¡­ did I do something to offend you? Please, just give me a clue¡­. Even Hayden, clueless as he was, realized he must have pissed off Ashton somehow, and that was why Ashton¡¯s men hade knocking tonight to settle the score. But ever since he came back to the country, he had always listened to his grandfather and stayed far away from Ashton, the man everyone in Shoneport feared. He even went out of his way to avoid any ce Ashton might show up. As such, he just couldn¡¯t figure out when he had ever touched a nerve with this man. ¤« Hayden had never met Briar before. Before that night, he only knew her name and was aware of her presence, but he didn¡¯t know what she looked like. So when he noticed a girl walking behind Ashton, he never thought for a moment that this girl could be Briar. He never would have guessed that the reason he was getting beaten up tonight was all because of the girl by Ashton¡¯s side. After all, someone like Hayden wasn¡¯t even worth Ashton wasting a single second on. Ashton stood there with his hands in his pockets, towering over Hayden, who was crawling on the floor. His refined, icy gaze carried a bone¨Cchilling murderous intent that made people¡¯s blood run cold. But with Briar still sitting on the sofa behind him, Ashton instinctively didn¡¯t want to frighten the girl. He forced himself to rein in his cold aura andzily turned his eyes away from Hayden¡¯s swollen, beaten face. Connor knelt on one knee beside Hayden, pinning the trembling, pain¨Cridden man to the ground, waiting for Ashton¡¯smand. Finally, Ashton spoke in a low voice, ¡°Make it quick and clean. Don¡¯t make too much noise.¡± However, his words weren¡¯t meant for Hayden. Connor let out a soft chuckle in response. There wasn¡¯t much excitement on his face, but his tone somehow made Hayden shiver even harder in terror. ¡°Got it,¡± he replied. At this moment, Frank had just finished a game and was all hyped up. He showed it off to Briar and eximed, ¡°Briar, here ites! Connor¡¯s about to show off his coolest side!¡± Briar stared at him in silence and could not help but wonder, ¡®Do I even get a choice here? ¡®If that is the case, stop blocking me and let me watch!¡® ??? White Frank spoke, he and the tall figure beside him, Ashton, stepped forward together topletely block Briar¡¯s line of sight. They shielded her view sq thoroughly, it was like a wall. Briar could only hear Frank¡¯s vivid description of Connor¡¯s most badass moment, and she couldn¡¯t see any of it for herself. Hayden¡¯s shrill, agonized screams didn¡¯tst long. Ashton had said he wanted one of Hayden¡¯s arms and one of his legs, and Connor followed through without question. In less than two minutes, Hayden¡¯s arm and leg were utterly destroyed. Even if the legendary healer, Tristan, were summoned, there would be no saving them. ¡°Ashton, he¡¯s out cold,¡± Connor reported. He knew exactly how far to go, and he crippled Hayden just enough to make him pass out from the pain, but not enough to kill him. After all, Briar still needed this guy alive to stir up more troubleter. Only then did Ashton step aside, finally revealing Hayden¡¯s unconscious, broken body. Briar nced over and couldn¡¯t help but wince as she thought, ¡®Yikes, that¡¯s pretty brutal. Hayden¡¯s left hand and left leg were twisted at angles that just weren¡¯t humanly possible. From Briar¡¯s professional perspective as a doctor, those limbi were well and truly destroyed, and there was noing back from that. Briar was honestly quite satisfied with this oue and she contemted, ¡®Unless they somehow reset his broken hand and leg and were able to grow the bones back, he might be able to move them a little. But as for putting any serious weight on them again? That seems impossible. With how much the Hayden family dotes on Hayden, they might just end uping to me, begging for help one day. ¡®After all, I am the little miracle doctor who cured Mr. Griffin. How could they note begging one day?¡± With business done, Ashton took Briar and left, leaving Connor and Frank behind to deal with the aftermath. And by ¡°aftermath,¡± it just meant hanging around and waiting for the Hayden family to show up. Ashton always made sure his handiwork got noticed, and he wanted the Haydens to know precisely who¡¯d sent the message. Briar had no idea what went on at the vi after that, as Ashton had already driven her home. ¡°Were you scared tonight?¡± Ashton asked, sounding casual as they stood at Briar¡¯s front door, but his gaze lingered on her face, not missing a single change in her expression. Briar spaced out for a moment before it hit her that Ashton was worried she might¡¯ve been freaked out by what happened earlier. ¡°I¡¯m fine, really,¡± she reassured. She had just said it without thinking, but Ashton took her words to heart. She wondered, ¡®Does this guy take everything I say so seriously? ¡®After all, I am a medical student, and doctors are supposed to have some kind of magical immunity to bloody scenes, am I right?¡® Once Ashton was sure her face looked normal, he finally withdrew his gaze thoughtfully and nodded in response, ¡°Good. Get some early rest tonight. Go on in.¡± Briar hesitated for a second before asking, ¡°Or, do you want me to coax you to sleep again tonight?¡± She thought, ¡®Since Ashton had helped me vent my anger, I really ought to do something nice for him in return.¡® Ashton raised an eyebrow, letting Briar see theplicated yet straightforward look in his eyes. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried that you¡¯ll end up in my bed in the middle of the night again, and you¡¯ll get mad at me?¡± Briar shot him an annoyed look and questioned, ¡°Just get straight to the point. Do you want me to or not?¡± Ashton arched his brow and answered truthfully, ¡°Nothing would make me happier. Should I wait for you then?¡± ¡°Yeah, just wait,¡± Briar tossed back coolly before mming the door shut with a loud bang. Ashton stood there, feeling a bit silly after the door had been mmed in his face. He tilted his head and rubbed his nose, which had nearly taken the impact. Despite the situation, he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°That little girl knows how to throw a tantrum!¡± Still grinning, he headed back to his ce next door, took the fastest shower of his life, and slipped into a silky ck robe. Afterward, he the mirror, constantly shifting his pose as he tried to find the angle that made his chest and abs look their absolute best. He made sure to perfectly posed, before Briar could show up. in front of ing in bed, Before long, there was a knock at the bedroom door. Briar opened the door and entered the room, noticing Ashton already settled in bed. She looked at him for a moment, then sat down in the only armchair and pointed her chin toward him. ¡°Ashton, do you want me to turn off the lights?¡± Ashton put his phone down andy t on his back before responding, ¡°Yeah, go ahead.¡± With a click, Briar turned off the main overhead light, leaving only the warm bedside wallmp on. It cast a cozy, dreamy glow over the room. Briar sat with her arms crossed, quietly watching Ashton, who was lying in bed. Just as she was about to look away, Ashton suddenly rolled over shifting from lying t to propping himself up on his side. In the hazy, warm light, the smooth, sculpted lines of his chest and abs peeked out from beneath his 10.40 robe, teasingly revealed right in front of Briar¡¯s eyes¡­ Almost without thinking, Briar¡¯s gazended straight on his bare, exposed chest¡­ Her throat went dry, and she swallowed unconsciously, and the sound of her gulp seemed extra loud in the silent bedroom. Briar could feel her face burning up, and she felt hotter and hotter. Forsaken 157 Chapter 157 ¡®Ashton is definitely doing this on purpose!¡® Briar thought in a panic as she tried her best not to sneak nces at Ashton. However, her face turned increasingly warmer as the blush crept down her neck. ¡®This guy is as sly as a fox. It¡¯s the middle of the night, so why isn¡¯t he sleeping? Who¡¯s he trying to seduce at this hour?¡® Afraid she might do something she would regret with such a handsome man right in front of her, Briar quietly pulled out her phone, put on her headphones, and set a meditation track to y on repeat. Even though Ashton was lying down, he caught every little move Briar made just now. ¡®She¡¯s only eighteen, after all. It¡¯s only natural her heart¡¯s a little unsteady at that age,¡® he thought. Twenty minutester, Briar took off her headphones. With the meditation track working its magic, her mind was calm, and her will felt unbreakable. She was sure that there was no way she¡¯d fall for anyone¡¯s looks now. ¡°Briar?¡± Ashton called out. ¡°Shut up, Ashton! Cover yourself up!¡± Briar exploded, yelling at him. The irond resolve she¡¯d just managed to build up shattered the instant Ashton spoke. She caught sight of his bare chest on full disy once more, and could only fume helplessly, not daring to sneak another nce. Ashton cleared his throat and asked, ¡°Briar, what¡¯s wrong? Why are you so mad? Did I do something to annoy you? I¡¯ve just been lying here, and I haven¡¯t done a thing¡­¡± After witnessing that overwhelming fake sweetness and innocence from Ashton, Briar felt she ought to record it and send it to Beatrice, the sugar¨Ccoated little hypocrite, so she could finally learn what real top¨Ctier maniptive charm looked like. With a deadpan face, Briar looked at Ashton, who was practically reeking of fake innocence, and asked helplessly, ¡°Mr. Wade, it¡¯ste. What exactly are you trying to do?¡± Ashton sat up with a straight face, his bathrobe sliding off one shoulder as he moved. His alluring corbone was silently tempting Briar to misbehave. He responded, ¡°I¡¯m not trying to do anything, I¡¯m just a little thirsty, and I thought I¡¯d get a ss of water.¡± Briar clicked her tongue and turned away. ¡°Fine, then go already.¡± Ashton shot Briar a knowing look, then looked away and gave a nonchnt ¡°mm¡± in reply. He got out of bed, slipped on his shoes, straightened his rumpled bathrobe, and finally opened the door to leave. But as Ashton opened the door, a faint breeze drifted in. The silky, lightweight fabric of his bathrobe fluttered softly, lifting the hem just enough to show off his long, shapely legs as he walked. The view was impossible to ignore, and it was so eye¨Ccatching it almost hurt Briar¡¯s eyes. Briar rubbed her slightly itchy nose, and only after the door closed did she finally slump into the armchair. She cleared her throat, pretending nothing had happened, and tried to appear calm. Not long after, Ashton returned, carrying two cups. One with water, and the other with milk. He handed the milk to Briar and said in an extra gentle voice, ¡°I specially warmed up some milk for you. It¡¯ll help you sleep.¡± Briar stared at him in silence and could not help but wonder, ¡®What? ¡®You¡¯re the one who can¡¯t sleep, so why am I the one drinking the milk?¡® However, she took the cup from Ashton. She shot him a wary look, half¨Cexpecting him to pull some new trick before murmuring, ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Ashton replied. He didn¡¯t pull any tricks this time. Walking back to the bed, he stood by the nightstand and took a couple of sips. At first, Briar didn¡¯t think much of it. But in no time, that blush she¡¯d just managed to get rid of came rushing back, hitting her senses like a tidal wave. Ashton happened to be standing right under the wallmp. The soft light was washing over his tall, toned body, making him look as if he were glowing Even something as ordinary as drinking water suddenly looked ridiculously attractive on him. As he was turned sideways to Briar, her eyes couldn¡¯t help but be glued to his perfect proportions, and she found herselfpletely fixated on the way his Adam¡¯s apple moved up and down as he swallowed. It was the kind of scene that was effortlessly sexy. It was so natural, and yet it felt out of reach, and that very distance just made Briar even more unable to look away. She waspletely transfixed, her eyes glued to Ashton¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple, even as he finished his water and bent down to set the cup on the nightstand. She didn¡¯t snap out of it until the veryst second. ¡°Briar? Why aren¡¯t you drinking? You don¡¯t like the milk?¡± Ashton asked with concern. He must have felt her burning stare, because he turned to look at her and noticed her sitting there holding the cup as she zoned out. That finally brought Briar back to her senses. Ashton had already finished his water, and she hadn¡¯t even touched her milk. She hurriedly responded, ¡°Huh? Oh! I¡¯ll drink it right now¡­¡± Embarrassed, she quickly looked away, her expression cooling down as she lowered her gaze and finished the milk in one go. Ashtony back down on the bed and uttered, ¡°Goodnight, Briar.¡± ¡°Goodnight,¡± Briar responded. However, she didn¡¯t let her eyes stray toward the bed at all, not even once, until Ashton was fully settled under the covers. It wasn¡¯t that she was scared to look; it was that she simply couldn¡¯t bring herself to. She was afraid she¡¯d end up falling for his charms all over again. Ashton¡¯s lips stayed curled into a faint smile even as he drifted off to sleep. When Briar quietly came over to check on himter, she found herself gritting her teeth in exasperation all over again. ¡®How shameless!¡® she fumed inwardly. Early the next morning, Briar got a call from Edgar, asking her toe home for dinner that evening. ¡°I¡¯ve been cleaning out your mom¡¯s old room these past few days, and I found some photos of you and her when you were little. I thought it¡¯d be better for you to keep them as they¡¯re a nice reminder,¡± Edgar said, his reason sounding perfectly reasonable and leaving Briar with no good excuse to say no, After a moment¡¯s thought, Briar finally agreed, ¡°Alright, I¡¯lle home tonight.¡± ¡°Good, very good,¡± Edgar replied in a noticeably lighter voice. ¡°Briar, I know you still resent the Jennings family, but at the end of the day, we¡¯re still father and daughter. No matter what kind of father I¡¯ve been, I¡¯m still your dad, aren¡¯t I?¡± Briar just hung up on him without a word, her face icy and unmoved. Since she was going back to the Jennings family for dinner that night, Briar let Ashton know about it ahead of time. She didn¡¯t even know why she felt the need to check in with him about her dinner ns, but when Ashton asked, she just blurted it out without thinking. Perhaps it was because Ashton made her feel so many things she¡¯d never felt before, but Briar realized her guard around him was weaker. §¢ g weaker and ¡°The Jennings ce is pretty far from Moonspring Estate. Do you want me to give you a ride?¡± Ashton asked, a hint of worry in his voice when he heard Briar was heading back there. Ashton knew precisely what kind of person Edgar was. The man had even gone to the police to frame Briar just for his gain, and he knew there was no way he¡¯d suddenly turn all friendly and politely invite her home for dinner without an ulterior motive. ¡®He was probably scheming something again, looking for a new way to mess with Briar, he inwardly reasoned. 44 Briar chuckled, ¡°There¡¯s no need
  1. to. I¡¯ll just
bike over myself. I¡¯m only going back to grab some of my mom¡¯s things. I¡¯ll be in and Tout ¡°If Ashton drove me home, Edgar would probably let his imagination run wild and up with all sorts of f crazy ideas. ¡®Besides, i it¡¯s just another setup, and it¡¯s not like I haven¡¯t survived those before,¡® she thought. ¤Ê ¤« Forsaken 158 At six¨Cthirty in the evening. Briar¡¯s motorcycle pulled up to the gates of the Jennings family vi. A servant was already waiting there, and when she saw. Briar arrive right on time, her face lit up with a warm smile. She greeted, ¡°Miss Jennings, you¡¯re back! Mr. Jennings and the others have been waiting for you. Please,e inside.¡± Briar nodded. She set her helmet on the bike and replied, ¡°Alright.¡± This was the same servant who, back when Briar lived with the Jennings family, always tried to sneak her extra food whenever she was home. Briar had a good impression of her and was always gentle with her in return. The servant led Briar inside with a cheerful smile, ¡°Mr. Jennings, Miss Jennings has arrived.¡± The Jennings family was all sitting together in the living room, just like the day Briar first returned home. The four of them turned to the door in unison. When Edgar tooked over, his face was already wearing a loving smile, as he said, ¡°Briar, you¡¯re back! Halle and I were just talking about you.¡± Briar let out a low scoff, ¡°Oh, really? What were you saying about me?¡± Edgar had just said it casually and didn¡¯t expect Briar to call him out. He stammered, ¡°Uh¡­ what else could we say? We were just worried about how you¡¯ve been these days, if you¡¯re eating well, if you¡¯ve lost weight.¡± Briar nced at Halle, who was sitting there awkwardly, and the smirk on her lips grew even wider. Sheughed, ¡°Are you serious? I don¡¯t buy it. Either you¡¯re seeing things, or Halle¡¯s got something wrong with her. Do you want me to give you a check¨Cup? Maybe I can cure you both.¡± Edgar and Halle fell silent at her words. Beatrice, who was sitting nearby, was fuming. Briar had barely walked in and already started mocking their parents, saying they were out of their minds and probably sick in the head. Beatrice was about to jump up and argue with her, but Camden, who was just as pissed off but still keeping a straight face, quietly reached out and held her back. Camden shook his head at Beatrice, signaling her to let it go for now. After all, they had tricked Briar intoing home tonight because there was something more important to deal with. Beatrice gritted her teeth and shot Briar a venomous re. If looks could kill, Briar would be riddled with holes by now. Briar¡¯s words killed the mood instantly, and Edgar, worried she might say something even wilder, quickly tried to smooth things over with a forced smile, ¡°Hey, Briar, you must be hungry, right? Dinner¡¯s ready. Come on, let¡¯s eat, let¡¯s eat.¡± With that, Edgar led Briar toward the dining room. Halle and her two kids were still seething inside, but no matter how angry they were, they could only grit their teeth and follow to the table. Briar single¨Chandedly brought the mood in the Jennings house down to freezing point. The servants didn¡¯t even dare to breathe too loudly as they hurriedly set the dishes on the table before retreating to their rooms to hide. Edgar was well aware of Briar¡¯s fiery nature. She wasn¡¯t afraid to express her anger, even going as far as to confront her father, which made him cautious. Tonight, he was nning to say something that would likely upset her even more. To be safe, he decided not to let the bodyguards go just yet. If Briar got agitated and tried to cause trouble, at least the bodyguards could step in to keep things under control. Briar let Edgar pull her over to the table, but she picked the seat farthest from Halle and her kids, still close enough to reach Edgar sat down, didn¡¯t even touch her fork, and just held out her hand to Edgar and demanded, ¡°Where¡¯s the photo? Hand it over first.¡± needed to. She Edgar hesitated before responding, ¡°The photo is in my study. Let¡¯s eat first, then you and I can look at it together, alright? Look how anxious you are. Do you think I would keep it from you?¡± ¡°Hand me the photo first, then we can have dinner,¡± Briar repeated, her face turning cold in an instant. ¡°Otherwise, nobody eats.¡± Edgar was so choked by her words that his breath caught for a second. ¡®Nobody eats? What is she going to do? Is she gonna flip the table or something?¡® he thought. An ue, 19 Aug But when he met Briar¡¯s frosty stare, Edgar didn¡¯t dare push his luck. He got up in annoyance and went upstairs to fetch the photo from his study ¡®If this unfilial girl dared to his me, her father, flipping the table would be nothing for her,¡¯ he thought. Not long after, Edgar returned downstairs, holding a photo in his hand. He said, ¡°Here, this is a picture of you when you were a hundred days old and your mom was holding you. You can have this as a keepsake.¡± Briar took the photo, and when she saw the familiar woman in the picture, her eyes softened with a gentle longing. That was her mom, back when she was still young. The background was a nursery. Briar was cradled in Rosalia¡¯s arms, her chubby little hand clutching her mother¡¯s shoulder¨Clength hair as she strained her neck to look up. Rosalia was gazing down at her with such tenderness; in that moment, the whole world seemed to be just the two of them. ¡®Back then, I must¡¯ve felt so safe being held so gently by Mom,¡® Briar thought. ¡®Maybe that¡¯s the happiness Grandpa always talked about the bond between mother and daughter.¡® Beside the crib was a colorful little cab, with a baby bottle, a small white medicine bottle, and some toys scattered on top. Anyone could tell that Rosalia had someone snap this photo on a whim, just like Edgar said, just to capture the memory. Unfortunately, Briar was too young to remember any of it. Otherwise, this moment would be burned into her mind, something she could pull out whenever she missed her mom. Briar¡¯s fingers tightened around the photo until her knuckles turned white, but she quickly rxed her grip. The photo was over ten years old, neitherminated nor in good condition, and already showed signs of wear. She carefully slipped it into her pocket, then looked up at Edgar, who¡¯d been watching her reaction the whole time. ¡°Let¡¯s eat,¡± she said. Edgar nodded with a smile, clearly satisfied with Briar¡¯s reaction. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s eat, let¡¯s eat.¡± The Jennings family typically preferred light, mild vors and avoided anything spicy. However, more than half the dishes on the table were spicy, red- hot Zakian cuisine specially prepared to suit Briar¡¯s love for spicy food. It was obvious Edgar was making an effort with this meal. ¡®Whatever Edgar wants from meter must be a pretty big deal,¡® Briar thought. During dinner, Edgar kept trying to strike up a conversation, hoping to get closer to Briar, but she just kept her head down and ate, not saying a single word. Eventually, Edgar gave up, poked at his food for a bit, and just waited for Briar to finish so he could take her to the study for a talk. Briar, on the other hand, was enjoying her meal wholeheartedly. Despite Halle and her kids being an eyesore, and Edgar talking non¨Cstop like a nosy neighbor, the food was simply delicious. She didn¡¯t hesitate to dig in and finish off two bowls of rice, leaving the tablepletely satisfied. After putting down her utensils, Briar stood up and, for once, actually gave Edgar a rare friendly smile, ¡°So, that¡¯s it, right? If we¡¯re done here, I¡¯m heading home.¡± With that, she turned and strode straight for the door without hesitation. Edgar couldn¡¯t just let Briar walk out like that as he hadn¡¯t even gotten to the main thing he needed to discuss with her. He quickly waved for the bodyguards to block Briar, his smile stiffening on his face as she said, ¡°Briar, wait. There¡¯s something important I need to talk over with you¡­¡± 4.2 Forsaken 159 Chapter 159 Briar turned to Edgar, feigning confusion as she asked, ¡°You called me home to give me the photos and have dinner, right? We¡¯ve eaten, and I¡¯ve got the photos. What else do you want?¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t been home in so long. I have a lot to say to you. Let¡¯s sit down and talk,¡± Edgar replied. He paused for a moment. Putting on the air of the family head, he instructed, ¡°Sara, bring the small tea tin I brought homest month and make a pot of tea for the study.¡± Sara, who had been quietly hiding in the room, spoke up and came out. She looked at Briar to make sure she wasn¡¯t nning to leave, then rushed to the kitchen to make some tea. Edgar smiled as he walked toward the stairs. He said, ¡°Briar,e on, let¡¯s go to the study and have a good father¨Cdaughter talk. No one is allowed to disturb us.¡± Worried Briar might turn him down again, Edgar hurried upstairs right after speaking, not giving her even a second to respond. Briar shot a nce at the three who had been holding themselves back ever since she walked in, catching that greedy, disdainful glint in Camden¡¯s eyes. She let out a cold snort, then sauntered upstairs without a care. The study door was wide open. Edgar was already inside, standing by the desk and watching the staircase. When he saw Briaring up, that fake, loving smile appeared on his face again. ¡°Briar, over here. Come sit,¡± Edgar called out, waving her over with a beaming grin. Briar slouched into the study, flopping onto the sofa while making sure the photos in her pocket didn¡¯t get bent. ¡°I¡¯m short on time, so just spit it out,¡± she said in annoyance. Pretending not to notice the annoyance in her tone, he chuckled, ¡°You¡¯re still as stubborn as ever. It¡¯ste now, so what could you possibly have going on right now?¡± Briar snapped, clearly losing patience, ¡°Edgar, there¡¯s no one else here, so stop pretending you have any dignity left. If you have something to say, say it.¡± Edgar¡¯s face turned ugly at her outburst, and he had to take several deep breaths to keep his anger in check. Just then, the servant brought in the tea. Edgar took a moment to collect himself before pouring Briar a cup. He said, ¡°Here, this is a premium tea. Give it a try.¡± Briar had run entirely out of patience with Edgar, who never seemed to understand in words. Without another word, she stood up and headed straight for the door. ¡°Briar, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Edgar hurried after her, his voice anxious and full of regret as he exined, ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I made you suffer all these years. I was wrong. I hope you can forgive your dad¡­¡± He blocked her way and even gave her a deep bow, but Briar just stepped aside, dodging him without hesitation. ¡°You apologized. But, so what?¡± Briar spat; she wasn¡¯t touched at all by Edgar¡¯s sudden humility and called him out without mercy, ¡°I know you have an agenda for this apology. Stop wasting time and just say what you want. Don¡¯t make me stand here for nothing, he said coldly. Ever since Briar walked through the door, every word out of her mouth was like poking holes in Edgar, and she just couldn¡¯t talk to him without stabbing where it hurt. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll just say it,¡± Edgar said, clearly ufortable, knowing things were about to get tense with Briar again. Briar stood there, arms crossed, a half¨Csmile ying on her lips as she waited for him to go on. 1/3 ¡°You¡¯re officially running Jennings Group now. As the leader, shouldn¡¯t you be thinking more about thepany¡¯s future and nning Edge Briar immediately caught the hidden meaning in his words and questioned, ¡°So?¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re so close to Ashton now, you should talk to him about business deals and see if there are any projects worth bringing in for the the Briar cut him off in an icy tone, ¡°Are you kidding me? I am now thergest shareholder in Jennings Group, How thepany moves forward is none of your business anymore.¡± As if that wasn¡¯t clear enough, Briar shook a finger in Edgar¡¯s face and spat, ¡°And let me give you a piece of advice. Don¡¯t even think about using Ashton, Otherwise, even if you manage to make some money, you won¡¯t live long enough to spend it.¡± Edgar¡¯s face went pale, and he stammered, ¡°What¡­ what exactly do you mean by that?¡± Briar just kept waving her finger around and nonchntly stated, ¡°Don¡¯t read too much into it. I¡¯m just warning you. Don¡¯t try to take what doesn¡¯t belong to you, or you¡¯ll have to deal with the consequences.¡± Edgar still wouldn¡¯t give up as he pressed, ¡°You¡¯re with Ashton now. Why can¡¯t the Jennings family ask him for some resources? Why would that be so dangerous? ¡°Don¡¯t try to threaten me, or I¡¯ll just go straight to Ashton myself. He owes me at least a little respect for your sake, doesn¡¯t he?¡± Briar shot Edgar a look andughed, ¡°Oh? You sound so sure of yourself. How about I ask him for you right now?¡± With that, she whipped out her phone, tapped on the very first pinned contact in her list, and hit call. The call connected almost instantly. Briar thoughtfully put it on speaker, and Ashton¡¯s gentle, caring voice filled the room, ¡°Briar?¡± He sounded soft and genuinely concerned, and he asked, ¡°Did you make it home?¡± Edgar instantly recognized Ashton¡¯s voice, his face lighting up with excitement. Before Briar could even get a word in, he rushed to speak, eager to make his presence known. ¡°Mr. Wade, hello. This is Edgar Jennings. I was hoping to talk to you about something¡­¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± Ashton cut him off in a cold voice, all the warmth from Before gone in a sh. Now, the young man sounded downright icy and fed up, his authority impossible to ignore. Edgar went rigid, instantly silenced by fear. He shrank back, not even daring to look Briar in the eye, and just stood aside, awkward and meek. That was when Briar finally spoke, ¡°Ashton, I¡¯m still at the Jennings ce. Edgar won¡¯t let me leave. He keeps dragging me into talks about the future of the Jennings Group and is even trying to get me to reach out to you for resources to help thepany. Can you believe that? Isn¡¯t it just ridiculous?¡± On the other end, Ashton went eerily quiet for a second before replying, ¡°If you want a share of my resources, that¡¯s not out of the question.¡± Edgar asked in a hopeful voice, ¡°Mr. Wade, are you serious?¡± Ashton let out a low chuckle, but he didn¡¯t answer Edgar. Instead, he addressed Briar, ¡°The moment your dad is no longer a shareholder in Jennings Group, I¡¯ll have my secretary contact yourpany to discuss a partnership.¡± Edgar was left speechless. To put it simply, as long as Edgar holds even a single share in Jennings Group, the Wade Group won¡¯t even think about working with them. It did not matter if Briar was the current CEO of Jennings Group, as none of that would change a thing. Briar¡¯s eyes curved with amusement as she looked at the dazed Edgar and spat, ¡°You heard that, right? Are you still dreaming?¡± ¡°Honestly how clusters can he be?¡® she thought. Forsaken 160 As the call ended, Edgar¡¯sst glimmer of hope shattered. His gaze on Briar was a mix ofplexity and malice, utterly devoid of the pretense of a lousie, father. ¡°Briar, you¡¯re still part of the Jennings family,¡± he gritted through clenched teeth. Briar did not doubt that if Edgar could overpower her, he¡¯d beat her senseless. ¡°Oh, you think I want to be part of the Jennings family?¡± Briar shrugged nonchntly. ¡°If I wanted, I could change myst name to Grant anytime. Briar Grant sounds way better than Briar Jennings.¡± Thest name ¡°Grant¡± was the one that haunted Edgar with shame. No matter how sessful he became, it was a humiliation he could never escape. It was also his greatest weakness, the one thing others could use against him. Seeing Edgar was just about ready to explode, Briar brushed off some imaginary dust from her clothes as she said, ¡°Alright, it seems like you got nothing else to say to me. I¡¯ll go downstairs and have a little chat with your golden boy.¡± Edgar¡¯s defeated look vanished in an instant, and he demanded, ¡°What do you want from Camden?¡± Briar cocked her head, utterly unfazed by Edgar¡¯s protective¨Cdad routine. She stared straight into his eyes with a nk face. Her gaze practically spitting fire as she said, ¡°What do you think I want with him? You think you can make Camden look innocent, and I won¡¯t figure out whose idea it was to drag me back here?¡± Edgar flinched, clearly not expecting Briar to see through everything. He stammered, ¡°You¡­¡± Briar never had much patience for Edgar. Without giving him a chance to defend himself, she strode straight out of the study. Edgar rushed after her, but Briar was already downstairs in a sh. Edgar hurried down the stairs, and soon, screams echoed from below, ¡°Ah! Why are you hitting Camden? Someone, help!¡± ¡°Quick! Stop her!¡± Edgar shouted from the stairs. At his shout, four or five bodyguards rushed over at once, trying to pull Briar off Camden, but she had him pinned down and was beating the crap out of him. To everyone¡¯s shock, instead of rescuing Camden, the four or five bodyguards were sent flying by Briar with just a few punches and kicks. Halle and Beatrice werepletely stunned. By the time Edgar finally made it to the living room, Camden looked like he had been turned into a punching bag, his face swollen and unrecognizable. On the other hand, Briar¡¯s clothes weren¡¯t even ruffled, and she looked cool and collected. It was as if she hadn¡¯t just ttened Camden and a squad of bodyguards. ¡°Briar, get the hell out of here!¡± Edgar finally lost it, pointing at the door and yelling at Briar. ¡°Who do you think you are? You think you can just tell me toe back and then tell me to leave whenever you feel like it?¡± Briarughed as she casually here!¡± dug at her ear. ¡°I was trying to leave earlier, and you wouldn¡¯t let me. Now you want me to go? Well, too bad. I¡¯m not going With that, she kicked Camden, who was groaning on the floor, then confidently walked over and plopped down on the couch. She draped one arm casually over the back and crossed her legs in amanding way. A smirk that didn¡¯t reach her eyes yed on her lips as she dered, ¡°I¡¯m the heir to everything in the Jennings family, Edgar, you¡¯d better control your people and stop bothering me, or I¡¯ll make sure your whole family gets kicked out of the Jennings house and left on the street.¡± His face flushed, Edgar panted heavily, ¡°You¡­ you¡­¡± Briar picked up awyer¡¯s business card from under the coffee table, her fierce look suddenly turning yful. She teased, ¡°Oh! So your revenge is all 10:49 Tue, 19 Aug above board now? Are you already calling in thewyers to cover your asses?¡± Beatrice panicked when she saw the business card in Briar¡¯s hand. She grabbed Halle¡¯s arm and whispered, ¡°Mom, that¡¯s thewyer¡¯s card hid under the coffee table¡­¡± Halle¡¯s brow furrowed, and she lowered her voice, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you hide it in your room?¡± However, Beatrice had never thought that far ahead. Edgar observed the brief conversation between the mother and daughter, then said sharply, ¡°What are you nning now? Don¡¯t try to avoid the real issue. You were the one who started the argument. We haven¡¯t done anything wrong to you¨Cwe¡¯ve provided you with great food and drinks and treated you kindly, and this is how you repay us?¡± Briar narrowed her eyes and, without even thinking, stomped down hard on Camden¡¯s hand. As he let out a piercing scream, she said in a low, chilly voice, ¡°This is my own house. So why would I need your so¨Ccalled hospitality?¡± After Briar had knocked out the bodyguards in just a few moves, not a single one of them dared to step up again. The Jennings family might not have realized how skilled Briar really was, but the bodyguards knew all too well. She was nothing like the useless show¨Coff Edgar imed she was. This girl was a total badass, and she was out of their league. All of them shrank back to the sidelines, not daring to make a move. ¡°You rebellious girl!¡± Edgar finally exploded, all his anger and frustration boiling down to a furious curse. Briar looked over at the bodyguards, who had backed off quickly, then turned her attention to the Jennings family. Her tone was casual, but her eyes were icy. ¡°You all know how many shady things you¡¯ve done when I wasn¡¯t looking. I won¡¯t even have to list them¨Cyou know what I¡¯m talking about deep down. Just because I haven¡¯te to settle the score yet, do you think I¡¯m afraid of you?¡± The Jennings family fell utterly silent. They did think Briar was too scared to fight back. ¡°I¡¯ve seen idiots before, but never anyone as brainless as you guys,¡± Briarughed out loud in disbelief. Briar began listing the wrongs done to them, one by one: ¡°Beatrice, you went around the university spreading false rumors and causing trouble for me. Halle, you ruined my reputation among the influential people. And this time? Camden, you were the one encouraging Edgar toe after me, weren¡¯t you?¡± Edgar avoided her gaze, not daring to say a single word. She went on, ¡°And you, Edgar. You¡¯ve joined forces with others to try to trick me more than once. Did you believe I would simply act like nothing happened?¡± Briar looked at him with a mix of emotions, almost feeling sorry for him. ¡°What goes aroundes around, Edgar. Retribution is patient; it wille at the right moment.¡± If she weren¡¯t using Edgar as bait to fish out the mastermind behind him, she would¡¯ve dealt with this scumbag ages ago. Edgar looked up, surprised and hesitant, his expression filled with a mix of emotions. But when he saw Briar¡¯s knowing and slightly mocking smile, he pushed his feelings aside and regained hisposure. ¡®That¡¯s impossible. There¡¯s no way Briar knows about Ben Garza and the others¡­¡® he thought. Briar gave Edgar a yful smile and chose not to say anything more. She looked at the others with a calm expression, stood up with her hands in her pockets, and walked confidently towards the front door as if she were in charge. For some reason, the Jennings family all let out a collective sigh of relief as they watched Briar leave. Earlier, they¡¯d done everything to keep her from leaving, but now, they were practically praying she¡¯d get out as fast as possible. As Briar stepped out of the Jennings house, she spotted a familiar figure leaning against a car under a tree not far away. She froze for a second and asked in surprise, ¡°Ashton? What are you doing here?¡± Ashton was dressed in a simple white shirt, casually leaning against the front of the car. The sses perched on his nose and the half¨Csmoked cigarette 10:49 Tue, Ty Aug between his fingers, all under the glow of the streetlights, gave him an air of forbidden allure. There were a few butts scattered around cigarette his feet, which meant he¡¯d been there for quite a while N/ WAN Comment Forsaken 161 Chapter 161 Ashton had already spotted Briar stepping out of the Jennings family home. Seeing her a bit dazed when she noticed him, he couldn¡¯t help but ¡°I¡¯m here to pick you up.¡± Even before Briar called, Ashton¡¯s car was already nearby. He had nned just to watch her leave safely, but after hanging up, he told his driver, Connor, to drive in. Briar and Edgar were already like oil and water. Ashton was worried she might suffer if left alone with the Jennings family, and he wasn¡¯t about to let anyone mess with his girl. He couldn¡¯t just let his person be bullied. Briar¡¯s eyes curved into a smile, and she couldn¡¯t hide the grin on her lips. However, she still pretended to be in a tough spot and asked, ¡°What about my bike?¡± Ashton nced at Connor, who immediately got the hint and stepped forward. He proposed, ¡°Miss Jennings, how about I drive your bike back for you?¡± Briar pulled out her car keys without hesitation and tossed them to Connor, ¡°Sure.¡± Afterward, she hopped into the passenger seat that Ashton had opened for her. After Ashton drove off with Briar, Connor held onto the motorcycle keys as he walked up to the Jennings family¡¯s gate. Instead of hopping on the bike right away, he strode straight into the Jennings family¡¯s yard. Ashton drove fast but steady, and the ride back to Moonspring Estate was smooth. The two of them were chatting, but the moment they saw two people squatting by Briar¡¯s front door, they instantly fell silent. There was a man and a woman at the door. It was Ellen, and a man Ashton didn¡¯t recognize. Ashton frowned, pulling the car up beside them without slowing down, and stopped. Once she recognized the man, Briar¡¯s eyes grew calm and turned to Ashton, saying, ¡°Ashton, this is my friend.¡± Afterward, she pushed open the car door and greeted, ¡°Seth, what are you doing here?¡± Seth had already seen who was in the car as it approached, so when it stopped next to them, he didn¡¯t move. When Briar got out, he shed her a big grin, ¡°Briar, I¡¯m back.¡± Ellen stood obediently next to her brother and greeted Briar and Ashton with a sweet smile, ¡°Hi, Briar. Hi, Ashton.¡± Briar Briar nodded and introduced Ashton, who had just walked over from the car. She added, ¡°Ashton, this is my friend from Qathana, Seth Lyddon, who is Ellen¡¯s elder brother.¡± Then, she turned to Seth and added, ¡°And this is Ashton, my¡­ neighbor.¡± Seth knew exactly who Ashton was. After all, he was the legendary prince of Shoneport who was richer than most countries, and he had the power and influence to match. He greeted, ¡°Ashton, it¡¯s a real honor to meet you. My sister already told me how you and Briar stepped in when she was bullied at school. I¡¯ll make sure to bring a proper gift and core thank you in person tomorrow.¡± With someone at Ashton¡¯s level, inviting him to dinner would just be awkward. The best a person could do was prepare a generous gift and hope he¡¯d ept it. Ashton nodded at Seth in response, ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so formal.¡± Then Ashton turned to Briar, raising an eyebrow and asking, ¡°Am I just your neighbor?¡± 10:49 Tue, 19 Aug It was obvious Ashton cared a lot more about how Briar introduced him. Her hesitation was cute, but it still made him happy. He could tell Briar was just being shy. But when it came to his ce in her life, Ashton wasn¡¯t about to let it slide. Briar met Ashton¡¯s bright eyes and sighed, ¡°Alright, let me do this properly. This is Ashton, my boyfriend.¡± Upon hearing that, Ashton was extremely pleased. Now that Ashton had an official title, Briar felt much more rxed discussing it. She smiled, ¡°Yup, that¡¯s exactly what you heard. So, what are you doing camped out at my door? Were you looking for me?¡± Ashton ruffled Briar¡¯s hair lovingly and said, ¡°Alright, you two, catch up. I¡¯ll go park the car.¡± Briar nodded in response, ¡°Okay.¡± Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, she ledn and Ellen inside. Briar waspletely oblivious to just how much her interactions with Ashton were blowingn¡¯s mind. Once they got into the living room,n just couldn¡¯t hold back anymore, and he eximed, ¡°Damn, Briar! Not bad! You¡¯ve only been back for a month, and you¡¯ve alreadynded the prince of Shoneport?¡± As a mercenary who spent years roaming the bordends,n was no stranger to Ashton¡¯s name. His influence out there was so strong that most mercenaries would go out of their way just to avoid running into him. ¡°Well, it just sort of happened. I¡¯ll tell you guys the whole story some other time,¡± Briar said, feeling a little awkward as she scratched her nose. She grabbed two cans of Coke and a bottle of milk from the fridge, handed the milk to Ellen, and tossed a Coke ton. She asked, ¡°Anyway, what about you? Howe you¡¯re back early?¡± .¡± Briar nced at Ellen, who was quietly sipping her milk, and nodded, deciding not to press further. She changed the subject, ¡°So, you¡¯re not leaving again, right?¡± Jan shook his head in response, ¡°Nope, I¡¯m not going anywhere. I¡¯ll be staying here in Shoneport for the next few years to keep my sisterpany.¡± Hearing this, Ellen immediately looked up and shed her brother a huge smile. ¡°That¡¯s great,¡± Briar said, taking a sip of her Coke, but her eyes betrayed a quiet unrest that didn¡¯t match the calm in her voice. They sat and chatted for another half hour before an finally got up to leave with Ellen. Just before they walked out,n bloodthirsty grin when Ellen wasn¡¯t looking. He asked, ¡°Briar, how about I treat you to lunch tomorrow?¡± Briar a wicked, almost Briar narrowed her eyes as she knewn had something to say, so she nodded. ¡°Sure. You¡¯re picking the ce, or should I?¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll send you the locationter,¡± she agreed. After seeing them off, Briar turned around and found Ashton leaning against the gate with his arms crossed, watching her. She shot him a ned and paused before saying, ¡°Boyfriend, do you need something?¡± Those words instantly made the teasing smile vanish from Ashton¡¯s lips, and he said, ¡°I happened to overhear your ns. Girlfriend, would you mind if crashed your lunch tomorrow?¡± Even though Briar didn¡¯t have much experience with rtionships, she could still pick up on the jealousy in the air. She let out augh, Ashton, Janis just a normal friend from Qathana.¡± Ashton nodded in response, ¡°Yeah, just a regr friend who sometimes picks up side gigs on the border for some extra cash.¡± Briar stared at him in silence and could not help but wonder, ¡®What? ¡®I hadn¡¯t expected Ashton to find out everything aboutn in such a short time.¡® Suddenly, she felt a wave of panic as she wondered, ¡®Is my cover about to be blown too?¡® ¡°Nope, you can¡¯t just tag along for a free meal,¡± Briar said with a smirk. ¡°But we can have lunch at one of your restaurants instead.¡± Ashton stroked his chin, mulled it over for a few seconds before agreeing. AD Forsaken 162 Chapter 162 Early the next morning,n showed up at Ashton¡¯s ce with sincerity and good intentions. Ashton, being the easygoing guy he was, didn¡¯t make a loss and invitedn right in. Briar was out for her morning run when she spotted Connor hanging from a pull¨Cup bar in the yard. She called out, ¡°Ashton¡¯s not givingn a hard me, is he?¡± Connor nced inside at the two men chatting and shook his head. He shared, ¡°Nah, Ashton¡¯s smiling like everything¡¯s cool.¡± Briar nodded, her mind already racing with thoughts. Briar knew Ashton was a deep one, and she could read him well enough. He¡¯d been on guard withn justst night, and there was no way a man like him would flip his attitude so quickly. ¡®He must be plotting something,¡® Briar thought as she kept running. Briar had sses that morning. By the time she returned from her run,n had already left. Seeing Briar finish her run, Ashton started going through some sparring drills with Connor in the yard to loosen up. Ashton moved with the kind of skill one would expect from a master. His style was rooted in traditional martial arts, every move sharp and dangerous, yet there was a fluid grace to it all. It was the first time Briar had seen him in action, and it blew her away. Every time she discovered another strength of his, Briar found herself even more impressed. Ashton was sparring with Connor, but he still found time to call out to Briar, ¡°Briar, breakfast¡¯s ready. Go freshen up, thene eat. I¡¯ll give you a ride to school in a bit.¡± Briar snapped out of her daze and nodded, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Once Briar was inside, Connor stopped sparring and grinned. ¡°Ashton, you were just showing off like a peacock trying to impress a mate.¡± Ashton raised an eyebrow. He had caught the look of awe in Briar¡¯s eyes, and smiled in amusement, ¡°It was pretty effective, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Connor just shrugged. On the way to school, Ashton sent Briar the details of their dinner reservation. ¡°It¡¯s at Kajuntan Seafood Restaurant, I¡¯ve booked the luxury private room on the third floor. I already called the manager this morning and had your favorite seafood fromst time flown in.¡± Briar nodded in response, ¡°Okay.¡± Before they knew it, they were already at the school gate. Ashton¡¯s ride was so shy that the other cars had cleared out before they even got close, Just as Briar was about to get out, Ashton caught her wrist with a smile and asked, ¡°By the way, I heard you¡¯re running the long¨Cdistance race at the school sports meet?¡± Briar arched an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Yeah, what about it?¡± Ashton said in a serious voice, ¡°Long¨Cdistance running drains your energy. You should build up your strength in advance. How about I treat you to something delicious tonight?¡± ¡°Sure, you pick the ce,¡± Briar replied with a grin, ying along and not exposing the little scheme behind Ashton¡¯s ¡®serious¡® suggestion. The air in the car was so thick with jealousy and sweetness that Briar couldn¡¯t stand it for even a second longer. Ashton waited until Briar disappeared into the campus, then told Connor, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the office.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Connor replied, and drove off. Near the school entrance, a sleek ck car was parked quietly, taking pictures of everything happening outside. Anel Ashton¡¯s dye catchi drove off, the person in the ck car sat up and began looking through the images they had taken. The more they looked, the bigger the grin under their baseball cap grew. After flipping through all the photos, they pulled out their phread and chalet number. The man reported, ¡°Mr. Garza, I got what you wanted. That 66 thousand dors deal we discussed is still on, right Whatever Mr. Garza said made the guy bow and grin even wider. He replied, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll sort the pictures and send them to your pronta email fait a A few minutester, the ck sedan eased away from the school gate. Anyone sharp enough would¡¯ve noticed the car dodged every street camars, slipping away like it was never even there. Briar had ns for lunch that day. Just before eleven, she checked in with Joshua and slipped out of school early Briar walked over and eximed, ¡°This isn¡¯t even your kind of ride!¡± , painted in an obnoxiously bright green that screamed for attention. ¡®Yep, he¡¯s definitely got a sisterplex,¡¯ she silently mused. Briar nodded and hopped into the passenger seat. Briar replied coolly, ¡°Ashton picked the ce. All the seafood was flown in fresh this morning.¡± ¡°Alright then!¡±n clicked his tongue, grinning. ¡°If Ashton¡¯s handling it, I know I¡¯m in good hands.¡± ¡®Whenever Ashton¡¯s involved, it¡¯s always the best of the best. This meal¡¯s gotta be at least five figures,¡®n thought. When they arrived at the restaurant, the manager personally came out to greet them and led them to a private room on the third floor. Once they were seated, the manager asked politely, ¡°Miss Jennings, the dishes are ready. Would you like us to start serving now?¡± Briar nodded in response, ¡°All right, you can start serving.¡± ¡°Of course, please wait just a moment,¡± the manager replied before stepping out. In less than ten minutes, te after te of seafood was brought in, filling the entire table. ¡°Miss Jennings,n, all the dishes are here. Please enjoy your meal.¡± With that, the manager and the other staff quietly left, closing the door behind them. . He gasped in amazement, ¡°No wonder Ashton¡¯s one of the richest men in Shoneport. This table¡¯s gotta be worth at least 26 thousand dors.¡± Briar smiled in response, ¡°Ashton said he could get us a discount.¡± ¡°A crazy discount?¡±n quipped as hedled some soup for Briar. Briar couldn¡¯t help butugh, ¡°What, did Ashton ever mess you up behind the scenes?¡± But, he does seem kinda hostile toward me¡­¡± Briar stared at him in silence. Once they were about halfway through the meal, Briar put down her utensils and got straight to the point. She asked, ¡°You didn¡¯t just more h to thank me for looking after Ellen, did you?¡± Briar. Which one do your weat first?¡± ¡°Good news,¡± Briar said,zily ncing atn, who could barely hide his excitement. ¡°Actually, let¡¯s start with the bad news,¡±n said, rubbing his nose. ¡°Someone sold the news of your return to Dasmiera on the international dar to you want to guess who¡¯s behind it?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t checked the dar in over half a year. I¡¯m not guessing,¡± Briar replied, totally unfazed. She never really cared about the international dar anyway. In her eyes, the people who hung around the dar were just nobodies with no real skills, scraping by on bottom¨Cfeeder cash. The real mercenary groups and underground organizations never even bothered to acknowledge their existence. AD Forsaken 163 Chapter 163 tan was choked up by Briar¡¯s casual attitude and awkwardly stopped beating around the bush, ¡°Alright, here¡¯s the good news. I¡¯ve got a bad en trie person you asked me to keep an eye on¡­¡± Briar finally nced at fan, piecing his words together and asking hesistantly, ¡°You mean the person who is selling information about me?¡± Briar smiled in response, ¡°They¡¯ve got some nerve.¡± Briar picked up a piece of tender fish and munched on it slowly as she probed, ¡°Did you find the IP address they used to sell information about me?¡± ¡°Of course. You know my tracking skills. Once I set my sights on someone, they rarely get away,¡±n nodded in response. He grabbed his phone and tapped a few times on WhatsApp. Briar¡¯s phone immediately pinged with several notifications. He exined, ¡°These are screenshots of the IP addresses I tracked and the transaction records when they posted the information¡­¡± Noticing the hesitation inn¡¯s voice, Briar picked up her phone, opened up WhatsApp, and scrolled through the screenshots one by one. ¡°If you have something to say, just spit it out,¡± she stated. His hint couldn¡¯t have been more obvious. Briar had already finished looking through all the screenshots. She set her phone down, sighed as she rubbed her temples. She calmly stated, ¡°It¡¯s the Jennings family. It¡¯s Beatrice.¡± Briar let out a coldugh, ¡°No matter how clueless Edgar is, he hasn¡¯t survived in business all these years by being a fool. The only ones who¡¯d lose their cool this easily are probably those three fools from the Jennings family.¡± Since returning to Dasmieca, Briar had been choosing to be lenient with the people around her. Even though their antics often annoyed her, she didn¡¯t feel the need to confront them seriously. To her, they were more of a hassle than anything else, and she didn¡¯t want to waste her energy on them. As long as they didn¡¯t push her limits, she decided it was easier to overlook their foolishness for the time being. He pondered, ¡®Beatrice likely has no idea how cunning and relentless the infamous Briar truly is. Once Briar decides to confront her, Beatrice will realize just how much trouble she¡¯s in, and she will end up feeling devastated. ¡®Man, now I¡¯m looking forward to the show!¡® Briar tapped her fingers on the table, and just asn¡¯s eyebrows twitched for the fifth time, she finally spoke, ¡°It would be rude not to return the favor, right? Since she loves ying such dirty tricks so much, wouldn¡¯t I be letting her off too easily if I don¡¯t do anything about it?¡± , what are you nning? Are you thinking of taking her As he spoke, he made a slicing gesture across his neck. Briar grinned slightly, ¡°What? Are you picking up jobs this small now? This can¡¯t even cover your minimum fee, can it?¡± , Briar. I¡¯m no longer alone. I have a little sister at home whom I need to 1/3 care for. I gotta grab every job, big or small!¡± Briar didn¡¯t bother calling him out on his act. Given thatn had approximately $ 64 million to his name, pretending to be poor seemed ridiculous. It was clear he was just looking for attention and excitement. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll put up 66 thousand dors for Beatrice¡¯s leg,¡± Briar said, her tone all business. For someone as irrelevant as Beatrice, that¡¯s top dor for her on the dar. As far as he knew, Beatrice was a dancer. Taking out one of her legs would mean she¡¯d never set foot on a stage again. Briar¡¯s lips curled into a perfectly measured smile, ¡°There¡¯s no rush. Shoneport University¡¯s sports meet ising up soon. Let her finish thepetition first. After all, we¡¯ve got to respect the spirit of sportsmanship.¡± ¡®You¡¯re an elite instructor at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base, and you care about that?¡® ¡°Alright, whatever you say. I might as well go check out the Shoneport University sports meet while I¡¯m at it,¡± , and herpanion have left.¡± Back at the Wade Group¡¯s President¡¯s Office, Jalen was in the middle of presenting his report to Ashton when he heard the news. He stared at Ashton in disbelief as he asked, ¡°Mr. Wade, are you for real? You¡¯re watching Briar this closely?¡± Ashton hung up the phone and shot Jalen, who was making a fuss, a thoughtful re. He said, ¡°What do you know? That friend of Briar¡¯s,n, is a mercenary who¡¯s been active along the border. Even Connor has tangled with him before. Briar¡¯s so naive and soft¨Chearted. What if she falls in with the wrong crowd and gets tricked?¡± Jalen was speechless as he inwardly chanted, ¡®Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, beauty is in the eye of the beholder¡­ ¡®Briar might look soft, but naive? Not a single chance. ¡®The Jennings family abandoned her, and she grew up as an outsider in Qathana for over ten years. Her files are still locked and nk to this day. How could someone like that possibly be naive?¡® Briar spent the entire afternoon holed up in theb. She had teamed up with Frank and the others to conduct a series of small experiments. She became so engrossed that shepletely lost track of time. When the experiments finally wrapped up and she walked out of the research building, she spotted Ashton chatting with Joshua outside. Only then did she automatically reach for her phone and realize there were more than a dozen missed calls from Ashton. ¡°Hey, there she is!¡± Joshua called out with a smile, waving at Briar as she came outughing and chatting with Frank and the others. ¡°Briar, my other students daree near.¡± Briar hesistantly replied, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll get going then.¡± Joshua watched as Ashton obediently followed Briar away, muttering to himself, ¡°Well, there¡¯s always someone who can keep you in check! When has this brat ever been so well¨Cbehaved?¡± Frank, who had somehow wandered over, nodded and put on a serious face. ¡°Exactly! Since when has Ashton ever been anywhere close to obedient?¡± Joshua shot him a re and pointed off into the distance beforementing, ¡°Same goes for you. Don¡¯t just stand there. The guy in that car over there has been waiting for you for over an hour.¡± Frank followed Joshua¡¯s finger and, sure enough, spotted a car parked under ¨¤ nondescript tree. The man sitting inside was none other than Connor the one he¡¯d been pestering toe pick him up. Forsaken 164 Chapter 164 Frank¡¯s smile froze, and he quickly said goodbye to Joshua before hurrying over. Feeling guilty, he didn¡¯t get in the car right away. Instead, he bared dver to the driver¡¯s window and said in an awkward but still polite tone, ¡°Hey there, handsome! Are you waiting for someone?¡± Connor shot him a look and uttered, ¡°Quit messing around. Get in already.¡± Frank immediately replied, ¡°Got it!¡± He quickly and obediently slid into the passenger seat, buckled his seatbelt, and ced his hands neatly on hisp. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± The car quickly pulled away, leaving the rest of the group standing at the entrance of theb building in silence. Mason couldn¡¯t hold it in as he eximed, ¡°Damn! Since when did Prince Frankie be such a simp?¡± Ted chimed in uncertainly, ¡°Uh¡­ maybe it¡¯s just guys attracting guys?¡± The others burst outughing. Thement was just a joke, but Thomas¡¯s eyes shed with something more profound as he watched the car disappear into the distance, deep in thought. ¡®Guys attracting guys?¡® Thomas wondered. Lost in thought, Thomas didn¡¯t notice Charle, who patted him on the shoulder and urged, ¡°Thomas, what are you thinking about? Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Thomas said, shoving those little thoughts to the back of his mind. He said goodbye to Joshua along with everyone else and followed them out. ¡°Hamish and Reece said they wanted to join us for dinnerter,¡± Ashton said as he drove. ¡°If you don¡¯t like big groups, I can ask them not toe.¡± Briar preferred quiet, and Reece could be a handful at times, but she shook her head, knowing the three of them probably had something to discuss. She replied, ¡°There¡¯s no need to, let¡¯s all go. Food¡¯s always better with more people.¡± Ashton was relieved he didn¡¯t have to send his buddies away. Briar skillfully fished a box of choctes out of the drawer, tore it open, popped one into her mouth, and started munching away while scrolling on her phone. When they hit a red light and the car slowed to a stop, Ashton nced over at Briar¡¯s chipmunk cheeks and suddenly asked, ¡°Girlfriend, is that chocte any good?¡± Briar was already teamed up with her squad in¨Cgame, about to parachute in. She tilted her head slightly, sparing Ashton a bit of attention as she asked, ¡°Huh? You want some?¡± As she spoke, she absentmindedly grabbed a piece of chocte and stuffed it into his hand, then went right back to her game. Ashton was momentarily speechless at her response ¡®Man, my girl¡¯s totally immune to romance,¡® he thought. The light turned green, and Ashton started driving again, fiddling with the piece of chocte Briar had given him, his mina eisewhere. They ended up at a restaurant owned by the Hamish family, and it was one of the top five star spots in Shoneport. As soon as Ashton¡¯s car pulled into the underground parking lot, a valet was already jogging over to guide them. VIPs like them always had their reserved. spots. 10:50 Tue, 19 Aug As the car stopped, Briar¡¯s game ended right on cue. She nced out the window, slipped her phone into her pocket, and reached for the dodo Ara here?¡± she asked. Ashton reached out, his hand closing gently but firmly around her wrist, keeping her in her seat. He said, ¡°Hold on. I need you to do me a favor Her eyes were soft and dewy, making her look irresistibly cute. She probed, ¡°What kind of favor?¡± Ashton opened his palm to reveal the piece of chocte he¡¯d been fiddling with the entire ride. He asked, ¡°Girlfriend, can you help me unwrap this?¡± Briar¡¯s big eyes were full of confusion as she rified, ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡®He¡¯s got two perfectly good hands. Why can¡¯t he unwrap it himself?¡® she grumbled inwardly. As she looked into Ashton¡¯s rxed yet attentive gaze, she felt herself give in. She took the chocte from his hand and slowly unwrapped it. It had be a little soft and smudged at the edges from being held for a while, but it was still good. ¡°Here you go,¡± she said. ¡°Feed it to me,¡± Ashton said, not missing a beat as he pushed his luck even further. Briar looked up, and the light from the parking lot streamed in and illuminated half her face. Her fair skin was glowing when she chuckled, ¡°Boyfriend, you sure are needy today!¡± Ashton¡¯s dark eyes never left Briar as he replied, ¡°Girlfriend, your boyfriend¡¯s only asking for this one little thing. Can¡¯t you spoil me just a bit?¡± Briar tightened her grip on the chocte but still lifted it to his mouth. ¡°Open up,¡± she said. Ashton went along with it and bit down on the piece of white chocte. But the next moment, his fingers gently cupped Briar¡¯s chin, using a little trick to coax her lips open, and slipped half the chocte into her mouth. At such close range, their lips inevitably brushed together. Even though all she tasted was chocte, Briar felt lightheaded, almost tipsy from the moment. It took Ashton a while to finally let go of Briar. By then, her face was a deep, bright red. He stated, ¡°This chocte is way too sweet. I¡¯m not used to it.¡± Briar pursed her lips and shot him a re as she thought, ¡®This guy is acting all innocent after getting his way. ¡°You bought me this chocte, so don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t know how sweet it is?¡± she asked. Ashton¡¯s lips curled up into a wicked, flirtatious grin as he replied, ¡°Honestly? I¡¯ve never actually tasted it.¡± Briar stared at him in silence. ¡°Hey, what are you two up to in there?¡± The window was suddenly tapped, and Reece¡¯s cool, handsome face appeared. Briar quickly opened the door and was the first to hop out. ¡°Hey, Briar!¡± Hamish, grinning from ear to ear as he followed behind Reece, called out in greeting. Aside from her slightly flushed cheeks, Briar didn¡¯t look the least bit embarrassed when she greeted, ¡°Hey, Hamish.¡± Ashton got out of the car as well, and the four of them headed into the elevator, chatting andughing as they made their way straight to their private floor. Since Hamish was bringing friends over for dinner, the restaurant manager had gotten the heads¨Cup way ahead of time. food was served right away, and even the wine had already been decanted. Briar realized that when you ate with this group, the menu was basically just for show, as nobody bothered to order anything. as they sat down, the And sure enough, Briar¡¯s guess was spot on. The three of them did have something to talk about. Barely ten minutes after sitting down, the conversation turned to serious matters. 10:50 Tue, 19 Aug 0 Furthermore, the serious discussion surrounded Briar. ¡°Ashton, my guys intercepted this on the international dar. Take a look,¡± Hamish said, cing a few photos in front of Ashton, Sinos Achton vind wearing disposable gloves and busy peeling shrimp for Briar, Hamish thoughtfully swiped through the pictures to Ashton could see them al Ashton just nced at them, but his face immediately darkened. He questioned, ¡°Did you find out who¡¯s behind it?¡± The photos showed a bounty posted on the dar a few days ago. Someone was offering 66 thousand dors to hire a hitman to go to Dasmieca and kidnap a college student named Briar. The notice even included her photo. The remaining photos were of the IP address and the intermediary who posted the bounty, ¡°Yeah, we traced it. It¡¯s someone from Dasmieca¡­¡± Hamish nced at Briar, who was quietly eating, and so¨Ccalled sister, Beatrice.¡± said tly, ¡°It¡¯s the Jennings family, and it¡¯s her Ashton kept his eyes fixed on his task, focusing intently on peeling the shrimp without pause. However, both Hamish and Reece sensed an immediate drop in temperature, making the atmosphere around them feel ufortably cold. 15 Forsaken 165 Chapter 165 Hamish and Reece exchanged a look, both of them visibly uneasy. After all these years of friendship, no one knew each other¡¯s temperaments batter than they did. Right now, Ashton¡¯s expression was dark, and he was clearly furious. However, with Briar still present, he was forcing himself to keep his anger in check. Hamish and Reece both knew the more Ashton bottled it up, the scarier it would be when he finally exploded. Just as Hamish and Reece were debating whether to step in, Briar reached out and gently patted Ashton¡¯s hand. Her eyes curved into azy, charming smile as sheforted, ¡°Ashton, don¡¯t be mad.¡± Ashton¡¯s icy demeanor melted away instantly, and he replied, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m not mad anymore.¡± Hamish and Reece were left speechless as they collectively wondered, ¡®Wait, what? He¡¯s not mad anymore? Just like that? ¡®Isn¡¯t it a little too easy to calm Ashton down?¡® Even though Ashton wasn¡¯t upset anymore, it didn¡¯t mean they could overlook the issue. After he had peeled a whole bowl of shrimp for Briar and ced it in front of her, he removed his disposable gloves and turned to Hamish and Reece. He stated, ¡°Now that we understand what happened, we¡¯ll handle it properly. We always make sure things are fair, and there will be no favoritism.¡± Hamish, who was sipping his soup, nearly choked and began coughing. He wondered, ¡®Fair and square? ¡®With no favoritism? ¡®Who is he talking about? Is he referring to us?¡® As they were in front of Briar, Reece had to fight back augh. He cleared his throat and replied, ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right. We¡¯re huge fans of maintaining peace.¡± ¡°Since we¡¯re all preserving peace now, what¡¯s the n?¡± Hamish asked with a hint of doubt. ¡®We¡¯re not seriously just going to have a friendly chat with the Jennings family and call it a day, right?¡® he thought. Ashton ignored Hamish and switched topics, ¡°I heard Archie just opened a fancy new club.¡± Hamish got the hint right away and replied, ¡°Yeah, he did. How about we swing byter and have some fun?¡± Ashton looked at Briar and asked, ¡°Do you want to go? We could y a few games of pool.¡± Of course, there was way more than just the pool at the club, but with how pure Briar was, the other activities weren¡¯t for her. Briar blinked in surprise as she responded hesitantly, ¡°I¡¯ve never tried it. I don¡¯t know how.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll teach you,¡± Ashton said. It didn¡¯t surprise him one bit as Briar was never one for noisy crowds. Briar nodded in agreement, ¡°Sure.¡± With that, Reece called Archie and informed him they¡¯d being byter to hang out, and requested that he reserve a priv m for them. Archie hadn¡¯t expected Reece and the others to show their support, but he immediately agreed and promised to save the very best room for them. After the call, Reece and the group went back to joking around, and not one of them noticed the sh of killing intent in Briar¡¯s eyes as she quietly ate her meal. Tue, 19 Aug The screenshotsn had sent her didn¡¯t just expose Beatrice as the one who hired the hitman. It also revealed the one who feally orchested things the person who told Beatrice about hiring a killer on the international ck market. That person was none other than Arclue. To be honest, Beatrice was a bit too unconventional. It was one thing to be friends with Le, but she really wanted to use that friendship in connect, with the Haynes family. In the end, she was used as a tool, a target, without even realizing it. After finishing their meal, the four of them drove to Archie¡¯s club. Archie hadn¡¯t nned on being at the club tonight, but after getting Reece¡¯s call, he rushed back at thest minute. As soon as Ashton and the others pulled into the club¡¯s parking lot, they saw Archie stepping out of his car with Le and Beatrice following close behind. Briar cocked a mischievous eyebrow at Le, whose face changed the moment she saw her. ¡®Well, talk about perfect timing, she thought, a wicked little smirk tugging at her lips. She¡¯d just been racking her brain for an excuse to deal with Archie, and Le had practically delivered herself right to her doorstep. As for Beatrice, who was trailing after Le and ring at her like she was some mortal enemy. Briar just scoffed inwardly, ¡®Please. You¡¯re not even worth my attention.¡±¡® As Briar had already outsourced that 66 thousand dor job, there¡¯s no way she was going to bother getting her own hands dirty. Archie spotted the group and he strode over with a big grin, greeting everyone one by one. ¡°Mr. Wade, Mr. Parkinson, Mr. Goodwin, Miss Jennings. Wee, wee!¡± Archie wasn¡¯t yet the leader of the Haynes family, but he was already gaining a sense of how things worked within the family business. He spent most of his time and effort there, while this club was more of a hobby for him. It was an enjoyable project that allowed him to establish his presence and make connections in the underground scene. When facing someone like Ashton, who already called the shots for his family, Archie knew to be extra polite. After all, theirpanies may work together in the future. He was smooth enough even to make sure Briar, who was standing beside Ashton, received a respectful greeting too. As Reece was the one who usually handled these situations, he put on his usual easygoing grin, ¡°Archie, there¡¯s no need to be so formal. We¡¯re just here to rx for a bit after dinner. Honestly, Ashton just wanted somewhere quiet to spend some time with his girlfriend.¡± Archie nodded enthusiastically in response, ¡°Of course, of course! It¡¯s way too rowdy outside at this hour. Please,e on in. I¡¯ve already had the best private room prepared for you. I¡¯ll make sure you all have a great time tonight.¡± With that, he led them into the club. As Ashton hadn¡¯t even spared Le and Beatrice, who were tagging along, a nce, Archie wasn¡¯t about to awkwardly introduce them. He shot his sister a look, telling her to take her friend and have fun on their own. Many exclusive clubs only allow members to enter, but Reece had enough influence that the staff quickly created membership cards for both him and Hamish. On the other hand, Ashton was not interested. If he wasn¡¯t visiting with Briar, there was no chance he would evere at all! Once they reached the luxurious private room, Archie made sure everything was set up with a variety of drinks and fruit tters. After a few more pleasantries, he excused himself and left. ¡°So, what do you think, Briar? It¡¯s not bad, huh?¡± Reece, who was already holding a ss of wine, grinned at her. The private room offered various entertainment, along with a dedicated waiter and bartender. He nced over at Briar, who was sitting off to the side, as she checked out the ce. Briar nodded in response, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s alright¡± Hamish grabbed Ashton and dragged him over to the pool table, insisting they y a round right away. Ashton didn¡¯t object, and the two of them were 10:50 Tue, 19 Aug already racking up the balls, ready for battle. ¡°I¡¯m gonna go to the restroom, and I will be right back,¡± Briar said as she stood up once the game between Ashton and Hamish got underway. Reece quickly called over an attendant and asked her to show Briar the way. While their private room had its ensuite bathroom, it was so big that Briar might not be able to find it herself. Briar nodded and followed the attendant out. ¡°Miss Jennings, would you like me to wait outside for you?¡± the attendant asked politely when they stopped at the bathroom door. Briar waved her off as she replied, ¡°No need. I¡¯ll find my way back.¡± The attendant nodded in response, ¡°Alright.¡± Once inside, Briar closed the door behind her and locked it without a second thought. She picked a stall with a vent, put the lid down, and pulled out her phone, which was already connected to the club¡¯s internalwork. She hacked into the club¡¯s surveince system and started tracking down Le and Beatrice¡¯s current location. Briar worked incredibly fast, and in less than two minutes, she had located them. With a stroke of luck, the pair was just two rooms down from their private suite. Briar found theyout of the air vents for this floor and decided to take a daring approach. She climbed onto the toilet seat, carefully removed the vent cover, and, with a quick leap, squeezed herself inside the vent. D Forsaken 166 10:50 Tue, 19 Aug Chapter 166 Beatrice felt a strange sense of unease ever since she saw Briar at the entrance. However, as Briar hadn¡¯t even nced her way, Beatrice convinced herself she was just being paranoid. Le and Beatrice were in a private room, which they had reserved just for themselves. Le, however, had invited a group of handsome young guys to keep them entertained. The atmosphere was lively, filled with music, dancing, and fun party games. There was a palpable excitement in the air. Le was used to being in the spotlight, having always been surrounded by admirers. At Shoneport University, she yed the role of a sophisticated heiress, but in private, she was quite the party enthusiast with some interesting tastes. She particrly liked charming boys. Those with rosy lips, perfect smiles, and a delicate appearance were exactly her type. Le had a bit of a problem with drugs. The Haynes family, being one of the most influential families in Shoneport, usually kept tight control over this kind of behavior. But Le had an older brother who doted on her and would secretly give her what she wanted. This was one of the big reasons why Frank wanted to stay away from her while they were at Shoneport University. After all, she partied way too hard. He knew that if Ashton ever discovered that he was involved with drugs, he would be furious. Since Briar uncovered proof that Beatrice had hired a hitman, she had been digging into the entire situation. She was well aware of where Le sneaked off to at night, so when Ashton and the others suggested going to her brother¡¯s club, Briar eagerly decided to tag along. Using her phone to monitor the hidden camera feed from the private room, Briar waited patiently for the perfect moment to strike. Just as she had anticipated, after chatting with one of the pretty boys for a while, Le got up and made her way toward a small side room. The boy obediently followed her inside. There were no cameras in that room, and this was her opportunity. Moving like a ghost, Briar slipped into the vent above the small room. While Le had her eyes closed as she was lost in the boy¡¯s passionate service, Briar silently and swiftly dropped down through the ceiling vent. She acted fast,nding a sharp karate chop to each of their necks. With one hand, she caught the boy as he slumped, and with her foot, she hooked Le¡¯s body to keep her from hitting the floor, making sure not a single sound escaped to alert anyone outside. Briar stood over Le, watching her with her eyes shut tight. She pressed her foot against the inside pocket of Le¡¯s jacket to check, then bent down and fished out a small bag of powder. It looked like Archie had just handed it to her today, as the seal hadn¡¯t even been broken yet. To make sure the boy didn¡¯t get caught up in this, Briar took a few extra steps. First, she administered two quick injections of anesthetic to each hand. Then she dumped all the powder from the bag around Le¡¯s mouth and chin, slipped the empty bag into her pocket, and waited for the anesthetic to take effect. As soon as it did, Briar whipped out a sharp scalpel and neatly severed the tendons in Le¡¯s hands.. Afterward, she pulled out her phone and snapped several photos of the two unconscious bodies on the floor, making sure to get close¨Cups of the powder smeared across Le¡¯s face and the blood streaming steadily from her wrists. Six minutes had passed. Briar slipped her phone back into her pocket, leaped back up to the vent, and retraced her steps to the bathroom stall she¡¯d started in. She wiped the footprints off the toilet seat with a tissue, tossed the empty bag into the toilet, and flushed it away. Then, Briar calmly sent the photos from her phone to several small newspapers in Shoneport and erased any trace of rom her device. Since she was nning to end Le¡¯s life right then and there, she even ¡°kindly¡± sent a copy to Archie¡¯s email. Finally, as cool as ever, she washed her hands, opened the door, and strolled out of the bathroom like nothing out of the ordinary had happened. The entire operation had taken just seven minutes and twenty seconds. When she returned, Ashton and Hamish were still in the middle of their match. After making his shot, Ashton nced over and saw Briar swaggering back, boldly flicking water off her hands without a care. He frowned, walked mer grabbed her hand, and pulled out a few tissues to carefully dry her hands for her. He asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t there paper towels in the bathroom ¡°I was toozy to use them,¡± Briar shot Ashton a cheeky grin, shing her pearly whites, totally unfazed. Ashton was momentarily speechless at her response. Hamish noticed Ashton showing off his caring side like a dad to Briar and exchanged a knowing nce with Raece, who was enjoying his drink at the bar. They both let out a low whistle in jest. ¡°Wow, Ashton, is that really you drying Briar¡¯s hands after she just washed them? What¡¯s next? Are you going to start acting like her dad?¡± Hamish joked. Reece couldn¡¯t help butugh as he added, ¡°Honestly, he¡¯s been like a dad for a while now. Have you seen all the snacks he keeps in his car for her?? Hamish joined in theughter. The atmosphere was rxed and fun until suddenly, screams and chaos erupted from the hallway outside. It sounded like a stampede of people rushing back and forth. Reece, who was sitting closest to the door, immediately set down his drink, walked over, and pulled the door open. Just like that, the noise and confusion from outside rushed in on them. One of the patrons screamed, ¡°There¡¯s been a murder! Somebody help!¡± ¡°Security! Security, get over here!¡± Another eximed. A third person shouted, ¡°Go tell the boss, something¡¯s happened to Miss Haynes! ¡°Call an ambnce!¡± Someone else cried. Another shrieked, ¡°Call the police!¡± Everything was inplete chaos. Reece, who was curious, grabbed a frantic waiter as she dashed past and asked, ¡°What happened?¡± The waiter looked terrified at first, but when she realized it was Reece who stopped her, she blurted out the news in a panic, ¡°Mr. Goodwin, the private room next door is where Miss Haynes was. Our staff just found her passed out. Both her wrists have been shed, and there¡¯s blood all over the ce¡­¡± Reece¡¯s face instantly hardened, and he knew right away something was seriously wrong. He waved the waiter off to fetch Archie before turning to Ashton and the others in the room. He stated, ¡°Ashton, let¡¯s go check it out. It¡¯s just next door. Before this turns into a total mess, we should step in and keep things under control.¡± ¡°You and Hamish go check it out,¡± Ashton nodded in response, ¡°We¡¯ll stay put as Briar gets squeamish around blood.¡± Reece and Hamish fell silent as they collectively wondered, ¡®Wait, what? ¡®Briar is studying traditional medicine and is already working in theb with senior students. Would she be squeamish about blood? ¡®But then again, maybe it¡¯s better not to let the girl see something like that. If she did get scared, that¡¯d be bad.¡® Themotion on this floor was pretty intense. The staff in the surveince room immediately noticed something w informed Archie. notified security, and Archie was in the middle of chatting with some guests when his phone buzzed with a new email notification. He didn¡¯t check it right away. It wasn¡¯t until he answered a call from security that he noticed the email and opened it. His face instantly drained of color. He mumbled a quick ¡°Excuse me¡± and bolted out of the room. As he dashed upstairs, he was already on the phone, instructing his staff to keep everyone in the private room under control and calling in mansurti to ensure the rest of the club¡¯s guests wouldn¡¯t be disturbed. What shook him was the white powder smeared around her mouth in the photos. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, it was the same stuff he¡¯d just give her tonight Forsaken 167 Chapter 167 Archie¡¯s concerns were valid. The visitors at his club were either wealthy or influential individuals. If word spread that there were drugs hidden in his establishment, especially involving his sister, it would lead to aplete disaster. With so many people around, how could he expect to keep everything quiet? Unfortunately, it was already toote. By the time he got there, the ce was inplete disarray. People from the other private rooms had heard the noise and rushed over to see what was happening. The crowd was tightly packed, and if it hadn¡¯t been for Reece and Hamish working hard to manage the situation, things could have escted even more out of control. ¡°Mr. Goodwin, Mr. Hamish, thank you,¡± Archie said after he saw that Le¡¯s hand had been bandaged and the powder on her face had been wiped off. He looked at the two of them with gratitude. Reece brushed off the issue, iming it was no big deal. Although he felt pretty annoyed, he kept his face calm. He said, ¡°When we arrived, the ce was already a mess. We need to be careful about the fallout from this. Your club is still new, and people are paying close attention.¡± While hisments were unclear, anyone familiar with the situation would have understood it. The folks at the club all had some sort of power or connections behind them, and one might never know who would try to betray him. There was also the problem with Le, who had been caught doing drugs in front of a lot of people. If they didn¡¯t handle it right, things could turn really ugly. Archie expressed his gratitude to Reece again. He was feeling even more anxious about Le and Ashton, who were still in the next room and hadn¡¯t shown up yet. Their group typically steered clear of such problems and avoided anyone involved in them. If Archie didn¡¯t manage the situation properly tonight, there was a serious risk that theirpany could lose its chance to work with these important people in the future. Once Archie arrived, Reece and Hamish felt there was no reason to stick around any longer. They quietly observed everyone who had gathered to see the disturbance, just in case any problems aroseter. After ncing at Beatrice, who looked pale and scared in the corner, they calmly headed back to their private room. Once the door closed behind them, their expressions shifted to serious. Ashton and Briar were sitting on the couch, with Ashton peeling an orange for Briar. Noticing the troubled looks on Reece and Hamish¡¯s faces, Ashton asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on with you two?¡± With a cold demeanor, Reece replied, ¡°Le¡¯s been ¡®using the powder¡®.¡± In their group, ¡°using the powder¡± was a code for drug use. Hamish frowned with disdain as he added, ¡°From/Archie¡¯s reaction, it seems like he probably knew about it all along.¡± Both Reece and Hamish had military backgrounds and strongly disapproved of such behavior They were used to being around friends and family who stayed away from drugs, and people typically behaved themselves around them. But Le had some nerve; she had run into them right at the entrance of the club, knowing they were close by, and still decided to do drugs. Not only that, but she made a big scene in front of everyone. Hamish thought, ¡®Was she doing these all for show? Does she not have any conjun Ashton remained quiet but nodded slightly. Just then, Hamish noticed him take out his phone and send a message, Reece leaned in to take a peek before letting out a chuckle. It seemed they had been unnecessarily worried; their friend Archie was still as fair and tough as ever. If it were just Reece and Hamish involved, the worst that would happen to Archie would be losing his club. But with Ashton now aware of the situation, it was clear he wouldn¡¯t let it go unnoticed. Furthermore, one should not forget that Thiago from the Wade family was a high¨Cranking official in the provincial police. While the three of them chatted, Briar quietly enjoyed the oranges that Ashton peeled for her, keeping her head down as she yed on her phone, pretending not to care about their conversation. However, if Ashton had turned around at that moment, he would have seen a sly grin on Briar¡¯s face, despite her calm appearance. She was fully engrossed in her game, almost like a viin in a story. Archie probably didn¡¯t grasp how serious it was. If Ashton and his friends or even club attendees found out about Le¡¯s drug use, it would be a big deal. No matter how messy things got, there was always a way to bury the issue if you had enough money to pay off the right people. But if those nosy tabloid reporters in Shoneport caught wind of the story? By the next day, everyone in the city would be aware of Le¡¯s situation. That would put a lot of pressure on public opinion, and that was Briar¡¯s real n for revenge against Le. With Ashton and his friends watching cut for tabloids, Archie wouldn¡¯t dare go after them himself. Just thinking about it filled Briar with a sense of satisfaction. After finishing one orange, Briar reached for another, but Ashton was quicker. Even while chatting with Reece and the others, he made sure to keep an eye on her. The moment he saw she wanted more, he picked up an orange and started peeling it for her, making sure she didn¡¯t have to do any of the work herself. ¡°Having too many oranges isn¡¯t good for you, just have thisst one,¡± Ashton reminded her, his tone gentle but firm. ¡°We¡¯ll be heading out soon, as the police will be here any minute.¡± Briar took the orange from him as she uttered, ¡°Oh.¡± She figured it must be Thiago¡¯s men who would be arriving soon. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s really rare for us to get out and enjoy ourselves¡­¡± Reece said with a hint of frustration as he looked at Briar, who was following along quietly. ¡°But, of course, someone had to ruin the good mood.¡± Hamishughed in response, ¡°Next time, let¡¯s just hang out at your ce. We can enjoy ourselves there without all this messy crap.¡± ¡°Deal,¡± Reece agreed. After Briar slowly finished her orange and lingered for a few more minutes, the group finally stood up and left the private room. Ashton and the others left without drawing any attention to themselves. Only the security guard stationed at the door n wouldn¡¯t dare stop these VIPs. Instead, he respectfully saw them out. As their car pulled out of the club¡¯s parking lot, they passed right by two police cars. Briar watched curiously as the police cars finally stopped at the club entrance. She asked, ¡°Ashton, did you call them?¡± theming out, but he ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re just good,w¨Cabiding citizens. When something like this happens, of course, we let the professionals take care of it,¡± Ashton replied, nodding with a straight face. Briar thought, ¡®Law¨Cabiding citizens? Seriously, who¡¯s he talking about? ¡®Is this the same Ashton who runs a massive operation across the border? Is he calling himself aw¨Cabiding citizen? ¡®ying by the rules while taking people out on the side?¡® After Le¡¯s drug scandal broke, Briar didn¡¯t need to pay much attention to it. The media was filled with stories about it, and social media was buzzing B¨¦atrice, who had gone out with Le that night, found herself in the spotlight too, thanks to the relentless paparazzi. For a while, headlines covered Le¡¯s drug use and rumors about Beatrice¡¯s possible involvement. ¡°Javier, please listen! Let me exin! I had no idea Le was using drugs. I just happened to run into her one day, and she asked me to check out her brother¡¯s new club. If I had known it would turn into this big deal, I would never have gone!¡± Beatrice¡¯s voice shook with emotion as she spoke to Javier, her face pale and tears welling in her eyes. D Forsaken 168 Chapter 168 She wasn¡¯t lying about meeting a friend that night; running into Le was indeed a chance encounter. However, the truth was that Le hadn¡¯t invited her. Beatrice had ditched her friend the moment she saw Le and eagerly jumped at the opportunity to be with her. Ever since Beatrice started getting close to Le, she had been thinking of ways to stay in her good graces. As the heiress of the Haynes family, Le attracted attention wherever she went. Now, with Beatrice wanting to connect with the influential Hargreaves family through marriage, she realized she needed to do more than just win over Javier¨Cshe had to make herself an essential part of Le¡¯s life. Beatrice believed that if she could improve her status, Javier¡¯s mother would stop ignoring her. Le seemed like the ideal person to help her do just that. It turned out that her decision was correct. Beatrice had been spending a lot of time with Le, and they had gone shopping, dined out, and more. Although it sometimes felt embarrassing to act like a sycophant, the benefits were clear. Even those wealthy heiresses in Shoneport, who once excluded her, began inviting her to join their outings. Javier¡¯s mother also started treating Beatrice more kindly, and the snide remarks stopped. Even during dates with Javier, his mom no longer tried to pull him away early. Beatrice was convinced that by associating with Le, she could finally get into the Hargreaves family and join the circle of socialites she longed to be part of. However, everything came crashing down when Le got caught up in a drug scandal, and Beatrice¡¯s name was linked to it too. She felt a wave of regret, knowing that in such circles, anyone involved in a drug issue would bepletely shut out afterward. All the connections she had worked so hard to build were destroyed. Javier, who was overwhelmed by his responsibilities, was too tired to address Beatrice¡¯s recent behavior. His feelings for her were dwindling fast. Finally, he said, ¡°Beatrice, I¡¯ve been busy with worktely. Please don¡¯t reach out to me for a while.¡± Beatrice¡¯s face fell instantly upon hearing his words. She jumped up from the couch, panic in her voice as she asked, ¡°Javier, are you breaking up with me?¡± Her expression was a mixture of fear and distress. Javier didn¡¯t answer, and he just let out a sigh before hanging up. His silence said it all. Beatrice listened to the continuous sound of the call that had ended, and it felt as if her entire world had fallen apart. She sank back onto the couch, feeling hopeless and thinking, ¡®This is it. In the end, it was Le who brought me down.¡® Sitting there,pletely heartbroken, tears streamed down her face as she struggled to figure out what to do next. Just then, her phone rang again. Beatrice¡¯s heart raced with excitement, hoping it was Javier calling her back. But when sh Robert instead. d at the screen, it was Trying to sound strong and keep her tears in check, she answered, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Beatrice, what¡¯s wrong with your voice?¡± Robert asked, sounding worried. He quickly noticed the worry in her tone and inquired with concern. Beatrice choked out, ¡°Robert, L¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t cry, don¡¯t cry. Just tell me what¡¯s going on,¡± Robert said, his voice full of concern. Then, as if something clicked, he asked, ¡°Is this about se scandal?¡± Beatrice¡¯s sobs faltered for a second, then she started crying even more softly, her voice choked with helplessness. ¡°I don¡¯t even know how everythier ended up like this¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t cry. I¡¯ll handle this¡­¡± Robert reassured. It was Sunday, so there was no school. Briar had been convinced to go for a morning run by Ashton, who then treated her to a big breakfast. With nothing else to upy her time, she climbed back into bed, sprawled outfortably, and soon drifted off to sleep again. When she finally woke up, it was because her phone was ringing. Briar noticed it was Alexia calling from Qathana and groaned, ¡°Alexia, you¡¯d better have a good reason for calling me.¡± Alexia hesitated before asking, ¡°Did I wake you up?¡± Briar snorted, ¡°What do you think?¡± Alexia yfully teased, ¡°Isn¡¯t it already afternoon there? Why are you still in bed? Please don¡¯t tell me you were up all night¡­ having some fun?¡± Briar rolled her eyes hard as she replied, ¡°Seriously, can you dial down the suggestivements? If you keep it up, you¡¯ll start to think everyone¡¯s just rolling out of someone else¡¯s bed.¡± Alexiaughed in response, ¡°Okay, okay! No need to get so upset.¡± Briar clenched her teeth and said, ¡°Now, what¡¯s the reason for your call?¡± When discussing business, Alexia became a lot more serious as she stated, ¡°I¡¯ve got some good news and some bad news¡­¡± Briar sat up and interrupted, ¡°Let¡¯s hear the bad news first.¡± Alexia was momentarily speechless. ¡°Seriously, you have no sense of fun at all!¡± Alexia muttered. ¡°Alright, the bad news is, someone¡¯s got their eyes on you. There¡¯s a hit out for you on the Hacker Alliance¨C6 million dors for your head. ¡°Briar, look at you. Take a little vacation and your price drops like crazy! And your market value is really poor in Dasmieca, Come on, how is your life only worth 6 million dors now?¡± Briar ignored the rest of Alexia¡¯s nonsense and asked, ¡°And what is the good news?¡± Alexia giggled, ¡°The good news is, less than half an hour after the hit was posted, your man forced the order to be canceled using 24 million dors.¡± ¡°Ashton?¡± Briar raised an eyebrow and asked. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me about this sooner?¡± Alexiaughed even louder, ¡°If we told you, how were we supposed to make 24 million dors off your man?¡± In the Hacker Alliance, there was an important rule: once someone ced an order, it was very difficult to cancel it. If they did want to cancel, they would have to pay a hefty penalty of at least four times what they originally paid. Alexia chuckled as she exined, ¡°We were being pretty generous. We only charged your man four times the cancetion fee because of you.¡± Briar felt her irritation grow as Alexiaughed. ¡°So, who hired someone to take me out?¡± she asked directly. ¡°Sorry, but we have rules against sharing client information,¡± Alexia replied, maintaining her professional tone. Briar¡¯s annoyance only grew, and she stated, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll just hang up and find out myself.¡± As an insider in the Hacker Alliance, she knew she could easily ess the client¡¯s details if she wanted to. Alexia warned her, ¡°Go ahead and check, but don¡¯t me us. We can¡¯t leak client info officially.¡± ¡°Understood. I¡¯m ending the call now,¡± Briar said, disconnecting before Alexia could respond. Then she grabbed herptop, logged into the Hacker Alliance¡¯s internalwork, and quickly found the order that Ashton had canceled forcefully for 24 million dors. She then grabbed herptop and logged into the Hacker Alliance¡¯s private system. When she saw the client¡¯s information, a coldugh escaped her. It was surprising, yet everything now made sense. Right at the top of the details, it read: Anonymous Order Client: Hayden Garza. Forsaken 169 Chapter 169 It all started to make sense. In the small town of Dasmieca, besides the Jennings family, the only person who seemed to hold a grudge garest Briar s Hayden. ¡®She furrowed her brow in thought, wondering, ¡°But¡­ did I even do anything to Hayden? ¡®The only thing I can think of is that I was with Ashton the day Hayden got hurt. If he really couldn¡¯t get over that embarrassment and wanted revenge, wouldn¡¯t he go after Ashton instead? ¡®So why did he go to the Hacker Alliance and put a hit out on me? What kind of twisted thinking is that? ¡®Tsk, tsk. It looks like the people backing Hayden are just as shady as he is.¡¯ Her expression shifted as her fingers flew over the keyboard, bringing up the Hayden family¡¯s file on her screen. But the more she investigated, the more confused she became. The entire file seemed suspicious, especially the records from the years preceding their departure for Qathana. There was so rouch information that had been deliberately erased. Strangely, those were the same years when her mother disappeared, went into a downward spiral, and ended up in a mental hospital. Briar didn¡¯t believe in coincidences. For her, coincidences were simply illusions crafted to mislead others. She was determined to uncover the truth about her mother. She thought, ¡®Could the Garza family be connected to my mom¡¯s mental breakdown and her tragic end? ¡®It seems like finding Sawyer isn¡¯t enough. I need to dive into Hayden¡¯s background as well and uncover what secrets his family is hiding.¡± Briar closed herptop and nestled under the nkets, her mind racing with thoughts. After some time, she picked up her phone and dialed Ashton. ¡°Briar.¡± The call barely rang twice before Ashton answered. Hearing his familiar, calming voice instantly eased her restless mind. ¡°Ashton, are you free tonight? I¡¯d like to take you out for dinner,¡± Briar told him. She couldn¡¯t exin that he¡¯d helped her get through a challenging situation with a dangerous group, so she kept it vague. Ashton sounded a bit surprised, as he hadn¡¯t expected her to call just for dinner. ¡°Of course! Anytime you ask, I¡¯ll always make time for you,¡± he replied. Briar responded, ¡°Great! I¡¯lle pick you up tonight, okay?¡± Ashton confirmed, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± As one of the wealthiest men in Shoneport, Ashton rarely dined at ces he wasn¡¯t familiar with, as he owned numerous businesses. Despite holding a high status in the city, there were always people looking to take advantage of him. Wherever he went, he had bodyguards by his side. One of them, Brandon, was quite skilled and protective. Additionally, Ashton was known for his fighting/abilities, and rumor had it he was perfect. Given the unrest in Shoneporttely, Briar chose a popr local restaurant that turned out to be one of Ashton¡¯s businesses. Just then, a voice called out, ¡°Briar, you home?¡± Downstairs, someone was banging on her doorbell loudly, shouting as if they thought she couldn¡¯t hear. Briar immediately recognized that it wasn. She jumped out of bed, got changed, and went to open the door as she grumbled, ¡°You better have a good reason for visiting me.¡± As soon as Briar opened the door,n rushed in like he was escaping a fire and pulled Briar in with him. He quickly mmed the door shut, making a loud noise. Confused by his actions, Briar stumbled onto the couch whilen crashed onto the other sofa, trying to catch his breath. ¡°What happened? is someons after you?¡± she asked anxiously. now.¡± Briar¡¯s face turned serious as she asked, ¡°Did Sawyer see you?¡± For thest couple of days,n had been watching Sawyer, the doctor at Shoneport University. They not only shared simr names but also had simr skills. The first timen tried to spy on Sawyer, he almost got caught. Having lived a dangerous life filled with risky jobs for years, he had learned many tricks to stay out of trouble. But his presence had still made Sawyer suspicious. After his friends at the DDC Vanguard Base found out what happened, they couldn¡¯t help but teasen, which only angered him more. Briar had urged him to take a break from spying, butn wouldn¡¯t listen. Now that his friends wereughing at him, he was determined to keep going. She sighed internally, thinking, ¡®Seriously? It¡¯s only been a day, and he¡¯s already gotten himself into trouble again?¡® Then heunched into the whole story of how he was spotted and how he managed to make his escape. He shared, ¡°Briar, there¡¯s definitely something seriously wrong with Sawyer. Didn¡¯t you say that when those two Shoneport University students were found dead, all their organs had been ripped out? ¡°Turns out, Sawyer and his crew have a secret human dissectionb. On the surface, they¡¯ve got all these organ models on disy, but a few of those rooms are actually set up for live dissections. ¡°Briar, you didn¡¯t see it with your own eyes, but I did! I saw people getting their bellies sliced open; there were guts everywhere. It was gruesome!¡± Jan grew increasingly agitated, his anger boiling over. Briar didn¡¯t even have to guess. ¡°So, you blew your cover and jumped in, huh?¡± Briar let out a sigh, stood up, and grabbed her phone as she made her way to the door. She said, ¡°They¡¯re going to try to move thatb quickly. Come on, let¡¯s go stop them.¡± ¡°Okay,¡±n nodded, following her closely. ¡°Briar, are you about to call Ashton?¡± Briar nodded in response and was just about to dial whenn added, ¡°There¡¯s no need to, I already called him. Ashton¡¯s people should have Sawyer and his team cornered in theb by now.¡± Briar gave him a surprised look, then said, ¡°Good job.¡± 10:51 Tue, 19 Aug ? Briar¡¯s mouth twitched in amusement as she asked, ¡°You think calling Ashton out of the blue won¡¯t make him suspicious? ¡°I just told him I happened to find out by chance,¡±n replied, looking taken aback. He added, ¡°Seriously? Is Ashtoh really that sharp? I¡¯m just a nice, somewhat shy regr guy¨Cwhy would he even suspect me?¡± Briar stared at him in silence. ¡®A kind and timid man? And a regr guy, is he being serious?¡® she thought. ¡°Do you even believe that yourself?¡± Briar retorted, not buying it for a second. Just then, Briar¡¯s phone rang. She nced at the screen and saw that it was Ashton who was calling. Both she andn went silent. . Still, she answered the phone, ¡°Ashton?¡± There was a lot of noise on Ashton¡¯s end, and she could hear him ask, ¡°Briar, isn with you?¡± Briar nced atn, who looked like he was about to jump out of his skin. She replied, ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s at my ce. Are you looking for him?¡± ¡°Yeah, pass him the phone. I need to talk to him,¡± Ashton said. ¡°Sure thing.¡± Briar handed the phone ton, a faint, teasing smile tugging at her lips as she caught his terrified gaze. She stated, ¡°He says he wants to talk to you.¡± ¡°Why couldn¡¯t I reach you on your phone? You need to get over to theb right now. The cops want to talk to you,¡± Ashton said. Right now, he didn¡¯t want to see Ashton, the most influential guy in town. ¡°What do you think?¡± Ashton asked, his voice dripping with confidence, as if he understoodn¡¯s fears perfectly. ¡°Just rx ande over. I¡¯ve got your back.¡± Ashton¡¯s following words maden even more anxious. ¡°I¡¯ve already sent Connor to pick you up. He should be there in about ten minutes. Just go wait at the front gate.¡± Ashton hung up, looking satisfied. Briar, who had listened to the whole conversation, pattedn on the shoulder, trying tofort him. She reassured, ¡°Rx. If Ashton says he won¡¯t make things hard for you, he means it. Maybe the police just want to ask you a few questions. Don¡¯t panic over nothing.¡± Briar couldn¡¯t help butugh, ¡°Come on, he¡¯s not that bad. He¡¯s pretty reasonable.¡± A few minutester, Briar came out to join him, and the two of them stood there together. Sure enough, ten minutester, C time. car pulled up right on ¡°Miss Jennings, you¡¯reing too?¡± Connor asked, though he was already out of the car and holding the back door open for her. As forn, Connor just gave him a look that made it clear he was supposed to sit in the front. Tue, 19 Aug Briar slid into the car as she replied, ¡°I heard whatn said, so I figured I¡¯de along and see what¡¯s going on Connor nodded in response, ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll let Ashton know.¡± ¡®Some of the scenes at theb were far too bloody and brutal for Miss Jennings to see, he inwardly reasoned However, Briar didn¡¯t mind. She had tagged along partly because she wanted to see what kind of live experimentbn had gotten hunself mixed up in and partly because¡­ well, she was genuinely worried Ashton might scare fan to death Moonspring Estate wasn¡¯t far from theb, and it was just a fifteen¨Cminute drive. As Briar watched them pass intersection after intersection, she spotted the stretch of police tape marking off theb. Her brows drew together, and a cold shiver ran down her spine. Theb was only three blocks from Shoneport University. It was so close, and yet two innocent girls had lost their lives right here. As soon as they got out of the car, Ashton waved Briar over as he called out, ¡°Briar,e here.¡± Briar nced atn, and now that she was by his side, he suddenly seemed far braver than before. No matter how ruthless Ashton was, there was no way he¡¯dy inton with Briar standing right there. As long as he survived today,n was determined to pretend any old grudges had never existed. ¡°So, what¡¯s the situation?¡± Briar walked over to Ashton as asked, though she kept trying to get a better look at theb, her face full of curiosity. There was quite amotion here, with a crowd of onlookers gathered outside the police tape. Ashton calmly stepped in front of Briar, shielding her from the prying eyes. ¡°It¡¯s pretty serious,¡± he said. ¡°They¡¯ve confirmed the organs came from at least ten different people. The earliest was an unidentified victim from five years ago, and the most recent were the two girls from Shoneport University who were killed this month.¡± Briar¡¯s face darkened as she asked, ¡°These people are absolute monsters. What about Sawyer? Did you find any evidence on him?¡± Ashton paused, watching her closely as he replied, ¡°No. By the time my team arrived, all the surveince footage rted to Sawyer had already been forcibly reced. They¡¯re still checking footprints and fingerprints at the scene, hoping to find any evidence connected to him.¡± Briar let out a sigh, ¡°They¡¯re fast.¡± Ashton nodded in response, ¡°Yeah, these people are highly organized and disciplined, and they¡¯re pros in a lot of ways. If we can¡¯t recover the surveince footage, I¡¯m afraidn¡¯s testimony identifying Sawyer won¡¯t be enough.¡± In his rush to save the victims,n ended up disturbing the scene slightly, which gave theb personnel more time to destroy the evidence. ¡°Where¡¯s Sawyer?¡± Briar asked as she nced at the time. It was Sunday, so the school doctor wouldn¡¯t be on duty. At this hour, checking his alibi shouldn¡¯t be too hard. Ashton watched Briar¡¯s furrowed brow. With so many people around, his hand hovered, itching to reach out and smooth her frown, but he held back. Ashton knew exactly what she was getting at, and he replied, ¡°He¡¯s got a solid alibi.¡± Briar clenched her jaw, probing, ¡°Who¡¯s backing up his alibi?¡± ¡°Emily, Robert, and Jewell,¡± Ashton replied, listing the names without hesitation. Briar looked up in surprise and asked, ¡°Jewell? He hasn¡¯t been kicked out of Shoneport yet?¡± Ashton finally gave in and reached out to smooth the frown from her brow. In a patient voice, he exined, ¡°He can¡¯t disappear just yet. We¡¯ve still got other ns for him.¡± Briar nodded in understanding, ¡°So even if this ce gets busted, this case will probably just end up as another cold case, huh?¡± 10:51 Tue 19 Aug ¡°Don¡¯t worry. One way or another, I¡¯ll make sure they pay the price,¡± Ashton promised Briar. ¡°Ashton, there¡¯s nothing new for now. I¡¯ll take the forensics team back to the station,¡± a member of the criminal investigation unit said as they waled over. Ashton nodded in response, ¡°Alright, get back to your work. If anythinges up, let me know right away.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± they replied. Just then,n shuffled over with an uneasy look as he asked, ¡°Briar, are we heading out?¡± He didn¡¯t want to spend even a single second more around Ashton. However, Ashton wasn¡¯t givingn any chance to slip away this time as he instructed,, ¡°You and Briar,e with me. I¡¯ve got some questions for you? ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head to my ce then,¡± Briar said with a chuckle as she grabbedn and dragged him along. She leaned in and whispered, ¡°Come on, have some confidence and don¡¯t chicken out now.¡± AD Forsaken 171 Chapter 171 Jan shot Briar a look of utter despair as he whined, ¡°I¡¯m not scared! I¡¯m just being smart!¡± He had returned to the country with one main goal: to be a low¨Ckey, attractive individual making a modest ie without drawing attention from the influential figures in Shoneport. If Ashton took notice of him, how could he keep a low profile and quietly build his fortune? As they approached the parked cars, and just asn was about to get into the same one as Briar, someone grabbed him by the back of his cor. It was Connor. ¡°Hey, buddy,e ride with me. I like your vibe,¡± Connor grinned, pullingn along without giving him a chance to refuse. Connor pushed him into the car, and the door mmed shut with a bang that felt like a jolt to his heart. Ian crammed himself into the passenger seat, fastening his seatbelt while sneaking nces at Connor. Trying to sound brave, though his voice was shaky, he said, ¡°Briar and I are tight, like brothers. So don¡¯t even think about messing with me while he¡¯s not around¨CBriar will get you back!¡± Connor, who was steering the car with one hand, didn¡¯t even look atn as he asked, ¡°What was that?¡± Suddenly,n found the sky, the ground, and even the scenery outside the window fascinating and stayed quiet. Connor let out a teasingugh while watchingn act all nervous, ¡°What, are you scared because you¡¯re worried I¡¯ll realize who you are? S?¡± Panic filled him as he thought, ¡®Oh no! Did I just reveal Briar¡¯s secret too?¡® Connor rolled his eyes and questioned, ¡°What do you think? Do you think one phone call from you could persuade Ashton toe to this ce in person? Inside,n was losing it, but tried to keep calm on the outside. He probed, ¡°So if you knew who I was from the start, why did you let me walk into Shoneport?¡± Connor smirked in response, ¡°Take a wild guess. Every year, tons of people sneak into Shoneport for their own reasons. Do you think they just leave quietly on their own?¡± Connor grinned and nodded in response, ¡°Exactly, what a smart guy, you got it.¡± Ashton¡¯s reputation in Shoneport was no joke. There are always shady things happening in the city, and if Ashton weren¡¯t there to pull the strings and keep everyone in check, the police would be overwhelmed. In the other car, Briar watchedn get dragged away, and she pleaded, ¡°Ashton,n doesn¡¯t mean any harm. Don¡¯t scare him.¡± Ashton drove with one hand while holding Briar¡¯s hand with the other, reassuring, ¡°Alright, whatever you say.¡± Briar raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like it from your face.¡± u Wed 20 AUG Ashton sighed and picked up the radio and said, ¡°Connor,n¡¯s one of us. Don¡¯t give him a hard time,¡± Connor¡¯s voice came through immediately, ¡°Got it.¡± Ashton nced at Briar and asked, ¡°Are you happy now?¡± Briar gently fed Ashton a piece of chocte as she replied, ¡°I am happy. He¡¯s just my friend, so stop getting jealous for no reason.¡± After seeing Ashton get jealous over nothing so many times, Briar would have to be a pretty clueless girlfriend not to know exactly why he was scaringn, ¡°I know,¡± Ashton replied coolly. ¡°Otherwise, my people would¡¯ve had him under surveince before he even set foot in Shoneport.¡± In fact, the moment Ashton¡¯s people discoveredn was an overseas mercenary, he was already on their radar. But thanks to Briar, they never actually put him under surveince. What they didn¡¯t expect was that before they could even approachn, he had gone and snitched to Ashton himself. For a mercenary like S, known for his notorious reputation, seeking help from someone else instead of tackling problems alone was unusual. Ashton was skeptical that S had suddenly changed his ways. That¡¯s what maden¡¯s actions concerning to Ashton. Briar took a deep breath and said, ¡°I know who he is. Back in Qathana, I found myself in trouble a few times, and he saved me each time.¡± It was no secret thatn had aplicated past, and Ashton had plenty of reasons to be cautious. But Briar couldn¡¯t let Ashton keep shadowingn; if she did, it could expose her secret identity as Q, the elite instructor at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base. With Sawyer and someone from the Garza family already watching her in Shoneport, she needed to stay under the radar. ¡°Okay, since he saved you, I¡¯ll keep an eye out forn, too,¡± Ashton said, feeling a heavy burden in his chest. Briar¡¯s records from Qathana had been altered, and even Connor, using all his resources on the Dark Web, couldn¡¯t find anything about her time there. Little did Ashton know, Briar had faced danger and been hunted more than once. ¡®What kind of people would go after a sweet, gentle girl like her? And not just once, but several times?¡® he thought, feeling truly baffled. When Briar said ¡°a few times,¡± she was being prett or three times. vague about it. If she didn¡¯t bother to spell it out, it meant she¡¯d been hunted way more than just two Briar was only just eighteen now, which meant she hadnded on someone¡¯s hit list before she was even an adult. Ashton¡¯s eyes were deep and stormy, rage churning inside him, but his face stayed calm. He reassured, ¡°As long as I¡¯m here, I won¡¯t let anyoney a finger on you.¡± He¡¯d said something like this before, but this time, it was the most serious promise he¡¯d ever made. From this moment on, Ashton cared about nothing more than keeping Briar safe¨Cher safety became his top priority. He never pushed Briar to share where she had been or what she experienced in Qathana. He respected her silence, knowing she had her reasons. Now that she was in Shoneport, right in the center of his territory, he was determined to ensure that those who had previously hunted her would never ha the chance to harm her again. Ashton and Briar were the first to step out of the two cars that pulled up in front of Briar¡¯s house. got out. ¡°Briar¡­¡± he began. Briar waved him over andforted, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ashton is a good guy: Remember how you wanted to find a job to help your little sister, who is Chapter 171 struggling? Just talk to him¡ªhe knows a lot of people who might help? Ashton shot Briar a look for trying to set things up forn, but he replied, ¡°No problem. Come by my office tomorrow, and I¡¯ll help you find some good po opportunities.¡± Since Briar had spoken up, Ashton felt he had to show her some respect. This unexpected turn of eventspletely tookn aback. He stared at Ashton with wide eyes and gasped, ¡°Wait, Ashton, are you serious? You¡¯re not just trying to trick me or something, are you?¡± Connor smackedn on the back of the head and said, ¡°You? As if Ashton would waste his time trying to trick someone like you. Get real.¡± Inwardly, he grumbled, ¡®Why wouldn¡¯t I be worth it? I am worth quite a bit of money on the ck market. ¡®Butpared to someone like Ashton, who has billions, maybe I don¡¯t stand a chance! Ìï Forsaken 172 Chapter 172 made his move,n didn¡¯t even consider resisting, he knew it would just lead to a quick defeat. Fortunately, Briar noticedn¡¯s predicament, came over, and pulled him inside, rescuing him from further embarrassment. ¡°Briar, these guys are brutal! I¡¯m a well¨Cknown mercenary, after all. Can¡¯t they show me a little respect?¡±nined quietly, feeling frustrated. He thought, ¡®I may not be able to take them on, but can¡¯t we at least be civil?¡® Briar warned him with a stern look, saying, ¡°If you don¡¯t want Ashton to beat you up, then keep quiet!¡± Even she had to admit thatn was practically asking for trouble, thinking to herself, ¡®Why is he calling them out directly? That takes real guts. The group settled onto some sofas, and becausen knew he was the least important person there, he got up to make tea for everyone. When he reached Ashton, he smiled a bit too eagerly while pouring the tea, knowing when to y it safe. Ashton took a seat and immediately addressed Briar, saying, ¡°So far, aside fromn making usations about Sawyer, we don¡¯t have solid proof that he¡¯s a problem. Starting today, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re protected. What do you think about having Connor protect you?¡± Without hesitation, Briar refused, ¡°Ashton, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s needed. With skills like Sawyer¡¯s¡­¡± She thought about Connor, who led Ashton¡¯s overseas mercenary group, and wondered, ¡®He can¡¯t just stay here to watch over me, right? ¡®Things would get chaotic back where he¡¯s needed. Plus, I can handle Sawyer myself. n had already seen Sawyer in action, and I don¡¯t take him seriously.¡® Briar even nned to see Sawyer for herself during her sses the next day. Spotting Briar¡¯s intent,n quickly raised his hand and said, ¡°Actually, Ashton, I can protect Briar. I¡¯m quite good at this. I¡¯ve already encountered Sawyer. I promise, he won¡¯t daree near while I¡¯m around.¡± Briar yed along, ¡°I agree. Ian has a lot of free time, so it makes sense for him to stick with me.¡± She thought, ¡®This is perfect. We could team up and quietly figure out how to handle Sawyer without anyone noticing. Ashton and Connor exchanged skeptical looks, with Ashton asking, ¡°Are you sure about this?n¡¯s skills are a bit¡­cking.¡± His doubt was obvious, and it was clear he didn¡¯t think much ofn¡¯s ability. Briar couldn¡¯t help butugh and spoke up forn, ¡°He¡¯s actually pretty capable, trust me.¡± ¡°Ashton, have some tea,¡±n said as he quickly poured a cup for him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ashton, I swear I¡¯ll make sure Sawyer doesn¡¯t get anywhere near Briar.¡± Of course, if Briar decided to stir up trouble with Sawyer herself, that was out of his hands. As someone trained by Briar, he knew exactly how their elite instructor operated. Once she set her sights on someone, almost no one made it out unscathed. Now that Sawyer hadnded on Briar¡¯s cklist, his days were pretty much numbered. 11:30 Wed, 20 AUG. DIO Chapter 172 was practically salivating at the thought of watching Sawyer get pummeled by Briar and begging for mercy. Ashton, who always indulged Briar, finally gave a reluctant nod. He said, ¡°Fine, let¡¯s give it a shot. I¡¯ll be at the library whenever I¡¯m free, so if anythinges up, just find me there.¡± Just like that,n hadnded his first side gig from Ashton, and that was to protect Briar. For this role, he would be paid with a starting sry of 17 thousand dors a month. He was over the moon. While this was not as much as what he used to earn overseas, looking after Briar wouldn¡¯t take much effort, and this was practically free money. He¡¯d be a fool to refuse easy money like that. Their conversation soon shifted back to Sawyer and the investigation into the shady vivisectionb tied to him. Although the cops didn¡¯t have hard evidence yet, that didn¡¯t mean Ashton was going to let him get away with it. Anyone whonded on Ashton¡¯s radar was as good as done for. The next day,n strutted into Shoneport University alongside Briar, making sure his presence was impossible to ignore. He even made a point of wandering around the school infirmary, shing a cocky grin at Sawyer before swaggering off, leaving behind a back that was practically begging to be punched. Whatever Sawyer thought,n couldn¡¯t care less¨Cas long as he was having fun, that was all that mattered. All morning,n kept drifting past the infirmary door, and he did that easily a dozen times. Each time, he would poke his head in like he was just curious. He never caused a scene, so the staff had no real reason to ask him to leave. Besides, with Sawyer being the most handsome doctor on campus, there were always girl¡¯s pretending to be sick just to catch a glimpse of him. As such, there was no way they could thrown out just because he was a guy, right? Frank had been keeping an eye onn all morning, and he almost diedughing at the guy¡¯s outrageous antics. As they all left the cafeteria after lunch, they noticedn hurrying off toward the nurse¡¯s office once again. Unable to resist, Frank called out, ¡°Hey, Briar, has this guy always been such a jokester?¡± Givenn¡¯s cheeky grin, it was surprising that Sawyer hadn¡¯t lost his patience yet. If it had been Frank in Sawyer¡¯s shoes, he would have snapped a long time ago. Briar nced atn, who was yfully teasing Sawyer at the infirmary door, and a smile appeared on her face. ¡°Pretty much,¡± she replied. After all, you can¡¯t keep all your secrets safe forever. Now thatn had some crucial information on Sawyer, the only way to work with it in a ce like Dasmieca, where confronting someone directly could backfire, was to push Sawyer into making the first move. Ashton had cautioned Briar repeatedly about taking unnecessary risks, leavingn to rely on this strategy to make Sawyer slip up. Then they would finally have a valid reason to step in. Meanwhile, Frank was starting to appreciaten more and remarked, ¡°This guy¡¯s got such a wild side¡ªhe¡¯s a lot of fun to watch.¡± Briar just smiled silently, thinking, ¡®Let¡¯s see if Frank still finds him funny once he sees how fiercen can be when things get tough.¡°¡® Suddenly, they heard someone call out, ¡°Miss Wade, this way, please.¡± Briar and Frank turned to see Jewell guiding Emily toward the entrance of the science building. 213 Chapter 172 The moment Frank noticed it was Emily, he quickly positioned himself protectively in front of Briar and asked, ¡°What¡¯s she doing here?¡± Briar met Emily¡¯s barely hidden hostility with a cold stare, remembering it was Emily and her group who had backed Sawyer, helping him avoid trouble with thew. 63 W AD Forsaken 173 Chapter 173 Briar noticed that two people who had stood up to be Sawyer¡¯s alibi witnesses had now shown up at Shoneport University. She wasn¡¯t convinced they were there for work, especially since Jewell seemed to be paying a lot of attention to Emily. A cold look crossed Briar¡¯s face as she ignored the annoyed looks from Emily. She quickly took out her phone and messagedn, asking him to check on Sawyer at the school clinic. Just the day before, Briar had testified to provide an alibi for Sawyer, and now these two were seen together. It felt suspicious, and she knew the others would think so too. ) ¡®I¡¯ve been watching him all morning, but he disappears as soon as I go to grab lunch? ¡®If this isn¡¯t intentional, then what is?¡® she thought. Briar narrowed her eyes as she wondered, ¡®He¡¯s not there?¡® She texted back: [Find him] Briar didn¡¯t even nce at Emily, but Emily didn¡¯t take it as a snub. No¨Cshe was sure Briar was putting on airs. As such, she marched up to Frank, ignored the warning in his eyes, and arrogantly addressed Briar, who was hiding behind him. She spat, ¡°Hey, you¡¯re that gold¨Cdigging tramp who¡¯s been clinging to my fourth brothertely, aren¡¯t you?¡± Of course, Emily knew who Briar was and thought, ¡®This woman wasn¡¯t simple. She¡¯d deliberately used the excuse of delivering medicine to Griffin to show her face in front of Ashton, then yed up her so¨Ccalled traditional medicine skills. Sure enough, after a few encounters, she managed to worm her way in.¡® It wasn¡¯t just that she stole Ashton¡¯s attention¨Cshe also ruined Emily¡¯s shot at bing Wyatt¡¯s apprentice. Because of her, Emily, once a top student in modern medicine, was now reduced to a glorified intern in name only. Honestly, Emily resented Ashton even more. If he hadn¡¯t cut off their branch of the family¡¯s connections in the industry, she wouldn¡¯t have had to start from scratch in such a lowly position. But she didn¡¯t dare me him directly, so she took it all out on Briar instead. To Emily, Briar was just some nobody from a third¨Crate wealthy family. Even if she did manage totch onto Ashton, so what? A man as sharp and calcting as Ashton would never take someone like her seriously. She was just a passing fling. ¡°You¡¯d better watch your mouth before you talk to me,¡± Briar said, her tongue pressed against her cheek. She had a temper and wasn¡¯t about to take this lying down. Even if she were holding back for Ashton¡¯s sake, if Emily couldn¡¯t speak properly today, Briar wouldn¡¯t mind teaching her a lesson. ¡°Ha! What are you even supposed to be? Just a pretty face ying the vixen, trying to seduce Ashton?¡± Emily sneered. ¡°Emily!¡± Frank snapped, cutting her off coldly ¡°Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you¨Cif you don¡¯t leave now, Ashton might just show up himself and teach you a lesson.¡± Getting shut down like that, in public and in Ashton¡¯s name, made Emily¡¯s temper explode. She eximed, ¡°Frank, do you even know who you¡¯re talking to? You¡¯re just a mutt from the Wade family¡¯s side branch, living in a doghouse-¡± 31 Wed 20 Aug. DB) Chapter 173 The sound of a sharp p echoed through the room, and everything went dead silent. Briar had moved in a sh- -no one even saw how she slipped out from behind Frank andnded the hit. Frank was stunned, but deep down, he was thrilled. ¡®Serves you right. That¡¯s what you get for running your mouth¨Cfinally put in your ce,¡® Frank thought. Emily staggered back a few steps before managing to steady herself. A bright red handprint stood out starkly on her left cheek, making her look downright pitiful¨Calmostughable. Briar hadn¡¯t even used much force, but the p was far from light; Emily could already taste blood in her mouth. ¡°You¡­ you dare hit me? Do you even know who I am? Frank, hit her back! Hit her back!¡± she shrieked, lunging toward Briar in a rage. Briar easily dodged her, and Emily spun around, screaming at Frank at the top of her lungs. But he didn¡¯t even flinch. In fact, when she reached for Briar again, Frank casually stepped in her way, blocking her path._ If Briar hadn¡¯t pped her first, he would¡¯ve done it himself. He inwardly sneered, ¡®Did she think she could still boss me around like when we were kids? ¡®What a joke. ¡®Does Emily seriously believe their family is still untouchable, and they can keep looking down on everyone? ¡®Ashton has already stripped both extended families of all their power. Without him, they¡¯re nothing now.¡® ¡°Emily,¡± Frank said coolly, watching as Ashton, Hamish, and Marvin strolled over, chatting andughing together. A smug, punch¨Cworthy grin spread across his face. ¡°You¡¯d better apologize to Briar right now¨Cor you won¡¯t be able to handle the consequences.¡± Emily didn¡¯t even notice what was happening behind her. Still fuming, she snapped, ¡°She hit me, and now I¡¯m supposed to apologize to her? Does she really think she deserves that? Someone like her¨CAshton¡¯s just interested because she¡¯s something new. She¡¯ll be tossed aside soon enough¡­ Ah!¡± The next second, Emily let out a shriek as she was sent flying. Yes, that¡¯s right; she really took off. No one could believe that Briar, who had such a petite frame, packed such a punch! And the one she sent flying was the precious heiress of Wade¡¯s extended family. Briar didn¡¯t even hesitate when she threw a punch, and that showed her guts. Briar noticed Ashton and the others walking over, but she didn¡¯t bother to rein herself in. She casually retracted her leg after the kick, even arching her brow in a bold, almost taunting way. As for Emily, she was sent flying, and shended right at Ashton¡¯s feet. Briar couldn¡¯t have aimed it better if she tried. The way Briar kicked her¨Cwith that precision and force¨Cmade it obvious to everyone that it was no ident. No one was buying it for a second. Ashton might not have seen what had just happened, but for Briar to strike someone like that in front of everyone¡­ His expression darkened instantly as he swept his gaze across the crowd and demanded, ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± As soon as Ashton spoke, Emily¡¯s wild, hysterical energy vanished. She was left groaning in pain, not daring to make another sound. While Briar had held back a little with that kick, it was still more than enough to knock the wind out of Emily¡ªshe didn¡¯t even have the strength to throw another tantrum. Jewell and the rest of the group fell silent. No one dared to say a word as they kept their heads down, pretending they hadn¡¯t heard anything. 31 Wed 20 A00 Chapter 173 Aud Just from Ashton¡¯s voice, you could tell he was barely holding back his anger. No one was dumb enough to step up and get themselves in trouble Ashton looked downright grim, and nobody dared to step up at a time like this. In the end, Frank was the one who spilled the whole story. He rezpusted the incident without sugarcoating. But even without any exaggeration, it was enough to make Hamish and Marvin, who had just walked up, frown in unison. Hamish even gave Emily, who was still sprawled on the ground, a sarcastic thumbs¨Cup and teased, ¡°Emily, you¡¯re a real daredevil, huh!¡± At this point, everyone in Shoneport¡¯s high society knew that Briar was Ashton¡¯s girlfriend. Hammish pondered, ¡®The mighty CEO of the Wade Group took a job as a librarian at Shoneport University for Briar. If that doesn¡¯t prove how much she means to Ashton, nothing will. ¡®And yet, there were still people dumb enough to go looking for trouble with her.¡± But when Hamish realized it was Emily who was dumb enough to walk right into the line of fire, he thought, ¡®Well, figures. ¡®This woman really doesn¡¯t have a brain.¡® AD Comment Forsaken 174 Chapter 174 Emily red at Hamish¡¯s thumbs¨Cup, her eyes burning with resentment as she thought bitterly, ¡®How is that supposed to be a ? ¡®He¡¯s mocking me. ¡®He¡¯s rubbing it in that even though I¡¯m the precious daughter of the Wade family. Even I still can¡¯tpare to Briar, whoes from some third¨Crate family, in Ashton¡¯s heart.¡¯ But Emily didn¡¯t dare talk back to Hamish. He was the eldest son of the Parkinson family in Shoneport, the future head of the family, and she simply didn¡¯t have the nerve to offend someone like him. Hamish didn¡¯t even bother to take notice of her. To him, she was just the daughter of the extended Wade family, and she was not worth his attention. Then again, it made sense. In Ashton¡¯s eyes, the second branch of the Wade family had long since lost its former standing Otherwise, she and her sister wouldn¡¯t have to work so hard in secret to expand theirwork. ¡°Emily,¡± Ashton called out. His patience was clearly running out as he watched her re resentfully at Briar in silence. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and carried a clear warning. Emily looked up and met Ashton¡¯s deep, dark eyes. There was something dangerous and heavy in his gaze that made her shrink back. Swallowing her fear, she muttered, ¡°Briar, I¡¯m sorry.¡± She sounded like she¡¯d rather be anywhere else than apologizing. Emily had been pped and kicked by Briar in front of everyone, and now Ashton showed up; he did not defend his own family, but forced her to apologize to Briar. The humiliation was almost too much to bear. ¡®Fine,¡® Emily seethed inwardly. ¡®The more you all try to shield Briar, the more determined I am to drag her down and grind her into the dirt.¡® Briar met Emily¡¯s re head¨Con, catching every bit of her anger and hatred. With a smirk that didn¡¯t reach her eyes, she said, ¡°No worries. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m the one who got hurt anyway.¡± Emily¡¯s face twisted with rage, and in her mind, she was cursing up a storm. But Ashton was watching her, and all she could do was grit her teeth and keep her mouth shut. Ashton finally stepped around Emily and walked straight up to Briar. ¡°Are your people looking for Sawyer?¡± he asked, making no effort to lower his voice. He didn¡¯t bother to keep it private, and everyone present heard him loud and clear. Frank and Mason showed zero reaction, but Emily and Jewell shot each other a quick, secret nce, surprise flickering in their eyes. ¡®Sawyer just left Shoneport University, and Ashton already knows about it? ¡®Did Ashton already have people tailing Sawyer? ¡®But didn¡¯t Sawyer mention that the ones watching him at school weren¡¯t working for Ashton?¡® Emily thought, her confusion only growing. ¡°Yeah,n went to the school infirmary earlier, but he didn¡¯t see him there,¡± Briar replied. Briar nced meaningfully at Emily, catching the way her eyes darted around before she tried and failed to lookposed. With a mocking tone, she said, ¡°Why are people like him vanishing all of a sudden? That never sits right with me. We really should track him down fast, and who knows, maybe he¡¯ll get caught at another crime scene, and then some friend will jump out to cover for him again.¡± Ashton nodded, fully cooperating with Briar¡¯s act as he replied, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s concerning. My men are already tailing him. I¡¯ll take you to cut him off!¡± 14:31 Wed 20 A00 HUO Chapter 174 As Ashton spoke, his mood seemed to brighten. He reached out and ced his hand on Briar¡¯s shoulder, guiding her forward. The slight upward carry the corner of his eyes canied a hint of coldness and something almost soul¨Cpiercing. Emily couldn¡¯t tell if it was just her imagination, but as he spoke felt like he cast a fleeting, ambiguous nce in her direction. ¡®Could it be that Ashton found out about that Jewell and I had secretly met with Sawyer at noon to help him sneak off campus?¡® Emily wondered her heart pounding. ¡°Your people have been following him around this whole time?¡± Briar asked as she blinked in surprise. Before she even realized it, her body was already moving, and her feet automatically trailed after Ashton. Marvin watched as the two walked off, chatting andughing, with Hamish tagging along behind, clearly just there for the drama. He couldn¡¯t help but grumble inwardly, ¡®With Ashton and Hamish both on the case, as long as Sawyer keeps his nose clean, he¡¯ll be fine. ¡®But if he¡¯s really up to something shady behind everyone¡¯s back, then it won¡¯t matter who tries to cover for him this time. He¡¯s done for As Marvin was grumbling to himself, he turned around and found Frank and his crew all staring at him. Their stares gave him the creeps, so he shot Frank a sharp look and asked, ¡°What are you all still doing here? Why aren¡¯t you back in theb? Are your experiments done? Got too much free time or something?¡± Frank rounded up Mason and the rest, and they all bolted out of there in a ¡®My goodness, the principal¡¯s kicking us out! There¡¯s no way we¡¯re sticking around to be eyesores,¡¯ the group collectively thought. That just left Emily, who looked very pale, almost like a ghost, and Jewell, who seemed so ufortable that he nearly looked like he was trying to melt into the background. ¡°Emily, what brings you to theb building today? The professors in charge of thebs are all out this afternoon,¡± Marvin said. His meaning couldn¡¯t have been clearer. He was basically telling them that with no professors around, they weren¡¯t allowed in, and that was his not¨Cso- subtle way of kicking them out. As for Jewell, even if he barely managed to keep his title as a professor, he no longer had any real standing at Shoneport University. Ever since Ashton and the others showed up, Jewell had been wishing he could just dig a hole and disappear. Thest thing he wanted was to get on Ashton¡¯s radar again. Thest time he got into trouble, he had to pull almost every string the Morphew family had just to keep his title as a professor at Shoneport University. Of course, Sawyer had also helped him a lot behind the scenes. As such, he had agreed to help Sawyer when he was in trouble. Emily wasn¡¯t stupid, and she could tell Marvin was trying to get rid of them. She nced at Jewell, who was doing everything he could to avoid Marvin¡¯s gaze, and couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of contempt for how spineless he looked. However, she put on a polite front and replied, ¡°Mr. Goodwin, I was just passing by. I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± Marvin nodded in response, ¡°Well, since you¡¯re leaving, I won¡¯t invite you to my office for tea. Go on, get busy.¡± Then, without giving Emily or Jewell a chance toe up with any other excuse to stay, he stood there with his hands sped behind his back, smiling pleasantly, making it clear he wouldn¡¯t budge until he saw them leave with his own eyes. Emily had no choice but to turn and leave, and Jewell quickly hurried after her. As he watched the two of them walk away, Marvin snorted coldly through his nose before strolling off at a leisurely pace with his hands sped behind his back. Once the area in front of theb building was empty, Robert, who had been hiding in the corner, finally stepped out. He hadn¡¯t meant to eavesdrop, but he was just here to find his brother. However, he just happened to catch Emily trying to mess with Briar, and like he¡¯d ever pass up that kind of drama. wed, zu AUT ¡®So Emily¡¯s supposed to be from the Wade family, huh? And she got totally defeated by Briar with just a p and a kick! Talk about humiliatan thought. Just then, Ashton showed up, and Robert didn¡¯t dare show his face. The whole thing about him testifying for Sawyer wasn¡¯t exactly on the level, andh dr. only done it because Beatrice put him up to it. There was no way he was going to risk running into Ashton now, Luckily, what he said on the stand wasn¡¯t technically a lie, or else he¡¯d be in for it. Ashton wouldn¡¯t even have to do anything, his brother would¡¯ve dealt with him first. ¡°Robert, were you looking for me?¡± Richard¡¯s voice suddenly came from behind him, making him jumpi Robert turned around and gave Richard a sheepish grin in response, ¡°Uh, yeah, Richard¡­¡± ¡°You little brat, I saw someone sneaking around here earlier and just knew it had to be you hiding out,¡± Richard said, shaking his head at his hopeless little brother. ¡®Seriously, how does he end up dragged into a murder case and even have the guts to give false testimony? If I hadn¡¯t stepped in yesterday and thrown out the evidence to clear his name, the cops would¡¯ve hauled him off for sure,¡® he thought. ¡°Hey, Richard, I need to talk to you about something,¡± Robert said. Richard had a pretty good idea what this was about. He nodded in response, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s talk inside.¡± Forsaken 175 Chapter 175 Robert followed Richard into theb building, but instead of heading to the small office, they detoured to the break room, which was empty at the moment. The brothers hurried past the small office, afraid of being seen by others. However, they were still spotted by Frank. Frank nced out the window and noticed Robert closely following Richard. A sharp look crossed his face, but he kept his emotions hidden. When Ashton and Connor weren¡¯t around, Frank always made sure to appear serious andposed. He only let his yful and silly side show to those he trusted. Noticing Frank¡¯s intense focus, Manson leaned over to ask, ¡°Hey, Prince Frankie, what are you looking at?¡± But Ted, who was sitting nearby, quickly pulled Mason back and gave him a stern look before stating, ¡°Can¡¯t you just stay quiet for once?¡± Mason fell silent. Ted shot Mason a subtle re, and Mason instantly behaved himself. ¡®Seriously, does this guy need to act tough with me every single day or what?¡® Mason grumbled to himself. Frank looked away for a moment, a smile creeping onto his face as he saw Mason looking all sad. He quickly jumped back into their earlier chat and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. So, what were we talking about?¡± Charle chuckled and replied, ¡°We were just saying that since we don¡¯t have ss tonight, we should go grab dinner together¡­¡± Mason¡¯s eyes lit up, and he excitedly said, ¡°Since there are a lot of us, how about barbecue? I heard there¡¯s a new outdoor BBQ ce by the moat, and both the food and the atmosphere are great.¡± Everyone turned to Frank, who usually didn¡¯t mind what they ate. He simply nodded and said, ¡°That sounds good to me. If everyone¡¯s okay with it, let¡¯s go to that barbecue ce.¡± ce.¡± Music, cold drinks, and grilled food¨Ceveryone knew those outdoor spots weren¡¯t exactly the cleanest ces, but honestly, they were just right for a group of fun¨Cloving college guys. They all looked to Frank, who typically didn¡¯t care much about what they ate. He simply nodded and said, ¡°Sure, that sounds good to me. If everyone¡¯s on board, let¡¯s head to that barbecue joint.¡± Karl quickly raised his hand and eximed, ¡°I¡¯ve got it! I just went there with a cute girl from the first¨Cyear ss yesterday¡­¡± The office erupted with yful teasing andughter, making Robert, who was being scolded on the other side, feel even more isted. ¡°I¡¯ve already taken care of your mess, Robert. Let me be clear. This better be the only time you do something like this,¡± Richard said, his voice tense with frustration. He suspected Robert was here because of Beatrice, but hearing his brother¡¯s request only made him angrier. Robert didn¡¯t even dare look up¨Chis brother¡¯s re was that intense. Honestly, if he weren¡¯t Richard¡¯s flesh and blood, he probably would¡¯ve been pinned to the floor and beaten by now. ¡°Got it,¡± he mumbled, nodding. Richard shot back, clearly annoyed, ¡°Louder. can¡¯t hear you.¡± ¡°Got it! This is thest time I¡¯ll ever be a simp, I swear! Never again!¡± Robert promised, raising his voice and sounding dead serious. Richard snorted, ¡°You better be.¡± Chapter 175 Simp all you want and end up with nothing. If that doesn¡¯t describe my dumb little brother, I don¡¯t know what does, Richard thought with a sh Anyone could see Beatrice had zero intention of actually dating Robert¨Cshe was just keeping him dangling for her amusement. ¡®She wanted to have her cake and eat it too, refusing to let go of what she already had while still stringing Robert along ¡®But Robert¨Cwho knew what kind of spell Beatrice had cast on him¨Cis utterly smitten. Head over heels, obsessed, and blind to everything else ¡®And now, it was even more ridiculous. Beatrice had a fight with her fianc¨¦, went out to clear her head, got into trouble, and instead of turning to her fianc¨¦, she ran straight to Robert for help. And this idiot didn¡¯t even stop to think whether Ashton might be pissed, and he just said yes on the spot. ¡®He even went so far as to y the fool, giving false testimony on her behalf. If he hadn¡¯t at least had the sense to call me, his unlucky big brother, and give me a heads¨Cup, instead of trying to take the fall all by himself, the Davis family would¡¯ve had to go to the police station to get him out. ¡®By then, it wouldn¡¯t be me cleaning up after my dumb little brother¨Cit¡¯d be our hot¨Ctempered dad giving him a beating. ¡®Did they think that someone as cunning as Ashton would just call it quits because a few of them gave Sawyer an alibi? There was no way things would be over that easily. ¡®This time, the whole mess involved Briar, and it was obvious Ashton was just setting up a bigger y as he was fishing for something much bigger down the line. ¡®Didn¡¯t he notice how Briar pped Emily right in front of everyone earlier? Ashton didn¡¯t just turn a blind eye¨Che sided with Briar and even forced Emily to apologize to her¡­ ¡®These people must be blind if they can¡¯t see something this obvious. ¡®For a guy like Ashton, who always kept his distance from women, if he ever actually met someone he truly liked, he¡¯d spoil her rotten and shield her so fiercely that nobody would ever get a chance toy a finger on her. ¡®And that campus doctor at Shoneport University¨Cno matter what kind of connections he had, could he outmatch Ashton? ¡®Just watch. It won¡¯t be long before someone else takes over as the university doctor, and that guy ¡®It¡¯ll be as if he never even existed at Shoneport University.¡® will vanish without a sound. Briar was sitting in Ashton¡¯s car, with Hamish trailing behind in the backseat like a loyal puppy. The three of them were the city. speeding toward the outskirts of Ashton was driving, ncing at the navigation map and zooming in on the route. Even without him saying a word, Briar and Hamish in the backseat could see it for themselves. Hamish let out a snort, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me this guy¡¯s heading for that private race track out in the suburbs?¡± Just then, Connor chimed in over the phone, ¡°Hamish, you nailed it. I think Sawyer¡¯s making a beeline for the race track.¡± Even though Connor didn¡¯te back to Shoneport much, he still knew the city¡¯s roads like the back of his hand. And there was no do they were on was headed straight for that private race track. hat the route. Briar quickly pulled up the schedule for the private race track out in the suburbs. When she spotted two big races lined up for today, she arched a brow and said, ¡°A private race track? Is Sawyer really going there to race?¡± the only thing he sucks at is being a doctor, as he seems to dabble in everything else!¡± Chapter 175 Hamish snickered. ¡°Well, talk about perfect timing. The guy¡¯s serving himself up on a silver tter? Briar turned around and gasped in surprise, ¡°Hamish, that race track is your turf?¡± Hamish nodded in response, ¡°Yeah, I set up the ce just for kicks, and now it¡¯s the go¨Cto spot for all the gearheads in Shoreport,¡± ¡°Hey, Briar, don¡¯t you love riding motorcycles too? Do you want to get out there and have some fun? There¡¯s a race starting in an hour and a half Hamish teased, trying to tempt her. B¨²t before Hamish could keep egging her on, Ashton cut him off, stating, ¡°No. It¡¯s too dangerous.¡± Hamish clicked his tongue in protest, ¡°Don¡¯t baby her so much! Can¡¯t you see her eyes are practically sparkling right now?¡± Ashton turned his head, and sure enough, he saw Briar looking at him, her eyes shining with excitement¡­ AD Forsaken 176 Chapter 176 Chapter 176 Ashton¡¯s usual coldness never extended to Briar. Seeing her so eager, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh in resignation, ¡°You want to try it?¡± Briar nodded eagerly in response, ¡°Yeah, I can handle a car pretty well.¡± Hamish burst outughing, ¡°Ashton, just let Briar have a go. I¡¯ll have people watching the tricky corners, and nothing¡¯s going to happen With no other choice, Ashton agreed but still warned Briar with a concerned look, ¡°It¡¯s about having fun, not winning, alright?¡± Briar gave him an ¡°OK¡± sign, pretending to understand, but when Ashton wasn¡¯t looking, she exchanged a sly grin with Hamish. At the racetrack, they entered through an internalne, so the people Sawyer had stationed outside never spotted any suspicious vehicles and reported, ¡°Sawyer, Ashton¡¯s men aren¡¯t following us.¡± Sawyer was already in the pre¨Crace area when he got the call, a mocking look shing across his face. He thought, ¡®So much for being the top dog of Shoneport. It turns out he¡¯s just getting yed by me again and again. In his opinion, Ben and the others were just being paranoid. The Wade family, one of the four great families, was nothing special, and he believed that they were just overhyped. ¡°You guys can pull back. There is no need to keep watch anymore,¡± Sawyer ordered. ¡°Copy that, Sawyer,¡± came the reply on the other end. Just then, the racetrack manager walked in with a woman in a ck racing suit that hugged her curves. Her helmet visor was down, hiding her face, but from the way the manager called over a few people and firmly instructed them to protect thisdy, it was apparent she was someone important. After giving his orders, the manager turned to Briar with a polite, respectful smile, ¡°The boss said you can personally pick any car you like from his garage. Shall I take you there?¡± Briar nodded in response. ncing through her visor, she noticed Sawyer, who was also curiously watching their way. A smile with a hint of devilishness tugged at her lips. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s go,¡± she said. The manager quickly led his people away with her. From a distance, Sawyer didn¡¯t realize this was Briar. He put on his helmet, swung a leg over his bike, and got ready to hit the track. Briar walked into Hamish¡¯s garage with the manager, already knowing that Hamish was a big motorcycle fan. She expected to see some impressive rides, but she was still amazed by what she saw. The garage was filled with shiny, brand¨Cnew motorcycles that looked incredible. Each one of these impressive bikes from Hamish¡¯s collection could easily be worth millions! ¡°Please, feel free to pick whichever one you like,¡± the manager said, waiting respectfully at her side. Briar was quick to make her choice. She looked around at all the motorcycles and finally picked a stunning red bike¨Cone that was so special, there was only one like it in the whole world. The manager was still in disbelief when Briar started the engine and drove straight to the race area. He never expected her to have such an excellent eye for bikes; she had picked out Hamish¡¯s absolute favorite. The manager quickly called Hamish to share the surprising news. Hamish was already sitting in the VIP area with Ashton, and for a moment, he looked taken aback. Then he shrugged and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Let her enjoy herself.¡± It stung a little, but he wasn¡¯t about to get stingy over a bike. Noticing this, Ashton couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°What? Can¡¯t bear to let it go? Are you feeling a sense of loss?¡± ¡°No way! Do I look like that kind of cheapskate?¡± Hamish shot back, giving Ashton a light punch on the shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s just a limited¨Cedition bike, alright? Chapter 176 I¡¯ll just treat it as a present for Briar.¡± Ashton and Brat already on the track, concern creeping into his voice. ¡°Do you think Briar will stick to the rules?¡± Hamish leaned back on the sofa, trying to get a better view. The moment he spotted Briar, bold and confident on the bright red bike, he shook his head as he said, ¡°With that look in her eyes? No way.¡± Ashton sighed, a bit defeated. ¡°Yeah, I thought so.¡± He then took out his phone and called a number. ¡°Brandon, where are y Connor right now?¡± Hamish was surprised and asked, ¡°Seriously? Are you considering sending both of them out there?¡± Ashton replied, ¡°Good. Keep a close eye on her. Don¡¯t let her get hurt.¡± After hanging up, Ashton finally cracked a smile, ¡°I can¡¯t exactly let your worldwide limited¨Cedition bike get wrecked the moment it hits the track, car 12 Hamish rolled his eyes in response, ¡°Oh,e on. Don¡¯t try to make it sound so noble. Briar.¡± ¡®re just worried Sawyer will figure out the racer next to him is No one¡¯s buying Ashton¡¯s words. Ashton didn¡¯t deny it, and he replied, ¡°Alright, you got me. We might not care much about Sawyer, but for Briar, he¡¯s dangerous.¡± Hamish looked at Ashton as if he couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing. He said, ¡°Ashton, sometimes I wonder if all your clever ns and tricks are just for show. How can you think that girl you like is an easy target?¡± Just over an hour ago, they had all witnessed Briar send Emily sprawling with a single kick right outside the Shoneport Universityb building. That wasn¡¯t something just any girl could do. Ashton, however, waspletely serious when he replied, ¡°Of course she is. She¡¯s just a slim eighteen¨Cyear¨Cold girl, and with a dad like Edgar, who doesn¡¯t care about her, any powerful family in Shoneport could easily take advantage of her.¡± Hamish was left speechless, thinking, ¡®Honestly, love doesn¡¯t just make you ignore things¡ªit makes you lose your mind too. ¡®I never thought I¡¯d see the day Ashton would talk such nonsense and unfair nonsense like this.¡® Meanwhile, out on the track, as soon as the female biker arrived, the crowd erupted¨Ccheers and whistles filled the air. The whole ce was alive with excitement, and the race was about to start any moment now. Ashton, who was standing right next to Hamish, couldn¡¯t help but walk over to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window as the starting gun went off. His eyes were glued to the red bike speeding away, so focused that he didn¡¯t even notice the cigarette slipping from his fingers. Hamish shook his head, thinking, ¡®Love really is something else.¡® Hamish quickly started to sense that something was off with Ashton. The warmth in Ashton¡¯s eyes shifted to a cold, intense focus. Concerned, Hamish asked, ¡°Ashton, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Without answering, Ashton grabbed the remote control and yed back a clip of a dramatic moment from the race. He paused the screen at a key moment and asked, ¡°Does this look familiar to you?¡± All around them,rge screens in the VIP viewing boxes not only showed the live race but also allowed viewers to watch reys of the e Being a huge racing fan, Hamish usually picked up on old racing tricks much faster than Ashton did. Suddenly, it clicked for him what Ashton was pointing out. With his rxed demeanor gone, Hamish stared at the frozen image in disbelief. He gasped, ¡°Wait¡­ that¡¯s the signature move of Speed Queen Bree right?¡± ¡®No way!¡® He thought in disbelief. In his mind, Briar was just a fun¨Cloving, carefree girl, while Speed Queen Bree was a legendary figure with an unbeatable record. How could they possibly be the same person? AD Forsaken 177 Chapter 177 ¡°Wait¡­ Ashton, are we seeing things?¡± Hamish asked as he rubbed his eyes hard, struggling to believe what he was witnessing. Ashton¡¯s lips, which had been tightly pressed together, finally rxed into a relieved smile after a long moment of double checking. ¡°Now it all makes sense,¡± he said. Thinking back, Ashton remembered the sparkle in Briar¡¯s eyes when she heard about the racingpetition in the car. That wasn¡¯t curiosity or excitement; she was already plotting how to deal with Sawyer. Only that mysterious Speed Queen Bree could make Sawyer suffer a silent defeat on the track. Hamish, who was deep in thought, quickly caught on as well. He switched the screen back to the live broadcast. Hemented, ¡°Ashton, if little Briar is that legendary, never¨Cseen Speed Queen Bree, then Sawyer is seriously in for it.¡± If one listened closely, they could hear the obvious glee in his voice¨Che was enjoying Sawyer¡¯s misfortune. Hamish took it all in stride. Now that he knew Briar was Speed Queen Bree, all he could feel for Sawyer was pity. ¡®Poor guy. Of all the people you could¡¯ve messed with, you chose Ashton. Now you¡¯re being watched around the clock, and would probably have to sleep with one eye open just to stay safe. ¡®And on top of that, you went and provoked Briar¨Cthe mysterious Speed Queen Bree. At this point, who knows if you¡¯ll even make it off the track in one piece,¡® Hamish thought. Ashton calmly sank back into the couch, all his earlier worry and tension gone. He even forced out a not¨Cso¨Csincere chuckle, ¡°Yeah, good luck to him.¡± Seriously, Sawyer was going to need that. Both he and Hamish could tell that Briar was gunning straight for Sawyer, and there was no way she¡¯d let him walk off that track without a scratch. Briar had no idea that, thanks to this race, Ashton had peeled back yet anotheryer of her disguise. She wasser¨Cfocused on crushing Sawyer at every single turn, and her relentless pressure waspletely wrecking his confidence and mood. Sawyer gritted his teeth and muttered, ¡°Damn it, is this woman nuts or what?¡± He thought, ¡®Who the hell was she, anyway? She drives like a pro, but why was sheing after me so hard? ¡®Did I somehow piss off the owner of this racetrack? Was this their way of getting back at me? Did they send a professional racer just to mess with me?¡® No matter how much he racked his brains, Sawyer just couldn¡¯t figure out when he¡¯d ever offended the track owner. ¡®Was there some kind of misunderstanding?¡® he wondered. While Sawyer was still racking his brain, the two bikes had already reached the final corner, and Briar¡¯s bike was still firmly in the lead, leaving Sawyer trailing helplessly behind. By now, all those wild stunts from the red bike had left Sawyer with a full¨Con mental block. The moment he saw the turn, he instinctively eased off the throttle. It was thest corner anyway, and he didn¡¯t even want to try passing her anymore, and he just let her go first, ying it safe. He¡¯d given up on winning at this point and might as well just be the side character and finish the race in one piece. That was way better than getting targeted and ending up as roadkill. However, the red bike just wouldn¡¯t give him any room to back off. Every time he slowed down, she slowed too, sticking to him like glue and forcing him closer and closer to the cliff¡¯s edge. Sawyer¡¯s eyes went ice¨Ccold. He mmed the throttle and snarled, ¡°Go to hell!¡± He was ready to go down in mes together if that¡¯s what it took. ?? 1 ¡®If you¡¯re gonna push me this tar, then we¡¯ll both die here, Sawyer thought viciously. Sawyer was ruthless, and he waited for the red bike to force him again, nning to use thest sharp turn to drag that woman right off the cliff with him. The bikes were practically side by side. If he was going over, he was damn sure she wasing with him. But just as Sawyer was about to make his move, it was like the woman on the red bike had already read his mind, and she struck first, not giving him a chance to act. B¨®th bikes slowed down simultaneously, riding side by side. Then, out of nowhere, the woman on the red bike shot out a kick,nding it squarely on Sawyer¡¯s waist. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Sawyer grunted in pain, feeling like his waist was about to snap in two. His body lurched, and his bike started veering dangerously toward the edge of the cliff. At the veryst moment, he bit back the pain and used every ounce of strength he had to yank the bike back, barely stopping himself from flying off the edge. By the time he looked up, that damn woman on the red bike was already into the distance. ¡®Damn it, what a show¨Coff!¡® Sawyer fumed. ne, leaving him nothing but a view of her cocky, infuriating tail as she sped off This stretch of road was the final winding section of the mountain track. To keep things suspenseful, no cameras were set up here. So even if Sawyer tried toin to the track officials afterward, they¡¯d just y dumb and deny everything. He¡¯d just have to swallow the loss and chalk it up to bad luck. There weren¡¯t any fixed cameras for the race. Still, there would usually be drone footage, especially for such a big event featuring the legendary racer Speed Queen Bree, who made a surprise appearance. Usually, Hamish would have a whole fleet of drones capturing every moment of the action. Just think about how amazing those highlight reels would have been! However, since Briar wanted to teach Sawyer a lesson, Hamish decided it was best to keep the drones away so as not to spoil her n. Even before they reached the final bend in the race, he made sure all the drones were called off. Hamish could tell that Briar had been holding onto a lot of frustration ever since that incident at theb, and he didn¡¯t want to ruin her moment. When Briar crossed the finish line first and the crowd erupted with cheers, Sawyer was nowhere to be seen. Hamish noticed Briar in the winner¡¯s circle, surrounded by excited fans. She raised an eyebrow and nudged her friend,menting, ¡°Hey, Ashton, do you think Sawyer¡­ might have been beaten by Briar?¡± idents are just part of racing¨Cnobody would bat an eye. Even if the cops came poking around, they¡¯d never be able to prove a thing. Back when Briar was just Briar, Hamish would never have imagined she could be that ruthless. He thought, ¡®How dangerous could a young girl really be?¡® Even just a few minutes ago, before he realized her true identity, when he saw Briar going after Sawyer on the track, he never thought she could be a threat¨Che just figured she was blowing off some steam. But now that he knew that Briar was the mysterious Speed Queen Bree! With Speed Queen Bree¡¯s insane skills and undefeated record, she was the undisputed queen of the circuit. If she wanted to make a racer vanish from the track without anyone even noticing, that¡¯d be a piece of cake for her. Ashton shook his head, his tone firm as he answered, ¡°She wouldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Why not? You saw how the race went. Briar could have pushed harder against Sawyer way before they reached the final bend, but she decided to hold back until the very end. In a way, that shows she was being kind¨Cshe didn¡¯t go all out against him,¡± Hamish said, mixing humor with seriousness, In thispetition, Briar and Sawyer stood out as the main rivals. Their intense battle had the crowd lively and cheering with excitement. It is evident that the championship was a close race between the two of them, and everyone believed Briar was going to win. *11:31 Wed 20 Aug MUIG Hammish, however, remained unconvinced that Briar would let Sawyer pass the finish line. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t do that. No matter how wild her driving might be, she¡¯s still just a girl who can¡¯t tolerate bad guys. Don¡¯t paint her as some kind of monster,¡± Ashton stated. Hamish was left speechless. AD Forsaken 178 Chapter 178 Ashton had barely finished speaking when a loud explosion was heard. A blinding fireball, towering over three meters high, erupted suddenly at a sharp turn in the race track. The crowd, caught up in their cheers, was instantly shocked by the loud explosion. Panic spread as people rushed to find safety. ¡°What just happened? Where did that explosione from?¡± someone yelled in confusion. Another person asked, ¡°How could it blow up? Did something go wrong with one of the bikes?¡± Some of the security staff acted quickly, rushing towards the site of the st. They set up a safety barrier to prevent the situation from getting worse. It was only at that moment that someone realized¨Cthe racer who had been closely tailing the leader hadn¡¯t returned yet. ¡®Please tell me that explosion wasn¡¯t him¡­¡® people worried anxiously. In the VIP suite, Ashton watched in shock as an explosion lit up the scene. An uneasy feeling settled in his stomach just as his phone rang. It was Connor calling. Ashton answered with a serious tone as he asked, ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Connor sounded hesitant as he reported, ¡°Ashton, there¡¯s been an incident. Sawyer¡¯s bike unexpectedlybusted and broke into mes, and now we can¡¯t find him.¡± Ashton frowned, trying to wrap his mind around the situation as he thought, ¡®Are you serious? How could a bike just catch fire out of nowhere? ¡®The professional team checks every bike thoroughly before the race. That doesn¡¯t make any sense!¡® Ashton¡¯s eyes were drawn to Briar, who was confidently strolling out from the crowd with her hands behind her back,pletely calm and showing no signs of worry. It was almost as if she could sense Ashton watching her; she looked up, and their eyes met through therge window of the VIP suite. Despite the distance separating the suite from the event below, their connection felt intense. Ashton could feel the pride and self¨Csatisfaction radiating from Briar¡¯s gaze. It seemed like this situation had her fingerprints all over it. Ashton suspected that Briar might also have been involved in Sawyer¡¯s disappearance. Hamish also noticed Briar and hurried to the window, waving excitedly for her toe up. Briar responded with an ¡°OK¡± sign and, with the help of a staff member, made her way to the suite quickly. As soon as Briar walked in, Hamish grinned and teased, ¡°Hey, Briar, be honest now, did you kill Sawyer?¡± His team was already at the scene, and from the video they sent back, the bike went up in mes extremely quickly and burned outpletely. If Sawyer hadn¡¯t jumped out in time, there was a good chance he¡¯d be burned alive. But there was no body at the scene, which meant Sawyer got away in time. However, Hamish¡¯s team couldn¡¯t find him anywhere, and they guessed he might have fallen off the cliff or something simr. Hamish couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Briar got pissed and crashed into Sawyer, killing him. Briar shed an innocent, wide¨Ceyed smile, and she replied, ¡°Hamish, what are you even saying? I¡¯m just a kid! How could I possibly kill anyone?¡± As she spoke, she even put on a fake scared face, acting as if she were saying, ¡°Oh no, I¡¯m so terrified.¡± Hamish was at a loss for words. Ashton walked over and cut Hamish off before he could keep pressing her. ¡°Alright, if Briar says she didn¡¯t do it, then she didn¡¯t, he stated. Hamish fell silent once more as he thought, ¡®You two really are a family through and through. ¡®Lying with a straight face justes naturally to both of you.. ¡°Mr. Parkinson, Sawyer got away,¡± the track manager said as he rushed into the room. After greeting Ashton and Briar, he turned to Hamish and reported ¡°From the tracks at the scene, it looks like he ran off toward the cliff. Should I send someone to go after him?¡± Sawyer was a regr at the tracks, and his racing skills were nothing to scoff at. He had racked up some impressive wins in a few high¨Cstakes races in the past and had made quite a name for himself around here. A lot of people had bet on him to win today¡¯s race, but no one expected Briar toe out of nowhere and snatch the victory. No matter how good Sawyer had been before, now that Hamish wanted him, it didn¡¯t matter where he ran¨Cthey would make sure to bring him back. Hamish waved it off, saying, ¡°No need to bother. Ashton¡¯s guys are probably already on his tail. Just make sure the mess gets cleaned up.¡± Sawyer must¡¯ve sensed someone was watching him, because he took off toward the cliff without looking back. But you can run¨Cyou can¡¯t hide. If Sawyer still wanted to return to Shoneport University as the campus doctor, it was only a matter of time before they tracked him down. Hamish and the manager didn¡¯t bother keeping their conversation private from Briar. So when Ashton gave her a half¨Csmile, Briar casually looked away, pretending she had no idea what was going on. Honestly, she hadn¡¯t nned to hide what she did to Sawyer from Ashton and Hamish. This was Hamish¡¯s turf after all, and if she tried to keep it under wraps, they¡¯d figure it out sooner orter. However, there was a difference between them discovering it on their own and her admitting it. As such, if anyone asked, she¡¯d just sh a smile in denial, ¡°Oh, I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about!¡± After the manager left, Hamish looked at Briar with aplicated expression. He sighed, ¡°Briar, you don¡¯t treat us like friends, huh? Neither Ashton nor I ever would¡¯ve guessed that you were the legendary racer, Speed Queen Bree¨Cthe one who created an unbeatable myth on the international stage. You sure kept this hidden deep!¡± Briar smiled in response, ¡°I wasn¡¯t hiding anything! I just never mentioned it. I mean, it¡¯s not like you guys ever asked.¡± Hamish was left speechless, and he wondered, ¡®Who in their right mind would ever connect Briar to Speed Queen Bree? ¡®There wasn¡¯t a single thing they had inmon¡­ Wait, if you dig into it, ¡®Briar¡®¨Cthe ¡®Bree¡® in Speed Queen Bree sounds kind of simr, don¡¯t they?¡® Hamish nced at Ashton, and it was obvious Ashton had realized the same thing. The two of them shook their heads at the same time, and there was just no way they could¡¯ve guessed that this was the connection between Briar and Speed Queen Bree. Briar took their stares in stride and just shrugged. She exined, ¡°You guys know, back in Qathana, I was a cker and I was always skipping ss and getting into trouble. Riding motorcycles was my signature ¡®bad girl¡® move.¡± She silently reasoned, ¡®So really, it¡¯s no wonder I¡¯m good at racing, right?¡® ¡°Briar, you blew me away!¡± Hamish gave her a pig thumbs¨Cup as he praised. For someone as proud as him, it was rare to be impressed by anyone, ut Briar was one of those rare exceptions. At such a young age, Speed Queen Bree has already be a legendary racer, renowned worldwide. If she were ever to reveal her true identity, it would undoubtedly astonish everyone. Anyone who can achieve fame in these intense and dangerous races is incredibly tough¨Cthere are no weak here. It¡¯s easy to see why Briar frightened Sawyer so much that he chose to abandon the race altogether; he simply took off towards the cliffs to escape, ¡°But I¡¯m still dying to know something. What did you do to Sawyer to freak him out like that?¡± Hamish asked. Ashton looked at Briar, too, just as curious. ally do much. When he tried to pull a murder¨Csuicide and drag me off the cliff Briar¡¯s smile turned even more innocent. She replied, ¡°Honestly, I didn¡¯t with him, I just gave his kidneys a good kick, and, well, maybe I tinkered with his gas tank a bit on the side¡­¡± Hamish was so floored he could only blurt out, ¡°Damn, girl, you are savage!¡± AD Forsaken 179 Chapter 179 O Ashton¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°So that was his n¡­ drag you under with him, no matter the cost?¡± ¡®No matter the cost?¡® Ashton thought. Ashton¡¯s demeanor turned cold immediately, his expression darkening as he pulled out his phone. ¡°Connor, locate Sawyer immediately¡­¡± Before Ashton could finish, Briar quickly interrupted him. ¡°Ashton, don¡¯t kill him yet. I still need him alive.¡± Ashton¡¯s voice remained icy, yet he listened to Briar. ¡°He tried to kill you. We can¡¯t allow him to live much longer.¡± Briar nodded. ¡°I understand. Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯m not nning to let him live much longer. Just give me a few more days¨CI need to check something first.¡± Only then did Ashton stop Connor from pursuing Sawyer. ¡°Ashton, don¡¯t be upset. Sawyer is being watched by you, me, and everyone else in Shoneport. He¡¯s not going to stir up any trouble now,¡± Hamish interjected. Hamish was uncertain about Briar¡¯s intentions, but in his eyes, she had transformed into someone extraordinary. When she mentioned that Sawyer wouldn¡¯t have much longer to live, he thought she might genuinely be the one to bring about his end. He could hardly contain his anticipation for it to happen. With the drama behind them, the group quickly left without lingering. Even after their departure, the guards at the racetrack entrance remained unaware that they were gone. In the car, Hamish handed Briar a bank card. ¡°Briar, here¡¯s your prize money from the race¨C30 thousand dors.¡± Briar was surprised. ¡°That much?¡± Hamish exined, ¡°Do you think that¡¯s a lot? Most of the crowd ced their bets on Sawyer to win. Only Aston and I wagered on you, which significantly changed the odds.¡± If the two hadn¡¯t assumed the gamble was insignificant and merely ced a small bet to support her, everyone who wagered on Sawyer would be in tears over their losses right now. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take it,¡± Briar said with a satisfied grin as she epted the card. She never turned down easy money. As the car merged into the bustling city traffic, Ashton finally turned to Briar. ¡°So, what¡¯s your n for Sawyer?¡± He had been holding on throughout the entire ride. With just a few more turns before they reached home, he realized that if he waited any longer, Briar would likely brush him off with another excuse. Hamish was also curious. ¡°Come on, Briar, just tell us! Don¡¯t keep us in suspense.¡± Briar shed a mysterious smile. ¡°That¡¯s a secret for now, but trust me, I¡¯ll ensure he will encounter something both unforgettable and thrilling.¡± ¡°Well, Briar, that¡¯s rather harsh,¡± Hamish remarked. ¡°You¡¯re speaking, but it feels like you¡¯re not giving us any information.¡± Briar didn¡¯t even realize when she had drawn a sharp, elegant scalpel. ¡°My favorite method? An eye for an eye.¡± Ashton¡¯s eyes were fixed on the tip of the scalpel. ¡°Put that down. Don¡¯t hurt yourself.¡± Briar obediently tucked the scalpel away. ¡°Anyway, just leave this to me for now. I want to have some fun with him first.¡± Hamish grinned. ¡°No problem. Just give me a heads¨Cup when you¡¯re ready to mess him up¨CI want front row seats.¡± As they chatted andughed, they pulled up to the gate of Shoneport University. Hamish hopped out¨Chis car was still parked in the university lot, and he wasn¡¯t about to tag along to Moonspring Estate as a third wheel to Ashton and Briar. Connor andn were already waiting at the gate. When they spotted the car arriving, Connor stepped forward to switch ces with Ashton, who then pulled Briar into the back seat with him. When are we 11:32 Wed, 20 Aug going to confront him?¡± Ashton, who had just snatched the scalpel from Briar, shot him a frosty nce. ¡°Do you honestly think you can take her with you and try your luck?¡± Briar, concerned that Ashton might frightenn again, quickly said, ¡°Don¡¯t rush. I told you we¡¯ll wait until after the sports meet; otherwise, there won¡¯t be any doctors left in the infirmary.¡± Ashton watchedn closely, determined not to give him the slightest opportunity to mislead Briar. However, three dayster, during the Shoneport University sports meet, Tan finally saw his chance. With Briar by his side, he nearly delivered a crushing blow to Sawyer¡¯s kidneys right then and there. Ashton felt a bit more satisfied withn as he sensibly exited the car and headed home alone. ¡®Not bad; at least he knows when to quit,¡® Ashton thought. Briar stood at the car door, blocking Ashton from getting out, with her hand extended expectantly. ¡°Ashton, could you please give me my scalpel back?¡± Ashton, having already confiscated the scalpel, raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°What exactly do you n to do with this?¡± Briar replied with a solemn expression, ¡°Surgery, of course.¡± Ashton remained silent. Noticing his skepticism, Briar sighed and conceded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m currently working on a new drug, so I need to run some trials on in surgery as well. She could dissect a body and wlessly assemble a perfect human skeleton, even with her eyes closed. However, there was no need for Ashton to be aware of that. Ashton looked skeptical. ¡°Really?¡± Briar nodded. ¡°Of course!¡± The b subject¡± she intended to dissect had a proper name¨CSawyer Hemsley. Ashton handed the scalpel back to Briar, his tone serious. ¡°Briar, please don¡¯t keep secrets from me, and don¡¯t take risks alone, alright?¡± The scalpel was immacte¨Cthere wasn¡¯t a single trace of blood on it. There was no way it had ever been used for dissectingb subjects in her so- called research. However, since Briar remained silent, Ashton chose to disregard it. Briar said, ¡°Rx, I never do anything unless I¡¯m sure I can pull it off.¡± ¡°Alright, it¡¯s time for you to head home and get some rest. Your boyfriend can manage without you tucking him in tonight. Goodnight,¡± Ashton said, leaning down to kiss Briar on the forehead.. Briar¡¯s face flushed a bright red at Ashton¡¯s unexpected goodnight kiss. She quickly blurted out a ¡°Goodnight¡± and rushed home. Behind her, Ashton¡¯s deep, charmingugh resonated in the night. At the Shoneport University faculty dorm, an enchanting woman entered, moving with effortless grace. She noticed Sawyer lying on the bed, his face pale as hey on his side, massaging his waist. His waist was covered in bruises, evidently from a brutal kick. The woman¡¯s expression changed immediately. ¡°What happened? Who did this to you?¡± Sawyer continued to massage as he breathed through the pain. ¡°Some woman I don¡¯t even know¡­¡± He quickly exined how he had gone to the suburban racetrack seeking peace, only to be targeted by an unknown female racer. She kicked him, even shot at his gas tank, forcing him to jump off a cliff just to make it back to Shoneport University alive. ¡°I¡¯m going to confront that woman! Do you know who she is?¡± The woman was seething. If it weren¡¯t for the thin walls in this dorm, she would have been shouting at the top of her lungs. ¡®Who does she think she is, daring to mess with my man? She must have a death wish,¡® Manny thought. wed Chapter 179 ¡°I¡¯m okay, so please don¡¯t worry,¡± Sawyer said gently, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to it. ¡°By the way, Manny, has your grandpa agreed to our rtionship yet? If he hasn¡¯t, that¡¯s okay; I can wait.¡± AD Forsaken 180 Chapter 180 Hearing this, Manny sat on the edge of the bed, gently caressing Sawyer¡¯s face. The fierce expression she wore instantly softened into boundless tenderness and heartache. ¡°Sawyer, I promise I¡¯ll find a way with my grandfather. Don¡¯t worry. We love each other so much; he wouldn¡¯t have the heart to tear us apart¡­¡± Sawyer let out a bitterugh. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not worried. You love me so much; I believe I¡¯ll eventually win your grandfather¡¯s approval. It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve been waiting for so long!¡± talk and sweet words, but if it came to confronting her he¡¯d probably be paralyzed with fear¡® Sawyer scoffed coldly. He pondered, ¡®She is just like everyone else¡ªshe won¡¯t act unless she¡¯s certain of the result. Whenever shees around, it¡¯s all Manny genuinely liked Sawyer. He was handsome, capable, decisive, and ruthless when necessary. Aside from being broke, there was nothing wrong with him. Heartbroken, she said, ¡°I know, I know. I¡¯ll talk to my grandfather shortly to ensure he agrees to let you join ourb. You¡¯ve already been through enough.¡± The Garza family¡¯sb controlled one¨Cthird of the underground experimental drug market in Shaeburg. Anyone who found themselves in trouble in Dasmieca and had nowhere else to turn would do whatever it took to gain ess to theirb, and Sawyer was one of them. ¡°Really? I saved four people this time. Without the fresh organs I provided, there¡¯s no way they could have found a match.¡± Sawyer had a collection of data on portable, viable organs, and that was his only ticket to gaining Ben¡¯s approval. To keep Sawyer under control, Ben insisted that heplete a few major deals first. That led to the establishment of the secret underground vivisectionb near Shoneport University. With lives weighing on his conscience, Sawyer would be much easier to manipte. Even after the Garza family was expelled from the four prominent families in Shoneport, they managed to maintain their presence overseas¨Cand now, they appear poised to make a robusteback in Shoneport. Sawyer¡¯s face brightened with surprise. ¡°So, Manny, if you can keep putting in a good word for me with your grandpa and help me get into theb, I promise I¡¯ll create even more valuable experimental drugs¨Cones that willpletely outshine Grant family¡¯s products.¡°.. Manny was thrilled by his words. ¡°Sawyer, have you developed a new drug?¡± Manny wasn¡¯t as unaware as Hayden. The Garza family¡¯s current ventures were mostly questionable, requiring her to defend them carefully. If Sawyer could help her develop experimental drugs, she could take control of all their undergroundbs in Dasmieca from Ben and be in charge. The greater the profit from living organs, the more her ambitions expanded. ¡°All that¡¯s left is the final clinical trial,¡± Sawyer nodded, fully aware of what Manny was looking for. He gestured toward the fridge. ¡°Second drawer¨Cfeel free to help yourself.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fantastic! I¡¯m going to talk to my grandfather right now. He¡¯s going to be so happy!¡± Manny could hardly contain her excitement as she rushed to the fridge, grabbed a clear bottle, and looked at the few white pills inside. A glimmer of mockery danced in Sawyer¡¯s eyes at Manny¡¯s obliviousness ¡°Manny, I¡¯ll be looking forward to your good news.¡± Manny carefully tucked the bottle away. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m heading to visit my grandfather now. Just sit tight and wait for my update.¡± Once she left, Sawyer gradually sat up in bed, the mockery in his eyes resurfacing once more. This year, Shoneport University¡¯s sports meet took ce with great fanfare. All campus leaders and participating students arrived bright and early. ¡°Our women¡¯s two¨Cmile running group is set f?r 9:10 AM on the second day, but everyone must be in the waiting area at least half an hour early. Is that clear?¡± Arlene from the Traditional Medicine Department, who was overseeing the tong¨Cdistance event, had gathered everyone beforehand to give them a final reminder. Everyone nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± After checking on the participants, Arlene dismissed them and left. Chapter 180 Beatrice also participated in the women¡¯s two¨Cmile run. When she noticed Briar was there too, she shot her a cautious nce and quickly pulled Le to the other side. Observing how calm and unaffected Briar appeared, Beatrice couldn¡¯t shake off a chill¨Chonestly, both she and Le found her rather intimidating at that moment. It was Le¡¯s first public appearance since the drug scandal erupted. Perhaps it was merely a figment of everyone¡¯s imagination, but Le appeared utterly exhausted¨Cpale, listless, and devoid of her usual spark. Le looked every bit the addict. Although the Haynes family quickly held a press conference to deny the rumors as fake news meant to smear her, the damage was already done. Despite getting the tabloids to retract their stories, public bacsh surged, and the Haynes Group lost several billion dors im market value within days. Le and Archie, the focal points of the situation, have likely faced some challengestely. Archie, the heir poised to take over the family business, and Le, the cherished heiress, together represent everything the Haynes family values¨Cits reputation and power. However, suddenly, an outrageous scandal erupted overnight, causing a tremendous uproar throughout Shoneport. If Edmund hadn¡¯t intervened to protect Le and Archie, the rest of the Haynes family would likely have torn them to shreds. Beatrice found herself in an even worse situation. If Robert hadn¡¯t helped her clean up the mess, Edgar and Javier would have abandoned her without hesitation. Later, Le promised Beatrice various benefits, which was the only reason she began spending time with her again. ¡°What are you looking at? Do you want to fight or something?¡± Briar met Le¡¯s hostile re and called her out directly. ¡®Is she out of her mind, or is she just being foolish? Her reputation is already in shambles, so why is she still fixated on me? Does she think I¡¯m an easy target? Or perhaps she hasn¡¯t learned her lesson yet? Maybe I should drop by Le¡¯s ce tonight and show her the consequences of underestimating others,¡¯ Briar pondered. Beatrice, who Briar had already beaten, quickly grabbed Le and pulled her away. ¡°Le, let¡¯s go. My sister hits hard.¡± Le was at a loss for words. Briar appeared frustrated. She wondered, ¡®They¡¯re leaving already? I thought they would stay and talk a little longer. I was ready to confront them. It would be even better if I could defeat Beatrice so thoroughly that she wouldn¡¯t be able to run tomorrow. Now that would be fun.¡® Once the two of them disappeared from view,n strolled over, movingzily. ¡°Briar, your sister sure can tolerate a lot.¡± Briar shrugged nomittally. ¡°She¡¯s saving it up to try something against me tomorrow.¡± . ¡°You have to admit it¨Cyour sister is always eager for your attention, and the more you push her away, the more determined she bes.¡± He couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®She isn¡¯t afraid of upsetting Briar one day and possibly getting herself taken out quietly, huh? Even if those two teamed up, they still wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against Briar. Why do they keep trying to challenge her? If Briar didn¡¯t have bigger issues to deal with right now, do they believe they¡¯d still be walking around as if nothing happened?¡® AD Comment Forsaken 181 Chapter 181 As Beatrice walked away,n gave her a thumbs¨Cup and remarked, ¡°Now that¡¯s a true legend.¡± He thought, ¡®Seriously, she¡¯s impressivet Briar chuckled and pushedn¡¯s hand down. ¡°Come on, why bother them? The more they misbehave, the more it works to your advantage, doesn¡¯t it? Just then, Frank approached with the rest of the experimental group and handed Briar a bottle of water. ¡°What¡¯s making you allugh like that?¡± Frank had spent thest few days working withn and was well aware wondered. of his talent for causing trouble. ¡®Is he about to pull something again?¡® Frank He couldn¡¯t help but feel somewhat sympathetic towards whoever would fall victim ton¡¯s schemes the next day. With a guilty conscience, Thomas¡¯s gaze darted nervously when he locked eyes withn, causing him to look away quickly. He shared a nce with Robert, who stood behind Richard. ¡®Why isn looking at us like that? Could he possibly know something?¡® Thomas wondered. But he quickly dismissed the idea. ¡®No way. No one else knows about this except us. Robert hasn¡¯t said a word to Richard, andn has been hanging around the school infirmary the whole time¨Chow could he possibly know?¡® Meanwhile, Briar was casually chatting with Frank and the others, subtly excluding Thomas and Richard from the conversation without drawing attention to it. Robert shot Briar a cold nce. ¡®She is even worse than Beatrice. Richard constantly praises her skills and medical expertise, but she subtly pushes him aside in this manner. Is he blind not to see it?¡® Any guilt Robert felt disappeared instantly. ¡®Fine, if that¡¯s how you want to y, don¡¯t me us for hitting back hard.¡® The first day of the sports meet focused on friendly events¨Cnothing toopetitive, and the atmosphere was quite rxed. Even as hosts, the Shoneport University athletes managed to secure only three victories by the time thest event concluded. Briar threw her backpack over her shoulder and walked out of the school gate alongsiden, only to run into Hamish, who was showing off in a shy sports car. Hamish waved at her with a big grin and said, ¡°Hey, Briar, want to hang out tonight? I¡¯ve got something entertaining nned!¡± He spoke without lowering his voice, ensuring that every student at the gate heard him loud and clear. Briar was left speechless. ¡®Seriously, can¡¯t he be a bit more low¨Ckey?¡® she thought. ¡°Sure,¡± Briar said, rolling her eyes as she pulledn into Hamish¡¯s car. ¡°Hamish, next time you want to invite us out, could you please keep low¨Ckey? Do you need to make it so obvious to everyone?¡± it a bit more ¡°Of course,¡± Hamish replied, showing no concern. ¡°If I don¡¯t make a fuss about it, who¡¯s going to confirm your alibis?¡± He shrugged. ¡°We¡¯re not afraid of trouble, but Ashton advised that it¡¯s best to keep things simple and avoid giving people any more reasons to stir up trouble.¡± Ashton had never said that¨Cit was all Hamish¡¯s idea, thinking it would help everyone. The others had no clue what they were walking into and liked provoking Briar for fun. What they didn¡¯t see was that behind her sweet face was the temper of racing legend Speed Queen Bree. Hamish, at least, kr better. Speed Queen Bree only showed real patience on the track¨Cbut even there, pushing her came at a cost. That night, some were bound to face consequences. Hopefully, they¡¯d me Ashton instead of Briar. If she ever snapped, others might not be as lucky asn. Hamish drove them to a newly opened club that hadn¡¯t yet started business. The security guard at the entrance recognized Hamish¡¯s license te and quickly came over to open the car door, greeting them. 1/2 ¡°Has Ashton arrived yet?¡± Hamish inquired casually, nodding his head. The guard replied, ¡°No, he isn¡¯t here yet, but Connor is.¡± ¡°Oh? Connor¡¯s already here? Did hee alone?¡± Hamish was surprised. He had heard that Connor was sent out to retrieve someone today. Did he bring them back this quickly?¡® he wondered. The guard shook his head with an honest smile. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Connor arrived in a bulletproof car today, so we didn¡¯t see ariything.¡± Hamish nodded. ¡°Understood. When Aston arrives, please have hime quickly¨CBriar is waiting to have dinner with him.¡± The guard replied, ¡°Will do.¡± Hamish led Briar andn inside, chatting as they walked. ¡°Reece took over this club about three months ago. The decor remains unchanged, and it¡¯s not yet open to the public. We juste here to hang out when we don¡¯t have anything better to do.¡± Briar nodded. ¡°Not bad at all. I like the vibe.¡± With multiple exit routes and fortified surroundings, it was the kind of setup someone like Reece would naturally be drawn to¨Csafe, strategic, and full of contingencies. As they ascended from the lobby to the private room on the third floor,n noticed several people closely observing their surroundings. ¡®I have no idea what treasures they might be hiding here, but the security is incredibly tight,¡® he thought. ¡®If anyone manages to get in, good luck getting back out.¡± ¡°Ashton had the head chef brought in just for tonight, so feel free to order anything¨Cjust don¡¯t wander off,¡± Hamish said as he guided them into the private room, sliding a stack of menus over to Briar. ¡°Briar, you know Ashton¨Che¡¯s involved in all sorts of businesses.¡± He didn¡¯t need to borate; some things are better left unsaid. Briar took the menu and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m a natural¨Cborn lover of peace, and curiosity isn¡¯t my thing.¡± ¡®Who says I can¡¯t figure this out on my own?¡® Briar thought. Until now, the only aspects of her identity she had revealed were her medical skills and her racing background¨Cneither of which were particrly significant. Given how much trust Ashton ced in her, he wouldn¡¯t suspect a thing even if she hacked into all the security cameras here. Hamish let out a dryugh. ¡®Sure, maybe Ashton would believe that, but I¡¯m not falling for it,¡® he thought. Briar shot him an annoyed nce. ¡°I never said I would do anything.¡± ¡°Better not what?¡± Ashton¡¯s voice suddenly echoed from the doorway. Everyone turned at the sound, only to find Ashton already standing there, with no one noticing when he had arrived. ¡°Where¡¯d youe from? I didn¡¯t see you at the main entrance,¡± Hamish said, ncing out the window that faced the gate. ¡°Just came up from the basement¡­¡± Ashton replied. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Forsaken 182 Chapter 182 As Briar nced at the menu, her nose twitched¨Cshe caught a faint whiff of blooding from Ashton. ¡®Who could have needed him for a personal interrogation?¡® she wondered. She scanned Ashton before quickly focusing on his sleeve, where the fabric appeared slightly darker than the rest. Anyone could see that the dark patch was blood. Ashton noticed her gaze, a flicker of frustration dancing in his eyes. He nearly reached out to ruffle Briar¡¯s hair but caught himself in time. ¡°I¡¯ll change first. You all can order; I¡¯ll be right back.¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± Hamish chuckled. ¡®Was that necessary? Briar isn¡¯t fragile, who would panic over blood,¡® he thought. As Briar watched Ashton rush away, a smile crept onto her lips. ¡°Hamish, you all muste here frequently, right?¡± she asked. ¡®They even keep spare clothes ready,¡® she thought. Hamish raised his hands in feigned innocence. ¡°Hey, this isn¡¯t my doing today. If you¡¯re curious, ask him yourself. He won¡¯t hide anything from you.¡± Hamish was quick to dissociate himself from the situation. He certainly hadn¡¯t brought Briar here tonight to subject her to this kind of bloody, violent scene. Hamish merely shrugged. ¡°Hey, I didn¡¯t say anything. Briar, please don¡¯t give me that look.¡± Briar didn¡¯t believe them. They could talk their way out of any situation, but she wasn¡¯t in a hurry. As Hamish had mentioned, she could ask Ashton herself. After all, Ashton had promised he would never lie to her. She tapped all her favorite dishes on the iPad, submitted the order, then handed it over. ¡°Anything else you guys want?¡± Hamish waved his hand. ¡°I¡¯m good with whatever. You guys go ahead and order.¡± Briar just stared at him, speechless. ¡®What a guy,¡® she thought. About ten minutester, Ashton returned, having changed his ck shirt for a in white one¨Clikely ast¨Cminute find from the club. ¡®That must have been a hassle for him,¡® Briar thought. Ashton must have taken a quick shower¨Chis hair was still damp and slicked back. Only after ensuring he didn¡¯t have any odd smells did he finally take a seat next to Briar. ¡°Ashton, who did you guys nab?¡± Briar asked, her hand still in Ashton¡¯s as he toyed with her fingers. She went straight for it, smiling as she asked. Ashton shot a nce at Hamish, who quickly raised his hands. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t look at me. I didn¡¯t say a word¨Cthey 34% figured it out on their own.¡± ¡°Some guy who slipped back into Dasmieca from overseas. Connor chased him all the way here,¡± Ashton replied. Since the man was already in custody, he saw no reason to hide it. ¡°Oh, got it,¡± Briar nodded, not pushing any further. Butn was even more intrigued. ¡°Mr. Wade, who on earth is this guy? How did he manage to slip past Connor?¡± he asked. ¡®Connor is practically unbeatable when ites to international borders. Who could be skilled enough to evade him?¡® he thought. Ashton smiled atn. ¡°You may have heard of him; his name is Zayne Hemsley, a professor of cell biology.¡± Briar¡¯s heart raced. ¡®Zayne Hemsley? That name sounds familiar. Last name Hemsley, too? A professor of medicine? And he¡¯s from overseas? Could he be rted to Sawyer?¡® Briar¡¯s instincts were often spot¨Con; she quickly identified the crucial detail. ¡°Nope, he¡¯s still alive¨Cbarely,¡± Ashton replied. ¡°What, you wanna have a go at him yourself?¡± If Connor had traced Zayne back to Dasmieca, it was clear that Zayne was no ordinary person. However,n was already hands off and had no intention of getting drawn back into that underworld business. As they talked, the dishes they had ordered began to arrive one after another. Just like that, the topic shifted, and they returned to enjoying their meal and chatting casually. Even Connor made an appearance. ¡°Well, well, looks like I arrived just in time. I¡¯m starving too.¡± By the end of the meal, Briar turned to Hamish. ¡°Hamish, didn¡¯t you say you were gonna show me something fun? That is what you call fun?¡± Hamish justughed. ¡°Briar, don¡¯t be in such a rush. The real show alwayses at the end!¡± Ashton chuckled at that, and Briar sidled up to him, lowering her voice, ¡°Ashton,e on, tell me what it is.¡± Her soft, sugary voice was right in his ear, and she was being extra adorable¨Chis heart just turned to mush. ¡°If I spill it now, there won¡¯t be any surprise left. Are you sure you wanna know?¡± Briar paused for a second, then nodded. ¡°Yeah, tell me!¡± Ashton leaned closer. ¡°Hamish¡¯s people heard that there¡¯s going to be an arms deal tonight in the hills behind our club. He¡¯s nning to pull a heist on the crooks¨Cbasically, rob the robbers.¡± Hamish sighed and shook his head. ¡°Ashton, Briar is just acting a little cute, and you spill all the secrets,¡± he said. 13:22 Thu, 21 Aug ) ¡®He¡¯s whipped. No doubt he¡¯ll turn out to be a doting, henpecked husband in the future,¡® Hamish thought. Briar shot Hamish a look. ¡°An arms deal right on your turf? These guys are gutsy!¡± ?? 34% Connor replied nonchntly, ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re just trying to hide in in sight, thinking we wouldn¡¯t catch on.¡± Briar looked at Hamish. ¡°Hamish, wouldn¡¯t Ashton be a better fit for this type of job? Whye to us for a ¡®rob the robbers¡® gig? What do you need us for?¡± Hamish spread his hands. ¡°I wanted to ask Ashton, but he said this kind of small¨Ctime hustle isn¡¯t worth his attention. So, instead of letting outsiders profit, I thought I¡¯d bring you along and we could make some quick money together. What do you think? Are you in or not?¡± Briar andn answered in perfect sync, ¡°Of course we¡¯re in!¡± Only a fool would turn down easy money¨Cespecially when it practicallynded in theirp. ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s wait. Once the deal is done, we¡¯ll go our separate ways. You all grab the cash, and I¡¯ll take the weapons. Does that sound good?¡± Hamish grinned mischievously, like a fox with a belly full of tricks. Briar shot Ashton a quick look. He nodded in approval, so she replied, ¡°Alright.¡± Briar thought, ¡®Honestly, weapons probably go for more.¡® They waited until 10:30 PM, when word finally came from Hamish¡¯s crew¨Cthe deal was done, and it was time to move. Without hesitation, Briar grabbedn and took off. When easy cash surfaced in the dead of night, there was no time to waste. Ashton and Connor followed behind, and these two money¨Cdriven individuals amused Connor. ¡°Is Miss Jennings truly that desperate for cash?¡± he asked. Ashton watched Briar practically bouncing with excitement and said with a helpless smile, ¡°Yeah, looks like it.¡± Ìï Forsaken 183 Chapter 183 Arms smuggling was considered a high¨Clevel criminal case in Dasmieca, typically handled by elite police units for arrests. However, since it was Hamish¨Ca legendary retired soldier with a skilled team¨Cwho discovered the incident on Aston¡¯s turf, the situation was different. When Thiago received the news, he dismissed it, advising against wasting police resources. He allowed the parties involved to settle their disputes among themselves, as long as the culprits were eventually apprehended and the stolen goods were recovered. In any other city, this might be considered shocking, but in Shoneport, in Ashton¡¯s territory, it was just business as usual. When they arrived, Briar concealed herself in the shadows. After listening to Hamish exin their n for cleaning up, she smirked and asked, ¡°So, are we temp workers for the cops this time?¡± This situation had nothing to do with the big move they had discussed or any confrontation. Hamish scratched his nose awkwardly and let out augh. ¡°Yeah, you could say that¡­¡± supposed to be?¡± He thought they would have the chance to cause some real trouble, perhaps pick up a few weapons along the way, and make some quick money. Hamish nced at Ashton, who was walking over, then lowered his voice. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate this job. Sure, you can¡¯t just walk away with guns and ammo for a quick profit, but the bonus is quite substantial¡­¡± He waved his hand in front of Briar andn, emphasizing his point by wiggling his fingers. Hamish corrected him, ¡°Nope, it¡¯s 150 thousand dors.¡± Bothn and Briar just stared, entirely at a loss for words. Hamish looked even more embarrassed. ¡°What? Not enough for you? That¡¯s already a lot¨CAshton was the one who pushed for it. Otherwise, you¡¯d only be getting 30 thousand dors After all, it had been a government bounty¨Cissued directly by the national agency. Han blinked in disbelief. ¡°You and Ashton both had to show up, and they¡¯re only offering us 150 thousand dors? The Dasmieca police are stingy. With so many of us, that amount is barely enough to go around.¡± Before Hamish could say anything, Ashton¡¯s voice came from behind them. ¡°That 150 thousand dors is just for you two. Hamish is only in charge of turning in weapons.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Ashton nodded, then crouched down beside Briar, looking at Briar gazing up at him. ¡°Splitting it between just the two of you, that¡¯s not too shabby, huh?¡± Briar smiled. ¡°That¡¯s more than enough.¡± Just a few hours of waiting around, and they got to split 150 thousand 13 22 Thu, 21 Aug dors¨Cnothing toin about. Briar nodded calmly. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll wait here for you two.¡± Once the deal was finalized,n was the first to act¨Che sprinted forward and swiftly took down one side with practiced ease. Hamish and Connor quickly followed, subduing the other group. The entire encounter was over in just a few minutes, leaving neither side aware of what had happened. They couldn¡¯t understand it. They¡¯d been assured no one would notice them on Ashton¡¯s turf. After half a month of observing the venue, getting caught the moment they showed up made no sense. Briar and Ashton strolled out at a leisurely pace. With a flick of her wrist, she pulled a sleek, heavy¨Crange scoped rifle from one of the crates¨Ca masterpiece by Qathana. Weighing around 31 pounds with a range of 2,000 yards, it waspact, efficient, and in the right hand, could fire five rounds in 1.5 seconds. ¡°Kids shouldn¡¯t be ying with rifles,¡± Ashton said as Briar handled the rifle. He reached out to take it from her just when an unexpected event urred¨Ca redser dot suddenly appeared on the body of the rifle in Briar¡¯s hands. The expressions on both Briar and Ashton¡¯s faces changed instantly. Ashton said, ¡°Sniper¡­¡± But before Aston could react, Briar was already a step ahead. She turned, raised the rifle, aimed, and fired in one fluid motion, resulting in a sharp bang. Ashton was equally quick. Almost immediately after Briar fired, a second shot rang out right after hers. It was Ashton who fired that second shot. Upon hearing Briar and Ashton¡¯s warning, the others quickly scattered for cover, grasping their rifles tightly. After the two shots rang out, Connor was the first to sprint over 550 yards away to the sniper¡¯s position. Once he confirmed the sniper was dead¨Cshot through the head¨Che dragged the body back and gave them a thumbs¨Cup to signal that it was safe. Hamish slung his rifle over his shoulder, raised an eyebrow at Briar, and gave her a thumbs¨Cup. ¡°One shot, right in the center of the forehead? Impressive, Briar! Where did you learn to shoot like that?¡± Everyone here was familiar with rifles. They could tell that Briar had fired the first shot, hitting the sniper right between the eyes. To achieve that kind of precision from such a distance, reacting in just two or three seconds¨Ca feat only a true sharpshooter could aplish. Hamish now viewed Briar in a new light. ¡®She¡¯s the real deal!¡® he thought. ¡®First, there was the whole Speed Queen Bree secret identity, and now this? Does Briar have even more hidden talents? Was she in the army before?¡® Yet the way Briar carried herself didn¡¯t exactly suggest a military background. ¡®Crap,¡¯ Briar thought, her heart racing. She stood there gripping the sniper rifle, unsure whether to set it down or continue holding it¨Cso awkward that she wished she could just sink into the floor and vanish. 12 22 Thu, 27 ?U, 34% Things had happened so quickly¨Cher instincts had taken over before she had time to think. Now she had no idea what to say. ¡°Oh, well, I¡­¡± Briar stammered, clearing her throat. Briar was about to exin when Ashton interrupted her. ¡°Let¡¯s take care of these guys first; Thiago is still waiting for our update.¡± Hamish nced at Ashton, noticed the expression in his friend¡¯s eyes, and shrugged. ¡°Alright, we need to report to Thiago first.n,e on, help me out. Let¡¯s get these guys out of here.¡± Everyone, along with the corpse, was taken away, leaving only Briar standing obediently and Ashton, hands in his pockets, looking as calm as ever. Once everyone had left, Briar sensed that Ashton wanted to speak with her alone. She decided to break the silence first. ¡°Ashton, I know you have a lot of questions right now, but I can¡¯t share answers just yet. Can we talk about itter?¡± It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to tell him; she simply couldn¡¯t. Ashton stared at Briar, as if he were trying to etch her face into his memory. After a moment, he asked, ¡°So, you can¡¯t tell me¨Cdoes your true identity mean I¡¯d be in danger if I found out?¡± AD Forsaken 184 Chapter 184 Briar nodded. ¡°Yes.¡°. Ashton frowned. ¡°Is this person you¡¯re afraid of in Shoneport?¡± +13 ¡°Ashton, please stop asking,¡± Briar said, both amused and exasperated. ¡®Is he always this obvious when he¡¯s trying to get information out of me?¡® she thought. Ashton sighed. ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t ask again. But promise me¨Cif you¡¯re ever in danger you can¡¯t handle, you¡¯ll tell me.¡± Since Briar stayed quiet, he didn¡¯t press further. ¡®If I can¡¯t ask her, I¡¯ll just investigate myself,¡® he thought. Her records in Qathana were wiped, but if he were determined, he¡¯d find something. ¡°I promise that if I¡¯m ever in danger, I¡¯lle to you for help immediately,¡± Briar said earnestly. Yet, if that day were toe, she was sure she would keep as far away from Ashton as possible. Ashton looked at Briar for a long while before reaching out his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Hamish and the others are still waiting for us.¡± Briar took his hand. ¡°Okay.¡± As they arrived at the club entrance, Hamish and the others were waiting in the car, while police cars shed their lights incessantly. Hamish approached, nced at Briar, then grinned at Ashton. ¡°Hey Ashton, everything alright? You didn¡¯t give Briar a hard time, did you?¡± Ashton was at a loss for words. After handing them over to the police, the group got in their car and drove away. Back at Moonspring Estate, Briar leaned against the car door and looked at Ashton. With a yful smile, she said, ¡°Ashton, how about I tuck you in and help you get a good night¡¯s sleep?¡± Ashton raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll stay over tonight and wait for you.¡± With that, Briar happily headed inside. Connor asked, ¡°Mr. Wade, what about Xavion?¡± Earlier, Ashton had sent Xavion a message indicating that he had something for him to look intoter, Connor guessed it was likely concerning Briar. ¡®But if Mr. Wade is staying here, he can¡¯t just let Miss Jennings find out about it so openly, can he?¡® Connor thought. Ashton rubbed his forehead. ¡°Connor, let/ Xavion know to hold off on checking into Briar for now. She¡¯s probably already noticed something.¡± He¡¯d underestimated entirely how clever Briar was. After witnessing her insane shooting skills, it was hard to believe he¡¯d ever thought she was just some ordinary girl. ¡®She probably offered to tuck me in just now just to stall me,¡® he thought. ¡°So, are we still going to look into Miss Jennings?¡± Connor asked, surprised. ¡®She caught on that fast?¡® he thought. Ashton sighed. ¡°We still have to check her out, but since it¡¯s not a good idea for us to do it ourselves, let¡¯s just pay someone else to handle it.¡± 1/3 13:22 Thu, 21 Aug Connor immediately caught on. ¡°Mr. Wade, you want to get someone from the Hacker Alliance to investigate for us?¡± +13 ¡°Yes, the tracking capabilities of the Hacker Alliance are among the best in the world. While our Dark Net primarily focuses on identifying dark organizations, the Hacker Alliance epts any assignment. They often gather information about individuals even faster than we can,¡± Ashton exined. Ashton truly acknowledged the talents of the Hacker Alliance. Connor nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll put in a request with the Hacker Alliance in a bit. How much are you willing to spend to dig up Miss Jennings¡® background?¡± The Hacker Alliance worked fast, but their fees were steep. Briar¡¯s name had already shown up there once, and Ashton had paid a hefty sum to bury it. With a group driven by profit, they¡¯d likely charge even more this time. ¡°As long as they uncovered the truth, let them name their price,¡± Ashton said, radiating the confidence of someone to whom money had never mattered. Connor couldn¡¯t help but twitch his mouth. ¡°Alright.¡± He thought, ¡®Man, he¡¯s begging the Hacker Alliance to rip him off. ¡® ¡°That¡¯s it. You can head back; there¡¯s no need for you to keep watch here,¡± Ashton said, opening the car door and stepping out while waving Connor off. Half an hourter, after taking a shower and putting on fresh clothes, Briar was just about to head next door to tuck Ashton in when her phone rang with the special ringtone designated for calls from the Hacker Alliance. Confused, Briar answered the call. ¡°George?¡± George¡¯s voice sounded just as confused. ¡°Bree, we just received a client order and need to rify something with you.¡± Briar asked, ¡°rify what?¡± ¡°Here¡¯s the situation¨Cabout ten minutes ago, Shoneport¡¯s heir, your contact, ced a premium order with us at the Hacker Alliance,¡± George said, sounding somewhat perplexed. ¡°He wants us to investigate everything rted to your wiped records in Qathana.¡± Briar was speechless and still confused. George continued, ¡°Given the high price and the Hacker Alliance¡¯s motto¨Cwhoever pays is the boss¨Cwe never refuse a job if the money is right. However, we discussed it and thought, should you take care of this one?¡± ¡®Damn, George, do you even hear what you¡¯re saying right now?¡® she thought. ¡®So I¡¯m supposed to take the job and investigate myself?¡® Recognizing how insincere that sounded, George cleared his throat slightly. ¡°You know, you erased your records, so it¡¯s not our ce to get involved. Since it¡¯s your guy who¡¯s trying to dig for information, why not just give him a hint or two? After all, he offered 30 million dors!¡± 13:22 Thu, 21 Aug DA ? . 34% ¨C ¡®So that¡¯s what matters, huh?¡® Briar thought in surprise. ¡°What do you say? Are you taking the job or not?¡± George pressed. Briar rubbed her forehead. ¡°George, if I turn it down, are you guys going to give the money back?¡± ¡°Of course not! The Hacker Alliance would never jeopardize our reputation, you know that,¡± George replied, sounding earnest but insincere. ¡°Ande on, with a guy like him who¡¯s so influential? There¡¯s no way we¡¯d risk offending him.¡± Briar let out a helpless sigh. ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll take it. Just send the job over. I¡¯ll make something up for him when I get a chance.¡± ¡°Awesome! Already sent it your way. Okay, I won¡¯t get in the way of you fobbing off your man. Later!¡± George sounded super hyped and hung up in a sh. Briar was at a loss for words. Five minutester, she sat at the edge of the bed, staring at Ashton, who appeared to be casually lounging in a bathrobe but was trying to provoke her. ¡°Ashton, could you please put on some clothes?¡± ¡®How is this man managing this? Just twenty minutes ago, he spent 30 million dors investigating me, and now he¡¯s lying there, chest out, acting all casually and trying to charm me like it¡¯s no big deal,¡® she thought. ¡°Like this?¡± Ashton tightened his bathrobe, attempting to put on an innocent expression. However, the adjustment only made things worse¨Cnow even more of his skin was exposed, and Briar could see the designer logo on his ridiculously expensive boxers. Briar¡¯s anger finally reached a breaking point. ¡°Ashton, can you please behave for once? Every time I try to tuck you in, you have to start flirting with me again. Seriously, if you keep this up¨COh?¡± But before she could finish, the world spun. In an instant, Ashton had her pinned beneath him on the bed, capturing her lips in a kiss that was bothmanding and gentle, his hands holding hers firmly above her head. With that one dominating yet tender kiss, he silenced all her thoughts. After a while, Ashton, still hovering over her, spoke in a low, husky voice, ¡°My love, isn¡¯t this the perfect way to tuck me in? What do you think?¡± AD Comment Forsaken 185 Briar¡¯s breath caught in her throat, a mix of surprise from the kiss and fury bubbling within her. ¡®Did this man just. y dirty?¡® she seethed. Briar spat through gritted teeth, ring at Ashton. If her hands hadn¡¯t been tied and her legs pinned down, she would have flipped him over and taught him a lesson right then and there. But all her fury condensed into a single biting remark. ¡°Shameless, aren¡¯t you?¡± Ashton grinned in satisfaction. ¡°I¡¯m kissing my love. Why should I be ashamed?¡± Briar was so frustrated by his mischievous behavior that she nearlyughed out loud. She didn¡¯t feel like arguing with him. ¡°Let me go. I¡¯m leaving.¡± Her instincts urged her to leave before something unpredictable urred. However, Ashton was determined not to let her slip away now that things were getting intense. Still, he propped himself up on one elbow, raising his upper body slightly to prevent her from noticing any specific reactions¨Che didn¡¯t want her to see. From his perspective, Ashton could take in every detail of Briar¡¯s face¨Cher tremblingshes, flushed skin, gently upturned nose, and those slightly parted red lips he couldn¡¯t get enough of. Ignoring the flicker of shyness and irritation in her eyes, he was certain she was just as lost in the lingering heat as he was, neither of them ready to let
  1. go.
¡°Are you angry?¡± Ashton asked in a husky voice. Briar rolled her eyes and shook her head. ¡°Nope, I¡¯m not that petty. It was just a kiss, whatever.¡± Honestly, she enjoyed it too. ¡°Get off me. We¡¯re alone in bed¨Cwhat if things get a little too heated?¡± Briar tried to sound assertive, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to meet Ashton¡¯s gaze, which made her words lose much of their impact. ¡®Not mad? Good. As for things getting out of control,¡® Ashton mused, locking eyes with her. With a serious expression, he said, ¡°Well, we¡¯re both professionals when ites to handling firearms. Do you think we¡¯d be afraid of a little misfire?¡± His remark so flustered Briar that she began coughing hard, her neck turning bright red. It felt as though she had just been hit by a truck. ¡®Is he nning to let loose tonight and throw all shame aside?¡® she thought, exasperated. She was entirely sure they were nothing like the ones he had in mind. Ashton moved to the side, pulling Briar into his arms. He softly patted her back and said, ¡°Hey, don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t tease you anymore.¡± He genuinely cared for her and didn¡¯t want to push her too hard. He constantly reminded himself, ¡®She¡¯s still young. I can¡¯t rush things. I need to take it slow and guide her gently.¡± Briar didn¡¯t utter a word. She gazed at him with her misty, crystal¨Cclear eyes, her dark irises shimmering like ripples on a deepke. The way she looked at him almost caused Ashton to lose all self¨Ccontrol right then and there. But Ashton kept his promise and didn¡¯t tease her anymore. Instead, he leaned down and ced a gentle kiss on 13:22 Thu, 21 Aug ? ??? 34% . her forehead. ¡°Briar, if you keep looking at me like that and acting all sweet, I swear I¡¯m going to have to pull the trigger.¡± Briar shot him a look. ¡°Ashton, how did I not realize until now that your shamelessness is so profound that not even a cannon could prate it?¡± Once again faced with her disdain, Ashton¡¯s arms paused for a brief moment, but he hugged her tighter as if nothing had happened. ¡°If I cared about saving face, I would never be with you. Briar, I think I¡¯m getting a bit sleepy. Will you help me fall asleep?¡± Briar shed him apletely natural smile, pretending she hadn¡¯t noticed he was putting on the charming act again. ¡°Alright, just close your eyes and sleep.¡± She even forgot how close and cozy they were in that moment. +13 Ashton wasn¡¯t going to point it out. Without another word, he just closed his eyes, still holding her close. He really must¡¯ve been exhausted, because it didn¡¯t take long before he fell asleep. Briar quietly slipped from his arms and sat up. After a nce at his peaceful, sleeping face, she walked to the desk by the bay window, sat down, and powered up Ashton¡¯s workptop. As if second nature, she entered the password and logged into Hacker Alliance¡¯s internalwork. Not long after, Ashton¡¯s phone on the nightstand lit up with a new email notification. However, since he had set it to silent for the night, hepletely missed the chance to see the message right away. Briar erased all traces of her login to the Hacker Alliance site, shut theptop, and quietly slipped away. It wasn¡¯t until the next morning that Ashton saw the new email. His rxed demeanor changed instantly. He immediately called Connor. ¡°Connor, when you ced the order with the Hacker Alliancest night, did you specify who was supposed to handle it?¡± Connor was packing up breakfast and driving to Moonspring Estate when Ashton spoke, making his hand pause on the wheel. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. However, I offered 30 million dors and set a three¨Cday deadline. Why? Did someone from the Hacker Alliance take the money and hand it off to some rookie?¡± Ashton interrupted him, saying, ¡°The person who took our order is one of the elders of the Hacker Alliance¨Cthe Legendary Hacker Bree.¡± On the other end of the line, Connor mmed on the brakes, nearly bursting with excitement. ¡°Mr. Wade, did you just mention the Legendary Hacker Bree? Wasn¡¯t he the one who stopped taking jobs a long time ago? Did our 30 million dors bring him out of retirement? Or is the Hacker Alliance so desperate for businesstely that they need a big name like him to attract clients?¡± Ashton thought, ¡®The Hacker Alliance/is desperate for business? Not a chance.¡® The vast amount of intricate intelligence concerning international rankings alone would allow the Hacker Alliance to reap significant rewards. ¡°Mr. Wade, did that big shot find any information about Miss Jennings?¡± Connor realized he had said something foolish and quickly changed the subject. Ashton¡¯s expression turned serious as he read the email on hisputer. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Connor wanted to ask something 213 13:22 Thu, 21 Aug A further, but Ashton had already ended the call, leaving Connor reeling from thest line of the email. 34% [Reasons for the erasure of Briar¡¯s records: 1. The cause of Rosalia¡¯s death remains unknown. 2. Briar started investigating her mother¡¯s death, and at the age of five, she endured numerous assassination attempts. By age ten, she entered the underground boxing rings in Qathana, learning to fight to survive.] That single line struck Ashton with a deep, aching weight. She had faced assassination attempts at just five years old, learned to survive by ten, and now, at eighteen, she had returned to Dasmieca with unwavering resolve to uncover the factual circumstances surrounding her mother¡¯s death. ¡®No wonder an eighteen¨Cyear¨Cold like her seemed so far ahead of her peers¨Cskilled with motorcycles, the elusive Speed Queen Bree, connected to mercenaries liken, and deadly urate with a rifle,¡® Ashton thought. Forsaken 186 Chapter 186 Ashton sat by the bay window for a long time. Only when a car pulled up did he close hisptop, get up, and head. off to change. Briar walked in just behind Connor, curious to see Ashton¡¯s reaction to her email¨Cnot for sympathy, but to know what he honestly thought. Connor greeted Briar with a bright, enthusiastic smile. ¡°Morning, Miss Jennings.¡± Briar smiled back. ¡°Morning.¡± ¡°You¡¯re up early today. Are you waiting for a morning run with Mr. Wade?¡± Connor asked. He had recently taken over Brandon¡¯s responsibilities, driving Ashton back and forth each day. He knew that whenever Ashton stayed here, he not only prepared Briar¡¯s meals but also served as her morning running partner. Briar nodded. ¡°Yeah, I woke up early today and came over to see Ashton.¡± As they chatted, Ashton came downstairs dressed in his workout gear. He approached Briar and gently kissed her forehead. ¡°Why are you here so early?¡± The warmth of his kiss made Briar instantly lose her cool. ¡°Someone¡¯s here, you know¡­¡± Ashton chuckled, took her hand, and started leading her toward the door. ¡°Who? I don¡¯t see anyone watching.¡± ¡°Connor¡¯s still here,¡± Briar said, turning to point out that he was still standing nearby. But just as she did, Connor quickly slipped into the kitchen, disappearing like he¡¯d been greased up. Briar was utterly at a loss for words. Ashton grinned. ¡°See? No one¡¯s here now.¡± By the time they reached the yard, no one else was around. As Ashton began to stretch, he casually asked, ¡°Briar, did you ever face any bullying back in school in Qathana?¡± Briar raised an eyebrow. ¡°Do I look like the type that can be easily pushed around?¡± She leaned closer, teasingly asking, ¡°What¡¯s with the sudden interest, Ashton?¡± Ashton¡¯s eyes flickered as he gazed at her face, now mere inches away. ¡°I¡¯m curious about what you were like back in Qathana. You¡¯re so pettie and sweet¨Cwhat would you have done if someone tried to mess with you?¡± Briar made a fierce expression, but to Ashton, she still looked as cute as ever. ¡°If anyone tries to bully me, I¡¯ll beat them up!¡± She raised her gentle little fist yfully toward Ashton¡¯s face and twirled it. ¡°I¡¯m serious, I¡¯m good at fighting. No kidding.¡± Ashton gently held her fist and said, ¡°Oh, I believe you. I bet you could kick some ass.¡± Briar nodded earnestly. ¡°Just wait¨Cnext time I get the chance, I¡¯ll pick a fight and show you what I can do.¡± 13:23 Aug 34% 413 The women¡¯s two¨Cmile race was divided into three groups, and by chance, Briar and Beatrice found themselves in the same group, assigned to neighboringnes. Considering the recent tension between the sisters, Beatrice chose not to make small talk this time. In the stands, Halle had brought Camden to support Beatrice. ¡°Go, Beatrice!¡± they cheered. Sitting next to them was Robert, his eyes fixed on the track. He intently observed the girl assigned to thene beside Briar, his hands clenched into tight fists as he silently hoped she would contribute this time. Briar shot a casual nce at the girl who had edged a little closer to her, then let out a low, ambiguous snort. The girl instantly recoiled, her shoulders hunched, afraid to meet Briar¡¯s gaze. ¡®With nerves like that, does she think she can mess with someone? Isn¡¯t she worried about getting burned herself?¡® Briar wondered. Beatrice, on the other hand, had noticed the girl¡¯s nerves. She leaned in, engaging her in conversation and offering a quiet pep talk, even hinting at a reward if she performed well. ¡°Leni, don¡¯t stress. Just be yourself out there- the championship is practically calling your name!¡± Sure enough, Leni seemed to rx significantly, her expression much more rxed. ¡°I¡¯m fine now, so don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll give it my all.¡± As the race was about to begin, Briar couldn¡¯t be bothered by the pretense of invisibility from the two blocking her path. She shoved them aside. ¡°Move aside, you¡¯re in the way.¡± Perhaps Briar was simply that strong, or maybe the two girls were off bnce, but with just a gentle push from her, both of them fell over. The crowd gasped as a wave of shock swept through the stands. However, the starter was already calling the runners to their marks, so none of the other athletes dared to speak. They helped the two girls to their feet, and everyone took their positions, ready for the race to begin. ¡°Bang!¡± The starting gun fired, and everyone on the track surged forward¨Ceveryone except Briar. She casually strolled off the line,pletely unfazed, as if the race didn¡¯t matter to her at all. Beatrice and Leni took off quickly in thenes right beside her. By the time they realized Briar wasn¡¯t even trying to keep up, they had already left her 160 yards behind. Leni kept ncing back. ¡°Beatrice, why is she running so slowly?¡± Beatrice frowned, equally perplexed, ¡°Who knows? Perhaps she¡¯s saving her energy for a final sprint. That works for us. When we reach the secondp, let¡¯s catch up to her. Don¡¯t waste your opportunity¨Cstay calm, or someone might get suspicious.¡± Leni nodded, ¡°Got it. Don¡¯t worry.¡± She had already taken the cash. No matter how anxious she felt, she had to see the job through topletion. With that kind of money at stake, paying it back was her only option. She was tired of people showing up at her door, demanding she settle her debts. Ashton and Hamish were also seated in the stands, enjoying the best seats in the house, surrounded by university administrators from various institutions. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s Briar up to now?¡± Hamish chuckled, observing Briar move along at a snail¡¯s pace. Ashton watched with interest. ¡°Isn¡¯t she running beautifully? Her breathing and strides are perfectly in sync¨Cshe 213 13:23 Thu, 21 Aug A doesn¡¯t even seem tired.¡± 34% Hamish shot him a look. ¡°Is that what I meant? Are you two hiding something from me? Please don¡¯t tell me someone¡¯s trying to set Briar up or sabotage her out there!¡± Hamish had observed everything that urred before the race began, and after noticing the two girls repeatedly looking back, he immediately sensed that something was amiss. Ashton just smiled, looking all mysterious. ¡°Just wait and see¨Cit¡¯s still anyone¡¯s guess who¡¯s setting up whom.¡± Hamish nodded. ¡°Alright, as long as you guys have it under control. I¡¯ll sit back and enjoy the drama.¡± After all, Ashton was as cunning as a fox¨Conce he sensed danger, he would never let it pass by. And Briar, she was not foolish at all. As they entered the secondp, real excitement started. Beatrice deliberately slowed her pace to match Briar¡¯s rxed speed, engaging her in conversation to keep her distracted. At that moment, Leni caught up, and the three of them found themselves running side by side. As they ran, Leni suddenly turned pale and began to sway, appearing as if she might copse at any moment. Usually, there would be observers stationed along both sides of the track during a race, but at that moment, there wasn¡¯t a single one near the three of them. Beatrice noticed that Leni didn¡¯t look well and, sounding concerned, asked, ¡°Leni, are you okay?¡± Leni shook her head, breathing heavily in short gasps. She opened her mouth to respond, but suddenly her foot slipped, causing her to sway. In an unexpected move, sheunched herself straight at Briar. Forsaken 187 In a long¨Cdistance race, athletes typically focus on theirnes, making it challenging to see what is happening in others. Fortunately, Beatrice kept talking, which made her performance more convincing and captured a lot of Briar¡¯s attention. 4137 To match the rhythm of her performance, Briar deliberately slowed her pace. When Leni lunged, she sidestepped with practiced ease, reacting almost instantly. She even slipped in a subtle kick at Beatrice, who was trying to trip her. The move was so discreet that it went unnoticed by all but the most observant. ¡°Ah!¡± Beatrice eximed softly as shended right beside Leni, and the two of them tumbled together. The entire event unfolded in an instant. All anyone witnessed was Leni on the verge of falling onto Briar, but with a quick sidestep, Briar left Beatrice and Leni tangled on the ground together. The gasps from the onlookers rapidly gave way to sheer disbelief. Halle and Camden also jumped up in shock from the stands. Halle called out anxiously, ¡°Beatrice!¡± Camden quickly got up and left the stands, ready to run onto the field, but he didn¡¯t notice a figure in ck silently following him. As he rounded a corner, he was suddenly pulled into a secluded area. ¡°Oh my gosh! What just happened?¡± ¡°How did those two end up together? Wasn¡¯t the campus belle right between them?¡± ¡°The campus belle¡¯s reflexes are crazy fast!¡± ¡°Judging by the way they look, they must be hurt, right?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, we¡¯ve now lost twopetitors in the women¡¯s two¨Cmile race. Shoneport University is likely to be at a disadvantage against the other schools.¡± The crowd outside the track buzzed with gossip. It took a full minute for an onlooker to rush over after the ident. He helped Leni to her feet and asked, ¡°Are you hurt? Can you continue running?¡± When they fell, Leni found herself pinned beneath Beatrice. With another person¡¯s weight pressing down on her, she instinctively braced herself with her hands, scraping both palms until they bled. Her pants were torn at the knees, and her knees throbbed with pain. Meanwhile, Beatrice appearedpletely unscathed. Leni¡¯s eyes filled with tears as she looked at the observer. ¡°My knees hurt so much! I don¡¯t think I can keep going.¡± The observer, a young man, examined her injuries and nodded, acknowledging her pain. Beatrice stood there, pretending to limp, and said, ¡°My foot hurts too. I can¡¯t keep going.¡± The other observers stared at Beatrice in silence. Leni couldn¡¯t run¨Cher knees were scraped and bleeding¨Cbut Beatrice¡¯s clothes weren¡¯t even dirty. There was no visible injury to justify her im, making her excuse all the more absurd. 1/3 13:23 Thu, 21 Aug A. DA ÁÖ¼Ò34%•þ There was nothing they could do. It wasn¡¯t an officialpetition, and Robert had already warned them. If Beatrice chose to withdraw, no one would intervene. An observer nodded and said, ¡°Alright,e with me. Let¡¯s clear the track for the others,¡± then guided Beatrice and Leni off the course toward the infirmary. From the stands, Robert noticed Beatrice limping and immediately felt the urge to rush over. ¡®What happened? How did Beatrice get hurt, too?¡® he wondered. He had been so focused on Leni trying to take down Briar that he hadn¡¯t even noticed how Beatrice had gotten. injured. Now, seeing her struggle to walk, he felt a wave of anxiety. Robert stood up, attempting to squeeze past the people beside him. ¡°Excuse me, could you-¡± His words caught in his throat the moment he got a clear look at the figure beside him. The junior who had been sitting there was gone, quietly reced at some point by a tall, burly man in ck. With a full beard and dark sunsses, the man had the look of someone best not challenged. ¡®Is this man a student¡¯s parent? Why does he look so intimidating?¡® Robert wondered. The bearded man heard Robert¡¯s words and lowered his sunsses, casting him a cold, sideways nce. That single look was enough to silence Robert entirely. Robert swallowed hard as he pointed at Leni and Beatrice limping on the track. Summoning his courage, he exined to the bearded man, ¡°Could you please let me through? My friends are hurt, and I need to help them.¡± The bearded man finally spoke. ¡°Someone is already helping them. Just stay where you are, alright?¡± It was an oddly out¨Cof¨Cce thing to say. Robert wondered why this man had the authority to stop him from checking on them. Maybe it was the bearded man¡¯s intimidating presence, or maybe Robert was too shaken¨Cbut either way, he didn¡¯t register how strange the words truly were. Hearing this, Robert turned to look at the track. Sure enough, Leni was receiving assistance from an observer. At the same time, Beatrice was being supported by Briar, who had also dropped out of the race, and they were walking off the field together. Robert was shocked and grew even more anxious. Given the awkward and tense dynamic between Briar and Beatrice, it was hard to imagine Briar voluntarily withdrawing from the race to assist Beatrice to the infirmary. Robert couldn¡¯t believe that would happen, even if his life depended on it. ¡®Wait, could it be that Briar had already realized this was a setup against her, and now she¡¯s nning to get back at Beatrice?¡® he thought. ¡®That must be it!¡® Robert couldn¡¯t just sit idly by, the growing anxiety overwhelmed him. He eximed, ¡°Please, let me through. I need to help them.¡± The bearded man didn¡¯t move. No matter how earnestly Robert pleaded, he stayed put, ignoring himpletely. He even blocked the nearby students from leaving, overly forceful in his actions. All Robert could do was watch helplessly as Briar led Beatrice away, the distance between them growing with every step. Watching the events unfold in the stands, Hamish crossed his arms and leaned over to whisper, ¡°Ashton, you truly 13:23 Thu, 21 Aug ) 35% are devious, aren¡¯t you?¡± He promised Briar he wouldn¡¯t interfere, yet in the end, he still kept those troublemakers under control secretly. ¡°Briar only said I couldn¡¯t interfere with her n¨Cnot that I couldn¡¯t deal with others,¡± Ashton said. Ever since learning about her past, he¡¯d wanted to remove every threat around her. With someone targeting Briar today, there was no way he¡¯d sit back. ¡°Should we follow them and see what¡¯s going on? I doubt Briar is genuinely nice enough to escort Beatrice to the infirmary,¡± Hamish urged, clearly eager to find out what would happen. Ashton shared the same concern. He wasn¡¯t worried about Beatrice¨Chis main worry was that Briar might encounter Sawyer in the infirmary. If that happened, she might lose control and provoke a fight with him. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go check it out,¡± he said. The two of them quickly got up and made their way to the infirmary. Meanwhile,n, who had been quietly blending into the crowd, trailed after Briar and Beatrice once Briar led her away. Briar had told him that after the race, he could make sure she wouldn¡¯t be causing trouble for a while. Now that Beatrice had withdrawn on her own, the timing couldn¡¯t have been better. Forsaken 188 Chapter 188 ? 35% 13 The distance from the stadium to the school infirmary was considerable, requiring about twenty minutes to walk. Given their current condition, Beatrice and Leni would be unable to make the trip. Therefore, the observer called for a campus shuttle cart, the school¡¯s transport service for students. ¡°Briar, could you please help me take them to the infirmary? Thank you so much,¡± the observer said gratefully when Briar offered to help. He needed to be present at the sports event at all times, and he was concerned that his partner might feel overwhelmed. Now that Briar was willing to assist, it was a tremendous relief. ¡°I¡¯m happy to help! You can return to your work¡ªI¡¯ll take care of things here,¡± Briar said with a smile as she gently encouraged the observer to leave. Then, with Beatrice and Leni watching in fear, she climbed into the cart, grinning. Briar patted the shoulder of the driver up front. ¡°Let¡¯s go,n.¡± Leni had no idea whon was, but Beatrice, who had once explored the international dark web, knew a thing or two about the world¡¯s top mercenaries. She had seenn¡¯s name on the international mercenary rankings before; he was an exceptional mercenary. Beatrice¡¯s entire body went stiff. When she finally caught a clear glimpse ofn, her face turned ghostly pale. ¡°Briar, h¨Chow do you even know him?¡± Briar lounged back in her seat, arms crossed and grinning at Beatrice, who was trembling with fear. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t you recognize him? You should have seen what he was like before¨Cback when you hired a hitman to take me out, remember?¡± Beatrice fell silent, her face ashen. She frantically pulled at the shuttle cart¡¯s door handle, but it was locked tight-pletely useless. ¡°Please let me out! Briar, I want to get off! Please!¡± she cried, her voice quaking with panic. Beatrice mmed her fists against the window, desperately hoping someone outside would notice her distress. However,n had taken the most deserted route to the infirmary¨Cthere wasn¡¯t a single soul in sight. Beatrice¡¯s frantic outburst took Leni aback. ¡°Beatrice, what¡¯s wrong? You¡¯re scaring me!¡± ¡®Did I hear something I wasn¡¯t supposed to? A hitman? Who¡¯s the target?¡® Leni¡¯s mind raced with confusion. ¡°Beatrice hired a hitman to kill Briar? ¡®Damn, is Beatrice really this ruthless? Isn¡¯t Briar her sister? Why would she want to harm her?¡® Leni¡¯s heart raced wildly. Beatrice was so terrified that she no longer cared what Leni thought. All she focused on was the fear ofn getting his hands on her¨Cif that happened, she knew she would be doomed; she might even die here. She didn¡¯t want to die. ¡°Briar, I¡¯m so sorry! I was wrong! Please, let me go; I messed up¡­¡± Beatrice pleaded, gripping Briar¡¯s hand in desperation. If there had been enough space in the cart, she likely would have dropped to her knees right then and there¨Canything to stay alive. 1/3 35% Briar shook Beatrice¡¯s hand away. ¡°What are you so afraid of? I¡¯m not some heartless maniac like you, treating other people¡¯s lives as if they mean nothing.¡± Just then, they arrived at the infirmary. Briar smiled and gently patted Beatrice¡¯s cheek. ¡°Rx, I¡¯m not going to hurt you. I¡¯m a good,w¨Cabiding citizen, remember?¡± Then Briar grabbed Leni¨Cwho was so terrified that she couldn¡¯t utter a word¨Cand hurried out of the cart. Beatrice, on the other hand, was left behind as the shuttle sped off to who knows where. Briar turned to Leni, who was trembling. ¡°What did you just see?¡± she asked, her eyes cold and unreadable. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t see anything! I don¡¯t know a thing!¡± Leni eximed, shaking her head frantically as her survival instincts kicked into high gear. She was so close to pledging an oath to Briar to prove her ignorance. Briar wasn¡¯t concerned about Leni spilling any secrets; she had plenty of ways to ensure her silence. ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you to the infirmary,¡± Briar said, with her hands shoved in her pockets as she walked toward the entrance, not bothering to look back. Leni didn¡¯t dare to run. She quietly followed Briar into the infirmary, not making a sound. The infirmary was bustling today, filled with students who had sprained, fallen, or suffered bruises. When another patient arrived, those who had already been treated automatically stepped aside to clear a path for them. Briar led Leni over to Sawyer¡¯s desk, pointed toward the back, and stated bluntly, ¡°Fell. Needs disinfecting.¡± Sawyer was so busy that he didn¡¯t even look up. Instead, he pointed behind him at the medicine cab and said, ¡°Second shelf, thirdpartment¨Cthe disinfectant is in there. Please take care of it yourself for now.¡± Briar remained motionless. Sawyer finished bandaging the patient in front of him and then looked up. Upon seeing Briar, he froze for a moment, his expression briefly contorting before heposed himself and gave her a quick once¨Cover. He noticed that she had no visible injuries. He turned to Leni next to Briar, whose knee was still bleeding. ¡°Go sit over there; I¡¯ll take care of your wound right away.¡± Leni nodded vigorously and quickly, made her way to a chair, eager to distance herself from Briar. Sawyer approached the medicine cab, retrieved some disinfectant and bandages, and calmly walked over to Leni, treating her wound as if it were just another routine case. However, Briar¡¯s expression turned frosty when she noticed a familiar logo on one of the medicine bottles in the cab¨Ca logo that was seared into her memory. It was the same logo as the medicine her mother had taken before she was admitted to the mental hospital. Not long ago, when Edgar returned some of her mother¡¯s belongings, she had seen that very bottle in an old photo. Taking advantage of Sawyer¡¯s turn, Briar quickly took a photo of the row of medicine bottles with her phone, intending to check if the logos were the same when she returned. ¡°Hey, campus belle, weren¡¯t you supposed to be running the girls¡® two¨Cmile race? What are you doing in the infirmary?¡± A few of Briar¡¯s fangirls in the infirmary noticed her and quickly gathered around, excitedly greeting her and crowding in close. Briar suppressed her shock and exined, ¡°We were in adjacentnes. She got hurt, so I dropped out too.¡± 213 13 23 Thu, 21 Aug One of the fangirls nodded. ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s what happened! What a shame! You definitely would have crushed that race.¡± She had heard that Briar went for morning runs every day, so a two¨Cmile race should be easy for her. However, it was pretty standard for someone in the nextne to have an ident, causing dys for others, which made the fangirl feel sorry for Briar. Briar didn¡¯t mind at all. ¡°I was just there to fill the numbers anyway. Since she got hurt, I chose not to run. I can always sign up again next time.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± the fangirl eximed with a broad smile, pulling out her phone. ¡°Hey, campus belle, can I add you on WhatsApp?¡± Briar was still holding a bottle of medicine in her other hand, which bore the same logo as before. Her eyes grew cold for a moment, but she took out her phone anyway. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll add you.¡± The fangirl,pletely unaware, was ecstatic. She joyfully added Briar on WhatsApp, and as soon as the friend request was epted, she sent a big smiley face. Briar texted: [Let¡¯s stay in touch.], returning the gesture with a smiley face. The fangirl was absolutely over the moon. [Yes, yes! For sure!] Leni¡¯s wound was now neatly bandaged, with Sawyer having tied two charming bows to her hand. ¡°B¨CBriar, should we go now?¡± she asked nervously, her voice barely a whisper. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Briar said, casting onest nce at the medicine cab before guiding Leni out. Once the two of them left, Sawyer, who had been preupied the entire time, cast a nce at the second shelf of the medicine cab, a cold glimmer flickering in his eyes. AD Forsaken 189 Chapter 189 35% 13 As soon as they stepped out of the infirmary, Leni¡¯s legs began to tremble again. She cast a wary nce at the nearly deserted path and said in a shaky voice, ¡°Briar, I can go back to my dorm by myself. You don¡¯t have to walk me back¡­¡± Briar, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped and turned around, fixing Leni with a cold, emotionless gaze that felt as if she were being cut to pieces. ¡°I never intended to walk you back.¡± Leni asked in fear, ¡°So¡­ Can I leave now?¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Briar replied, still standing there without moving an inch. Leni felt a flicker of relief, hoping that Briar would truly let her off the hook this time. ¡°Thank you! I appreciate it. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t mention anything about what happened today¡­¡± ¡°Nothing happened today, got it?¡± Briar said with a slight click of her tongue. Leni was startled and quickly corrected herself. ¡°Yes, yes, nothing happened today.¡± Without daring to look at Briar again, she limped away. As soon as Leni disappeared from view, Robert came running up. Spotting Briar standing on the path outside the infirmary, he let out a harsh snort, brushed past her, and hurried inside. Less than two minutester, he burst out again, blocking Briar¡¯s path and urgently asking, ¡°Where¡¯s Beatrice?¡± Briar regarded him with cool detachment. ¡°How would I know?¡± ¡°How could you not know? Didn¡¯t youe to the infirmary together?¡± Robert eximed, reaching for Briar¡¯s arm, but she easily sidestepped him. Briar scoffed. She asked, ¡°When did you see us walk in here together?¡± Robert stammered, ¡°But, y¨Cyou left the stadium together.¡± ¡°So just because we left together, we have toe here together too?¡± Briar retorted. Robert was left speechless. Briar noticed how Robert seemed lost entirely and let out a mockingugh before turning to leave. He tried to stop her, but the moment he met her piercing gaze¨Ceyes that seemed to see right. through him¨Che froze in ce. ¡®Did Briar figure something out?¡® he wondered. He stood there, staring as Briar walked farther and farther away, so lost in thought that he didn¡¯t even notice when someone approached him from the side. ¡°She seems to be acting quite strangely, doesn¡¯t she?¡± Sawyer¡¯s voice had a hypnotic quality to it. ¡°Dr. Hemsley?¡± Robert eximed, startled, but he was quickly captivated by the subtext in Sawyer¡¯s words. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± 13 23 Thu, 21 Aug J 35% Sawyer, dressed in a pristine white coat and appearing entirelyposed, said, ¡°Don¡¯t you agree that she¡¯s nothing like a typical college student?¡± His tone lingered just enough on particr words to gently steer Robert¡¯s thoughts where he wanted them. Robert followed Sawyer¡¯s lead and considered it, his expression gradually darkening. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. She doesn¡¯t seem like a typical student at all.¡± Briar was calcting, had a violent streak, and her lifestyle was anything but proper. She didn¡¯t fit the mold of a typical college student; if anything, she resembled a former troublemaker just pretending to be nice. She was the type who bullied Beatrice every single day¨Ctruly bad to the core, inside and out. Sawyer smiled. ¡°I just heard you were looking for Beatrice?¡± Robert¡¯s anger quickly shifted to concern. ¡°Why isn¡¯t she here? I saw her leave with Briar and the others.¡± It was all his fault¨Che had gotten caught up with a few bodyguards and ended up wasting valuable time. A flicker of unease crossed Robert¡¯s face as he remembered the bodyguards blocking his path. ¡®Did Briar pay them off on purpose?¡® But then another thought struck him, ¡®How could she have known something would happen to Beatrice? ording to the n, Briar was supposed to have the ident.¡® Robert had a persistent feeling that he was overlooking something significant. Sawyer let out a profound sigh. ¡°I know it¡¯s probably reckless to make assumptions like this, but when Briar brought that injured student to the infirmary earlier, I noticed a whiff of blood on her. You know how it is¨Cdoctors like us are especially sensitive to the smell of blood¡­¡± Robert blinked, looking bewildered. ¡°Blood?¡± he thought. ¡®But Briar didn¡¯t have a scratch on her. How could she smell like blood? And why didn¡¯t I notice anything?¡® ¡°So, my advice? You should hurry and find Beatrice. What if something did happen to her?¡± Sawyer patted Robert on the shoulder, appearing tofort him, but in reality, he was merely nting the thought in Robert¡¯s mind that something bad had happened to Beatrice. Robert started to panic. ¡°What should I do? I¡¯ll call my brother right now. Yes, I¡¯ll call him¨Che¡¯ll know what to do.¡± Having aplished his objective, Sawyer paid no further attention to the frantic Robert and turned back into the infirmary to continue his work. Yet, no one noticed the cold, sinister smile that crept across his lips¨Cunsettling and chilling. Meanwhile, Robert was frantically calling Richard. ¡°Brother, what should I do? Beatrice is missing! It has to be Briar -she must have done something! What can I do? I can¡¯t find Beatrice anywhere!¡± He didn¡¯t even notice when Sawyer had left. On the other end, Richard sounded frustrated. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about now?¡± Robert¡¯s voice trembled with emotion. ¡°I¡¯m serious¨CBeatrice is missing! But I know I saw here to the infirmary with Briar¡­¡± 13:23 Thu, 21 Aug A 13 ¡°What? Beatrice is missing?¡± Richard¡¯s voice shot up, full of rm. Before Richard could say anything further, Halle and Camden rushed over, both anxiously searching for Beatrice. Upon hearing Robert¡¯s words, Halle grabbed his arm in distress. ¡°How could Beatrice be missing?¡± As she tugged at his arm, the phone slipped from Robert¡¯s hand and crashed to the ground, shattering the screen and abruptly ending the call. Halle felt a moment of awkwardness but quickly pushed on, asking, ¡°Robert, what did you just say? What do you mean, Beatrice is missing? And how does this rte to Briar?¡± Halle and Camden had witnessed Beatrice getting hurt from the stands, and after finally figuring out how to reach the infirmary, they hurried over. However, before they could even enter, they overheard Robert talking on the phone. Robert was on the verge of losing his temper when his phone was suddenly knocked out of his hand. However, when he realized it was Beatrice¡¯s mother who had bumped into him, he made an effort to suppress his frustration. ¡°Mrs. Jennings, please don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m still uncertain if this has anything to do with Briar or not¡­¡± ¡°It must be her!¡± Halle interrupted Robert angrily. ¡°She¡¯s always been bullying Beatrice. Now that Beatrice is hurt, she has probably just abandoned her somewhere. How could she be so cruel?¡± Camden had alreadye out of the infirmary. ¡°Mom, I checked. Beatrice isn¡¯t inside. The doctor said she never came in at all.¡± Halle¡¯s eyes welled up with worry. ¡°Where is she? Where could she have gone?¡± Camden turned to Robert. ¡°Where¡¯s Briar? Let¡¯s go ask her where Beatrice is.¡± Robert pointed in the direction Briar had just gone. ¡°She left not long ago, but¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, Halle and Camden took off running in the direction he had indicated. Ìï Forsaken 190 Chapter 190 ? ?35% > Halle and Camden searched everywhere but couldn¡¯t find Briar. Instead, they stumbled upon an unconscious Beatrice in a small grove. ¡°Beatrice!¡± Halle¡¯s high¨Cpitched voice echoed through the woods, startling a flock of birds into flight. ¡°Beatrice, what happened to you?¡± Camden rushed to Beatrice¡¯s side, his eyes wide with rage and shock as he took in the unnatural angles of her right arm and leg. ¡°Mom, Beatrice¡¯s right arm and leg¡­ they¡¯re both broken.¡± Halle staggered, her heart sinking. Beatrice Jennings was a remarkably talented dancer. A broken arm could be treated, but a broken leg was a dancer¡¯s worst nightmare. ¡°Who did this? Who harmed Beatrice?¡± Halle felt herself on the brink of losing her mind. Beatrice was Halle¡¯s most tremendous pride, the one thing she could present to the world. If Beatrice¡¯s leg was truly broken and she could never dance again, any hope of the two of them rising to the elite would be lost. Camden had already called an ambnce and informed Edgar about the situation. It was a serious matter, and as the head of the Jennings family, Edgar would demand answers from Shoneport University. Meanwhile, Briar walked over to the gym bleachers, located Ashton and the others, and took a seat. She leaned in and whispered, ¡°Ashton, was it your group that stopped Robert?¡± Ashton took Briar¡¯s hand and gently yed with her fingers. ¡°I thought you might need someone to keep him upied for a little while.¡± Hamish couldn¡¯t take it anymore. ¡°Can you two stop being lovey¨Cdovey? I¡¯m about to throw up from all this affection,¡± he said. ¡®Honestly, they should be discussing something serious, yet they¡¯re still flirting and acting all romantic,¡® Hamish thought in frustration. Ashton shot Hamish an annoyed look, brushing off his teasing. He firmly squeezed Briar¡¯s fingers. ¡°You don¡¯t seem well. Did something happen?¡± Briar paused for a moment before opening the photo she had taken in the school infirmary and showing it to Ashton. ¡°Have you ever seen this logo on any medicine?¡± Ashton lowered his gaze and examined it closely, furrowing his brows. ¡°It seems familiar, but it¡¯s not something typically found on regr medication. Is there an issue with this logo?¡± Briar¡¯s voice was so soft that the noise in the stands nearly drowned it out. ¡°My mom took this drug before¡­ and it made her go crazy.¡± But Ashton absorbed every word, and his expression shifted immediately. ¡°Are you certain you saw it correctly?¡± He recalled the email from the Legendary Hacker Bree, which stated that Briar had returned to Dasmieca to investigate her mother¡¯s death./ 13:23 Thu, 21 Aug A. ?????35%? Today, Ashton had Xavion look into Rosalia¡¯s death and, as expected, found suspicious details. As the beloved only daughter of the Grant family, Rosalia had been sheltered all her life. It didn¡¯t add up that someone so gentle would suddenly run away just because of a miscarriage. What was more unsettling was that Rosalia was found in a hospital, having lost her sanity. In just a month, she went from a typical woman to a severely disturbed patient. Even with possible abuse during her absence, such a rapid decline was hard toprehend. Unless Rosalia¡¯s mental state had already begun to decline before she left home, it would have taken someone like Edgar¨Cthe man who slept beside her every night¨Cto turn a pampered, privilegeddy into a psychiatric patient without the Grant family suspecting a thing. As Ashton reflected on Briar¡¯s apparent disdain for everyone in the Jennings family, especially Edgar, he began connecting the dots. He was stunned when Briar said her mom had lost her mind after taking medicine bearing that logo. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here; this isn¡¯t the right ce to talk,¡± Ashton said, pulling Briar up while giving Hamish a meaningful nce. Hamish immediately dropped his yful grin, nodded, and waved them off to reassure them they could go without worry. Ashton guided Briar through a temporary passage, quickly exiting the stadium¨Cjust as they passed Robert, who was rushing in to find Briar. Ashton¡¯s car was parked in the lot next to the gym, with Brandon waiting inside. When he saw Ashton guiding Briar -her face pale and distressed¨Cinto the car, he remained silent. He started the engine and drove away. ¡°Ashton, something seems off about Sawyer,¡± Briar said once they were in the car. Her voice was still tense, but the anger simmering beneath the surface was unmistakable. Ashton nodded. ¡°I understand. Don¡¯t panic yet. I¡¯ve asked Hamish to track Sawyer¨Che won¡¯t move without us knowing. If his drug matches the one that affected your mom, there¡¯s a bigger operation behind it. Otherwise, such a drug wouldn¡¯t still be around after all these years.¡± Briar took a deep breath. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°There are indications that Sawyer¡¯s background information may be fabricated. Xavion is investigating the matter, but it will take some time to uncover the truth. So far, we¡¯ve discovered that he was a top student at Foothill Academy overseas, where he specialized in human cell biology experiments. ¡°Oh, and Sawyer¡¯s father is Zayne,¡± Ashton added, dropping another critical information. Briar¡¯s mind worked fast, instantly catching Ashton¡¯s meaning. ¡°So, the one supplying Sawyer with those drugs is probably Zayne.¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°Exactly. The timing is far too coincidental. Just recently, Zayne fled illegally back to Dasmieca from overseas, Sawyer has an undergroundb, and now you¡¯ve discovered this drug in the school infirmary.¡± 13:23 Thu, 21 Aug A. ?.35% Ashton furrowed his brows even deeper. ¡°Briar, everything began happening right after you returned to Dasmieca. I truly believe they¡¯re targeting you¨Cthey¡¯re doing all of this to get your attention.¡± ¡°Plus, the timing of Edgar giving me those photos is highly suspicious,¡± Briar remarked coldly, her disdain for Edgar intensifying. Ashton pulled Briar into his arms, gently stroking her back. ¡°I know you¡¯re keeping many secrets, but look at what¡¯s unfolding now¨Csomeone¡¯s watching you. Promise me that, no matter what happens, you¡¯lle to me like you did today. Deal?¡± Briar remained silent, lowering her gaze. Noticing her quietness, Ashton¡¯s tone became more serious. ¡°Briar, please behave. Don¡¯t make me worry about you.¡± Briar finally nodded, her voice soft. ¡°Okay.¡± Ashton pressed a kiss on her forehead. ¡°Good girl.¡± The car pulled away from the gates of Shoneport University and had just merged onto the main road when they spotted a in ck Jetta. Brandon shot a nce at the driver, then abruptly turned the car around and elerated after it. ¡°Mr. Wade, that¡¯s Zayne in that car.¡± Briar shot up from Ashton¡¯s arms, and if he hadn¡¯t quickly reached out to catch her, she would have hit her head on the roof and ended up with a bump. ¡°We need to catch up to them¡­¡± Briar urged, her voiceced with urgency. Forsaken 191 Brandon pressed the gas pedal hard. ¡°Hold on tight!¡± Ashton pulled Briar back into her seat. ¡°Sit tight. Don¡¯t worry. Leave it to Brandon¨Che definitely won¡¯t let them get away.¡± Zayne was remarkably bold, walking up to Shoneport University¡¯s front gate in broad daylight without a care if anyone saw him. Upon reconsideration, everything fell into ce. Sawyer was the school doctor at Shoneport University, where security had beenx recently. With unfamiliar faces around and guards not checking thoroughly, it was easy for Zayne to sneak in and meet Sawyer. Who knew, maybe that medicine bottle with the special logo that had turned up in the infirmary cab had gotten in the same way. As Ashton¡¯s brow furrowed deeper, he wondered, ¡®What¡¯s the point of that medicine appearing right now? Who at Shoneport University would even take notice of it? Who would genuinely be interested? ¡®The only people who would recognize that medicine are those who understand its specific purpose. Among everyone at Shoneport University, the person most likely to identify it was Briar. No one else.¡® Ashton ced his hand on Briar¡¯s shoulder, urging her to face him. He met her gaze with a serious expression. ¡°Briar, I need you to remember every single detail of what happened when you took Leni to the infirmary. Every little thing.¡± Briar blinked, momentarily taken aback. However, upon noticing the tension in Ashton¡¯s eyes, she sensed that something was amiss. Without probing further, she began to recount everything: how she had ditched Beatrice, how she took Leni to the infirmary, how she happened to notice that medicine bottle with the special logo, how she had discreetly snapped a photo, and how she left with Leni. By the time she finished, her brow was furrowed as well. It was clear that she¡¯d noticed something unusual about the entire sequence of events. ¡°Everything went way too smoothly,¡± Briar murmured. Ashton nodded. ¡°Yeah, it was all too smooth. It all began when Beatrice, Robert, and Leni teamed up to set you up at thepetition. At first nce, it seemed like they were targeting you, but if you think about it, their real aim was to lure you to the infirmary, and then¡­¡± Briar picked up where he left off. ¡°And then, as if it was all meant to happen, I just happened to find that medicine bottle in the cab.¡± Even though they were discussing something so profound, Ashton couldn¡¯t resist gently kneading and ying with Briar¡¯s soft earlobe. ¡°Briar, they¡¯re setting a trap for you.¡± ¡°Yeah, if we hadn¡¯t spotted Zayne walking by Shoneport University, I probably would have walked straight into their trap without realizing it,¡± Briar said, her face warming not only from the tingling sensation on her earlobe but 13:24 Thu, 21 Aug §³§¡ A ? ?35% also from the silent chemistry between them. Ashton received a sharp nce from Briar, causing him to withdraw his hand and clear his throat before proposing his theory. ¡°Sawyer probably knew about you long before you returned to Dasmieca.¡± Briar¡¯s expression grew even colder. ¡°Ashton, the only people who knew I wasing back¨Cbesides my two uncles¡ªwere the Jennings family.¡± It all came back to square one. Beatrice, as a member of the Jennings family, was right in the midst of everything that happened today. Although Briar managed to get her out of the way halfway through, she ultimately ended up discovering that bottle of medicine. ¡°Mr. Wade, Zayne¡¯s car has just arrived in the Davis family¡¯s hotel underground parking lot,¡± Brandon¡¯s voice suddenly interrupted their thoughts. Ashton nced out the window, his expression turning cold. ¡°There¡¯s no need to chase him. Just drive straight to the hotel entrance and call Alfred to let him know to turn him over.¡± Brandon¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Okay, noted.¡± He sensed that Ashton was angry, all for Briar. Ashton¡¯s signature car was easily identifiable¨Ceveryone in Shoneport recognized it at a nce. So when Brandon pulled up to the hotel entrance, all the security guards and staff immediately knew who had arrived. The head of security rushed over, eager to inquire, but he didn¡¯t even get a chance to see Ashton. The receptionist scrambled to call the hotel manager, and within a minute, the manager rushed out, lowered his head as he stood by the car. ¡°Mr. Wade, I¡¯m the manager on duty today. Is there anything I can do for you?¡± The manager was quick to respond. The Wade family¡¯s businesses were everywhere¨Cabout a third of the hotels in Shoneport belonged to Ashton. If his car showed up at this hour, there was no way he was here to stay the night. If he wasn¡¯t checking in, then he must be here for someone. Beforeing out, the manager had already called the owner, who was trying to find out what was going on. Ashton gave a slight nod, and only then did Brandon turn to the manager. ¡°Someone just went down to your hotel¡¯s basement. Mr. Wade is giving Mr. Davis half an hour to bring that person out. If he doesn¡¯t, don¡¯t me Mr. Wade for not saving the Davis family any face.¡± The manager looked utterly bewildered. ¡°Oh¡­ I¡¯m not sure who Mr. Wade wants us to find.¡± Brandon nced at his watch and gave the manager a cold look. ¡°You¡¯d better call Mr. Davis right this second and repeat my words to him, word for word.¡± The manager didn¡¯t dare waste a moment. He immediately called Alfred, rying every single word without missing a beat, and even stressed, /¡®Mr. Davis, Mr. Wade is only giving you half an hour.¡± Brandon¡¯s voice chimed in at just the right moment. ¡°Correction¨Cnow you¡¯ve only got 28 minutes left.¡± Alfred was stunned on the call; he had no clue what was happening. He sent his secretary to investigate, but they 213 13:24 Thu, 21 Aug J found nothing quickly. Since Ashton showed up in person, Alfred¡¯s team continued to dig into the business. connections between theirpanies but came up empty. 35% As desperation grew, they found less, and as they found less, time flew by. Fifteen minutes had passed, and Alfred still didn¡¯t know who Ashton wanted them to find. The manager had the security team review the surveince footage, which showed several cars entering the underground parking lot. However, they had contacted all the owners, and none were the ones Ashton was after. Twenty minutester, Alfred¡¯s car arrived. He quickly got out and rushed to Ashton¡¯s car, his big belly jiggling as he walked. Breathing heavily and sweating, he smiled and asked, ¡°Mr. Wade, is there a misunderstanding?¡± He offered Ashton a cigarette while standing by the car door. Ashton epted the cigarette, offering Alfred a semnce of courtesy, and calmly stated, ¡°Mr. Davis, you know my approach. Would Ie here in person to seek someone if I didn¡¯t have a solid reason?¡± Alfred nodded quickly. ¡°Of course, Mr. Wade. You¡¯ve always been precise and fair. However, I genuinely have no idea what might upset you in this way. Could you please help me understand?¡± Ashton looked down at Alfred from his elevated position, speaking with a calm demeanor. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m not an unreasonable man. If your team truly can¡¯t figure it out, ask your youngest son what he¡¯s been up totely.¡± Forsaken 192 Alfred was stunned. ¡®How did my hopelessly lovesick son get dragged into this mess?¡® he thought. ¡°Mr. Wade, are you saying my son Robert is the one who stirred up trouble?¡± Alfred thought he must be hearing things. His foolish son was constantly circling Beatrice, shuttling between Shoneport University and home every day, leaving little time for anything else¨Clet alone causing trouble. Besides, he and Ashton were worlds apart- there was no way their paths would ever cross. Ashton was constantly overwhelmed with work, leaving him barely a moment to catch his breath. Recently, he had be captivated by the legitimate daughter of the Jennings family, who had just returned and was now frequently appearing at Shoneport University. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡®Wait, hold on a second! Mr. Wade had been regrly visiting Shoneport University, and Robert practically lived on campus as well. The girls they liked were from the Jennings family?¡® Alfred¡¯d even heard that the newly returned legitimate daughter and Beatrice¨Cwhom Robert had a crush on- didn¡¯t get along at all. ¡®So, could it be that everything Mr. Wade did today was actually because of these two girls?¡® Alfred thought, suddenly connecting the dots. Indeed, Alfred was onto something, but he was only partially correct. Although he still had some doubts, the reality was that Robert had unknowingly offended Ashton¨Cwhether he realized it or not. It was now an undeniable fact. Under Ashton¡¯s half¨Csmirking gaze, Alfred pulled out his phone and called Robert. The phone rang, but no one answered. It continued to ring until it finally cut off. A cold sweat broke out on Alfred¡¯s forehead. ¡®What the hell is going on? Did that kid get himself into trouble and is now too scared to pick up my call?¡® he wondered anxiously. ¡°Mr. Wade, could you wait a sec?¡± Alfred said awkwardly, giving Ashton a quick nod before trying again. He dialed Robert¡¯s number three more times, but still got nothing. With no other options left, he finally decided to call Richard. Richard picked up almost instantly. ¡°Hello, Dad.¡± Alfred wasted no time, ¡°Hey, Richard, do you know where your brother is? I¡¯ve called that brat a bunch of times, and he won¡¯t pick up.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not with him at the moment. Let me check around and see if anyone has seen him,¡± Richard replied, aware that Alfred wouldn¡¯t reach out unless it was urgent. ¡°Is something wrong, Dad? Why are you looking for him?¡± Alfred nced at Ashton, who had already returned to his car. Through the partially open window, he could barely see someone else sitting beside Ashton in the backseat. ¡°Did your brother get himself into trouble again?¡± He quickly informed Richard that Ashton Wade was demanding they hand someone over, and now the half¨Chour deadline was nearly up¨Cbut the hotel still hadn¡¯t managed to find the person Ashton wanted. Richard was equaily shocked. ¡°What? When did Robert ever get on Mr. Wade¡¯s bad side?¡± While both were anxiously making calls, Brandon leaned against the car door, keeping an eye on the time. He even helpfully called out, ¡°Mr. Davis, there are five minutes left. You might want to pick up the pace.¡± Alfred was freaking out. He turned around just in time to see several ck sedans rolling up to the hotel. They pulled in and parked right behind Ashton¡¯s car. It was Ashton¡¯s bodyguard squad. The car doors swung open, and several dozen men, all d in matching ck suits and white gloves, emerged. They marched in perfect unison towards Ashton¡¯s car, bowing respectfully. ¡°Mr. Wade, Miss Jennings.¡± Brandon waved his hand, prompting several people to swiftly take their positions to guard the hotel¡¯s back entrance and the parking lot exits. Alfred was overwhelmed with anxiety, and his face reflected his turmoil. The Wade family typically preferred to resolve matters internally, rarely resorting to their bodyguard team. However, Ashton had arrived this time with full force. ¡°Dad, Robert¡¯s at the hospital with Beatrice!¡± Richard finally located Robert¡¯s whereabouts. Fortunately, the hospital was one that the Davis family had invested in, so he quickly called them and asked to have Robert return his call immediately. With only three minutes left on the clock, Alfred stood before a line of bodyguards in ck suits as he answered Robert¡¯s call. The moment he picked up, heunched into a furious reprimand: ¡°You brat, be honest with me- have you been causing trouble againtely?¡± Robert was at the hospital with Halle and the others, nervously waiting outside the operating room while Beatrice was inside. He was already on edge, and now his dad was yelling at him on top of everything else. Frustration bubbled over. ¡°Dad, what are you talking about? When have I ever done anything wrong? I¡¯m at Shoneport University all day; what trouble could I possibly get into?¡± Alfred wasn¡¯t buying it for a second. ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb. If you haven¡¯t done anything, then why would Mr. Wade show up with a whole squad and surround our hotel? Why is he demanding that I hand someone over?¡± ¡°Wait¡­ M¨CMr. Wade¨Che brought his people to surround our hotel?¡± Robert, who had earlier exuded confidence, now sounded anxious upon hearing Alfred mention it. ¡®Oh no, did I screw up this time?¡® he thought, his self- assurance faltering. Alfred immediately understood there was nothing left for him to decipher. ¡°You brat, are you still not going to confess? If you keep hiding the truth, I¡¯m going to be taken away by Mr. Wade¡¯s people today!¡± Alfred snapped. Robert stammered, ¡°Dad, actually, I¡­¡± ¡°Last minute,¡± Brandon¡¯s voice felt like a death sentence hanging over Robert, making it hard for him to even breathe on the other end of the line. Alfred was frantic now,pletely losing his patience. He snapped, ¡°Stop stammering! Just spit it out already!¡± Robert recoiled at Alfred¡¯s deafening roar. ¡°I¨CI just partnered with Beatrice and the others to set up Briar. We 13:24 Thu, 21 AugA. wanted to teach her a lesson, and I even allowed the helper to bring a hideout to our family¡¯s hotel¡­¡± $.35% ¡°What? Which room is he in? Tell me now!¡± Alfred felt like the world was spinning, his legs nearly buckling. ¡®That¡¯s it. We¡¯re done for,¡¯ he thought, panic flooding his chest. Not only had they conspired to frame Briar, but they had even concealed the culprit right in their hotel. That was a clear case of being caught red¨Chanded¨Cthere was no way to talk their way out of it. ¡®How am I ever supposed to face Mr. Wade now?¡® Alfred thought, utterly lost. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ He¡¯s in my private suite,¡± Robert stammered, finally confessing. Alfred was too panicked to continue scolding. Still clutching his phone, he hurried over to Ashton¡¯s car. ¡°Mr. Wade, we found him¨Che¡¯s hiding in Suite 2 on the 29th floor¡­¡± Even before Ashton gave the order, Brandon was already leading his men into the hotel, heading straight for the 29th floor. Ashton wasn¡¯t worried about catching the culprit. If Zayne dared to stay openly at the Davis family¡¯s hotel, he had likely covered his tracks and assumed no one in Shoneport would challenge him. But what Zayne didn¡¯t realize was that, in Shoneport, there wasn¡¯t anyone Ashton couldn¡¯t handle if he chose to. Not only was Zayne on the blocklist of the 121 Overseas Mercenary Organization, but the mere fact that he and Sawyer had targeted Briar meant there was no chance Ashton would ever allow him to leave Shoneport alive. Meanwhile, Connor had received the news and hurried over. As soon as he jumped out of the car, he sprinted forward, barely able to contain his excitement, a broad grin on his face. ¡°Mr. Wade, where is he? Give him to me! I need to interrogate him!¡± Nobody knew how thrilled he was when Brandon told him they had finally located Zayne¡¯s hideout. Forsaken 193 Chapter 193 35% Briar, who had been sitting in the car the entire time, finally stepped out. Her expression was nk, her lips pressed tightly together. Seeing her, Connor quickly greeted her, ¡°Miss Jennings, you¡¯re here too.¡± Briar nodded in response. ¡°He¡¯s inside. Brandon went in to make the arrest,¡± Connor reported. Ashton stood next to Briar, and the two of them made a charming pair. If Alfred hadn¡¯t been so preupied with figuring out how to exin things to Ashton, he would have been amazed by the sight. Briar appeared to have just stepped into adulthood, her fair and youthful features still radiating a hint of sweetness and innocence. However, standing beside Ashton, her presence was undeniablymanding. With someone like Briar, Alfred couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®How could Beatrice, the girl my foolish son is so infatuated with, ever hope to measure up to her?¡® ¡°How long has he been there? Why hasn¡¯t hee out yet? What¡¯s taking Brandon so long? It shouldn¡¯t be this difficult to arrest one guy,¡± Briar muttered. Connor, upon hearing this, rushed to the door to peek. Ashton looked at a flustered Alfred and then at Briar, who appeared a bit anxious. ¡°What? Are you worried that Brandon can¡¯t handle the job?¡± Briar nodded. ¡°Yeah. If Zayne dares to live here so openly, it means he¡¯s not afraid of being investigated. He must have a backup n.¡± Ashton took Briar¡¯s hand and tucked it into his pocket along with his own. ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of? Whether his identity can stand up to scrutiny or not, that all depends on whether I allow it.¡± Briar was momentarily stunned, then burst outughing. ¡°Ashton, are you thinking of pinning a made¨Cup charge on him?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like they haven¡¯t killed and robbed before. How is that a false charge?¡± Ashton thought, ¡®Making someone disappear by the book? Piece of cake for me.¡® Briar suddenly felt a twinge of sympathy for Zayne. ¡®If you were to mess with me, the worst that could happen is that you¡¯d get hunted down. If you wanted to die, that¡¯d be easy enough,¡® she thought. ¡®But if Ashton is after you, even death isn¡¯t that straightforward.¡¯¡± A few minutester, a man with salt and pepper hair and ck¨Crimmed sses was escorted out by Brandon¡¯s men. It was Zayne, On the surface, he seemed like a dignified and schrly gentleman, but Connor felt nothing but disdain for Zayne. He was acutely aware of the many horrific crimes Zayne hadmitted in secret. Having spent years on the border dealing with mercenaries who would kill without hesitation, Connor was shocked by the sheer brutality of Zayne¡¯s actions. The mercenaries¡® brutality was, in a way, refreshingly direct. If they were wronged, they settled the score openly, with nothing to hide. Even under capture and torture, they refused to stoop to deceit. But Zayne thrived on filth 13:24 Thu, 21 Aug J 35% +13 and disgrace. His disregard for others was so chilling that even hardened mercenaries found themselves stunned into silence. The 121 Mercenary Organization set their sights on Zayne because he dared to use the bodies of their fallen brothers as test subjects, creating various drugs specifically designed to target them. They could not tolerate it. ¡°Brandon, nice work! Hand him over to me, will you?¡± Connor jogged over, eager to take Zayne off Brandon¡¯s hands. But Brandon stepped in front of him, blocking the way and not letting go. ¡°You can¡¯t take him right now.¡± Connor¡¯s face fell. ¡°What do you mean? This guy¡¯s supposed to be mine. Why can¡¯t I take him?¡± Brandon lifted his chin. ¡°Miss Jennings wants to interrogate him first. You still want to take him from her?¡± Brandon¡¯s hand froze in mid¨Cair. ¡°Miss Jennings wants him? Are you serious? She¡¯s just a delicate girl¨Cdoes she even know how to deal with a scumbag like this?¡± Brandon dragged Zayne forward. ¡°That¡¯s not for us to decide. With Mr. Wade here, do you think this bastard won¡¯t spill everything?¡± Connor shrugged. ¡°Alright, but once Miss Jennings is done, you¡¯d better hand him over to me. Don¡¯t go trying to snatch him away!¡± He figured that if Briar wanted to interrogate the man, Ashton would agree without hesitation. Ashton doted on her endlessly, and even if he wanted to take the suspect, he knew he wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. ¡°Fine by me, I get to ck off for a bit,¡± Brandon said. ¡®By the time it¡¯s my turn, most of the work will already be done anyway,¡® he thought. Zayne, who had remained calm until that moment, suddenly appeared a bit shaken when he overheard Brandon and Connor talking. ¡®Rosalia¡¯s daughter wants to interrogate me? Please, I¡¯m not afraid,¡® he thought. ¡®Back then, I turned the pampered Rosalia into a puppet for us. No matter how tough her daughter believes she is, how much trouble could she pose?¡® He had been primarily concerned about Ashton¡¯s methods. Although Ashton had appeared polished and had acted swiftly with an air of cold sophistication, it would have been a mistake to be deceived. His reputation for ruthlessness had been renowned internationally. The 121 Overseas Mercenary Organization was feared because Ashton was more ruthless and domineering than anyone else, In recent years, Ashton had rarely appeared overseas, delegating almost all of the organization¡¯s operations to Connor. However, to this day, no individual or group dared to challenge the 121 Overseas Mercenary Organization. Much of this could be attributed to Ashton, who not onlymanded an elite force of mercenaries but also operated a far- reaching intelligencework¨Cone that tapped into the depths of the Dark Net, with capabilities so precise they could unearth secrets buried deep in anyone¡¯s past. 13:24 Thu, 21 Aug 335% Unlike the international Hacker Alliance, the Dark Net exclusively served Ashton and never epted jobs from outsiders. It was undoubtedly the most enigmatic hacker group to have ever existed. No one had any idea where their headquarters were located or how many hackers were part of the organization. It was the Dark Net that uncovered and leaked the news of Zayne¡¯s return to Dasmieca. If it hadn¡¯t been for them, he wouldn¡¯t have had to remain hidden for so long after his arrival. However, he wasn¡¯t particrly worried. Ben had already secured him a brand¨Cnew identity as a specially appointed foreign professor at a prestigious university. With that status, he was protected by international organizations. Brandon brought Zayne over to Briar. Ashton shot Zayne a look of pure disgust, then turned his gaze to the girl¡¯sposed face. ¡°Briar, want to interrogate him now, or should we eat first?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do it now. Ashton, do you have an interrogation room? The kind with all the gear?¡± The anger in Briar¡¯s eyes strangely faded as soon as she saw Zayne. Ashton didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°We¡¯ll use my vi next to thepany.¡± Brandon nodded and waved to his men to drag Zayne over. Connor quickly trotted after them, determined to escort them personally. Now that the target had been captured, Ashton showed no sign of leaving. Alfred had no choice but to brace himself and step forward. ¡°Mr. Wade, what about¡­¡± Ashton gazed at Alfred with the chilling certainty that he was already a dead man. ¡°Mr. Davis, you have a remarkable son. I expect to see both of you at my door by seven tonight.¡± Ashton¡¯s words seemed polite and devoid of any threat, yet Alfred¡¯s face turned pale. He stammered, pleading, ¡°Mr. Wade, Robert is still young. Please, give him a chance¡­¡± AD Comment Send gift No Ads Forsaken 194 Alfred¡¯s following words were overshadowed entirely by Ashton¡¯s deep, emotionless gaze. Under that icy stare, he felt his entire body freeze, as if the chill had seeped into his bones. It was frigid. ¡®How could I have forgotten?¡® he wondered. ¡®He is never someone we can take lightly.¡¯ In Shoneport, where the top 100panies gathered, order was only preserved because of the Wade Group¡¯s overwhelming influence across their dealings. Regardless of whether one yed by the rules or not, the entire corporate world operated under Ashton¡¯s unspoken guidelines. Anyone who dared to break those rules faced a truly miserable fate. So, considering that Ashton owned nearly a third of Dasmieca¡¯s industries and was worth a fortune, it was unreasonable to expect him to be easy to negotiate with. Alfred couldn¡¯t even bear to think about what would happen to the Davis family if the Wade Group decided to target them openly. Then there was Briar¨Ca shrewd and calcting woman. As the least favored daughter of the Jennings family, she had hardly returned to Shoneport before attaching herself to someone as influential as Ashton. Only Robert, who was foolish, failed to recognize the reality of the situation and attempted to employ low¨Clevel tricks against Briar. What he believed to be harmless scheming ultimately provoked a deadly counterattack. It appeared that Robert¡¯s stupidity might lead to the ruin of the entire Davis family this time. Alfred¡¯s regret came toote. Ashton had already ordered him to bring Robert and wait at the gate of the house by seven that evening. There was no ambiguity¨Ctonight was the time to settle the score. Alfred¡¯s forehead throbbed as he watched Ashton and Briar get into the car and leave. The other bodyguards followed closely behind, all driving away. He had no idea OW Ashton was going to settle the score with the Davis family this time. It would be a relief if Ashton were willing to discuss things. After all, despite all of Robert¡¯s antics, he hadn¡¯t truly managed to harm Briar. Alfred had just seen Briar¨Cshe was up and about,pletely fine, and without a scratch on her. Robert¡¯s little scheme to disrupt her had utterly failed. Since nothing significant had urred, there was still plenty of room for maneuvering. But if Ashton had no intention of reasoning and was using this as a chance to strike at the Davis family¨Ccutting them off from the upper circle for good¨Cit was a terrifying prospect. The idea alone sent a chill down Alfred¡¯s spine. Perhaps that was why Ashton was making such a decisive move and showing up in person. The Davis family, once one of the top four elite families in Shoneport, may no longer be in the highest tier. Still,pared to those lesser families, their resources remain sufficient to attract considerable interest from many. The panic in Alfred¡¯s eyes gradually gave way to fierce determination. If Ashton truly intended to take down the Davis family, Alfred wasn¡¯t going to stand idle and let it happen. Once Ashton¡¯s car disappeared from view, the hotel staff finally felt brave enough to approach Alfred, who remained there in a daze. They couldn¡¯t help but look at him with sympathy. 13:25 Thu, 21 Aug A ??36%. They still weren¡¯t entirely sure what had happened, but they had seen Ashton arrive with his men, surround the hotel, and create amotion as they stormed in and dragged someone out. The entire incident unfolded so quickly that the staff didn¡¯t even have time to advise the other guests to remain in their rooms¨Cso naturally, everyone witnessed everything. 413 Some sharp¨Ceyed guests, seeing Ashton¡¯s team in action, had already started packing. When the crown prince of Shoneport surrounded a hotel, its glory days were likely over. Wanting to avoid trouble, they quietly prepared to switch to a different hotel. Shoneport boasted plenty of excellent hotels¨Cjust the five¨Cstar ones under Ashton¡¯s name were more than enough. The Davis family¡¯s hotel wasn¡¯t the only option. Ultimately, a hotel was a hotel, and choosing a good one mattered far more than its name. Once one guest requested to check out, others quickly followed. Soon, nearly every guest was crowding the front desk, eager to leave. The receptionists, overwhelmed and unfamiliar with such a rush, only began processing check¨Couts after getting approval from their manager. Even if they refused to process the check¨Couts, there was no way they could prevent these guests from leaving. Alfred watched as more and more guests checked out, feeling numb inside¨Che had long since passed the point of caring. All he could do was hope that those guests wouldn¡¯t start talking once they left the hotel. If word got out that Ashton himself had surrounded the ce, containing the fallout would be impossible. And this was only the beginning. Once the news began to spread outside, the real cmity for the Davis family wouldmence. If word spread that he had brought Robert to Ashton¡¯s doorstep for a public apology, no one would want to do business with the Davis family. Ashton¡¯s tactic was ruthless, and whether the Davis family survived or fell from grace was no longer the concern of the Wade family. With a screech of brakes, Richard¡¯s car came to a sudden stop in front of a bewildered Alfred. Richard rushed out, concern etched on his face. ¡°Dad, what happened?¡± he questioned, ncing at the crowd streaming out of the hotel and the nearby manager. He could sense that something was amiss. ¡°Richard, your brother has gotten us into a lot of trouble this time,¡± Alfred said, visibly rxing as soon as he saw Richard. He stumbled slightly, nearly losing his bnce. Fortunately, Richard swiftly steadied him. ¡°Dad, let¡¯s get in the car first, then we¡¯ll talk.¡± With so many people around, it wasn¡¯t the best ce for a conversation. Richard assisted Alfred into the car and quickly drove to an empty parking lot. ¡°What did Mr. Wade say?¡± he inquired. On his way here, Richard had mentally prepared himself. ¡®With Mr. Wade personally overseeing our hotel, there¡¯s no way this will end well,¡® he thought grimly. As he assessed the situation, his heart sank even further. Alfred told Richard everything, withholding nothing. Richard, furious, pounded the steering wheel twice. ¡°That idiot Robert! Once this is over, I¡¯m sending him overseas right away. If he dares to get involved with Beatrice again, I¡¯ll break his legs.¡± 1325 THAU, 36% Alfred sat in the passenger seat, looking as if he had aged ten years overnight. ¡°Richard, please call Robert and ask him toe back.¡± Richard¡¯s voice brimmed with concern. ¡°Dad, what if I take Robert with me tonight at seven? If Mr. Wade decides to confront him, I can at least try to shield him from the fallout.¡± He could boast about breaking Robert¡¯s legs, but there was no way he could stand by and let his brother walk straight into danger. ¡°Mr. Wade specifically mentioned that I should be the one to bring Robert. It would be inappropriate if you went instead,¡± Alfred said, shaking his head. ¡°I will take him myself.¡± At Ashton¡¯s vi on the city¡¯s busiest avenue, the basement door stood ajar, and waves of agonized screams echoed from within. Ashton, Brandon, and the others had all been sent out, leaving Briar alone inside¨Cshe was the one personally interrogating Zayne. AD Comment Forsaken 195 Chapter 195 Even the battle¨Chardened Connor felt a chill run down his spine as the agonized screams echoed from behind the door. ¡®Damn! Miss Jennings is savage!¡® he thought. Curiosity getting the better of him, he leaned in and whispered to Ashton, ¡°Is Miss Jennings just a delicate, innocent girl for sure?¡± Brandon, standing nearby, wore a simrlyplicated expression. He had sneaked a peek inside earlier, and despite Briar¡¯s gentle appearance, she seemed familiar with those instruments hanging on the wall¨Cno less than any of them. Ashton leaned against the wall, an unlit cigarette pinched between his fingers. Ever since the screams started, he hadn¡¯t looked inside even once. It wasn¡¯t out of fear¨Che simply trusted that Briar wouldn¡¯t lose control and stabbed Zayne to death on a whim. Anyone with ears could tell how brutal and bloody things had be. Ashton¡¯s expression remained calm, his gaze steady and unmoved. But beneath thatposed exterior, only he knew how restless his heart truly was. ¡®Is the Briar I once knew¨Cthe one who was kind andpassionate¨Cthe same person as the merciless figure I see now? Or perhaps, who is the real Briar?¡® he wondered. Briar was a highly skilled doctor and the direct disciple of the legendary Tristan ckwell. She was acquainted with the international mercenaryn, who surprisingly treated her with great respect. Additionally, she was the enigmatic Speed Queen Bree, known for her exceptional driving skills that even impressed Hamish. Then there was the Jennings family, clearly hiding secrets. Even someone like Beatrice had essed the dark web, hired hackers, and put a hit on Briar. Zayne was now in custody, and Sawyer was also involved. There had to be a powerful underground force backing them¨Cone that had targeted Rosalia over a decade ago. It appeared that the organization had turned its attention to Briar once more. Based on Briar¡¯s attitude toward Zayne, it was clear that she had begun investigating this organization quite some time ago. The more Ashton learned about Briar, the more enigmatic she became, and the deeper his fascination with her grew. Ashton remained silent, and despite Brandon and Connor¡¯s growing anxiety, neither of them dared to interfere with Briar. All they could do was stand outside the door, waiting and listening. After another hour, the screams inside had faded to little more than a whisper. Concerned that something terrible might happen to the man inside, Brandon leaned in and whispered, ¡°Mr. Wade, Zayne sounds like he can¡¯t hold on much longer, Shouldn¡¯t we go in?¡± ¡®Hope Miss Jennings doesn¡¯t end up killing him!¡® he thought. Ashton was quiet for a moment. ¡°Let¡¯s wait a bit more,¡± he finally said. ¡®Still waiting?¡® Brandon thought, growing restless. C +13 Connor was starting to lose his patience, too. ¡°Mr. Wade¡­¡± ¡°Rx. Briar knows exactly what she¡¯s doing. Don¡¯t forget, she¡¯s a doctor¨Cshe knows how to make someone suffer without actually killing them,¡± Ashton said calmly, though his words sent a chill down both Brandon and Connor¡¯s spines. ¡®What does Mr. Wade mean by that?¡® they wondered. ¡®Has Miss Jennings been in there interrogating Zayne all this time without leaving him seriously hurt?¡® they asked themselves. Brandon and Connor exchanged nces, both thinking, ¡®Is she this intense?¡® After some time, the screams from inside faded. Briar eventually stepped out, her pace unhurried, gloved hands stained deep red. Blood dripped steadily from her fingertips, yet not a single drop touched her sleeves, clothes, pants, or even her shoes¨Can eerie disy of precision amidst the carnage. Brandon and Connor stared at her, their eyes wide in shock, both thinking, ¡®Wow, that¡¯s unbelievable!¡® Briar now appeared almost apathetic; her initial excitement and ruthlessness when she first encountered Zayne had faded entirely. Her long hair flowed loosely behind her, giving her an air of distance and icy detachment. Witnessing her in this state, Ashton¡¯s typically frosty demeanor quickly softened. He inquired, ¡°Finished?¡± Briar nodded. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m finished here. Connor, you guys can head in.¡± Brandon and Connor quickly turned to Ashton, only pushing open the half¨Cclosed door and stepping inside after he gave them a nod. In the next moment, the sound of their sharp intake of breath echoed from within. Ashton¡¯s eyes widened as he turned to look as well. His pupils dted, and he felt a jolt in his chest. There, tied to the wall, was Zayne¨Cblood streaming from every part of his body. His clothes appeared drenched in blood, making him look as though he were a man made entirely of it. Every inch of exposed skin was gushing crimson. Just as Ashton had said, Briar was a doctor. So, even though Zayne appeared to be on the verge of bleeding outpletely, he remained conscious, helplessly forced to witness the blood continue pouring from his own body. The impact was not just a visual shock; the psychological toll on Zayne was equally devastating. Zayne¡¯s lips trembled, his gaze unfocused¨Che appeared utterly terrified. The usual calm smile faded from Ashton¡¯s face. He nced at theposed, unppable Briar, contemted saying something, but ultimately shook his head with a resigned sigh. Then he gently said to Briar, ¡°That awful smell clings. Come on, let¡¯s get you cleaned up and wash it off.¡± Briar lowered her head and sniffed her hands. As expected, the unpleasant, metallic scent lingered. She nodded quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Okay.¡± It was Ashton¡¯s ce near thepany. Before meeting Briar, he spent almost every workweek here, and the ce was fully stocked with all the essentials. However, Ashton was the type who preferred everything to be spotless and in perfect order. There wasn¡¯t a single piece of women¡¯s clothing in the entire house¡ªjust his belongings. Even if someone sent over clothes right away, it would still take at least half an hour. After her shower, Briar had 13:25 Thu, 21 Aug 36% nothing to change into, so she made do with one of Ashton¡¯s shirts from his closet. There were no pants for her to wear, so she found herself with bare legs. Fortunately, Ashton was broad- shouldered and tall, allowing his shirt to drape down to Briar¡¯s thighs, barely covering her as long as she remained indoors and out of sight, wearing Ashton¡¯s shirt as a nightgown was a fabulous idea. Briar tossed her clothes into the washing machine, set it to the fastest drying cycle, and patiently waited in Ashton¡¯s bedroom. Before long, Ashton knocked on the door and entered, carrying a ss of milk and a te of fruit. When he looked up, he noticed Briar sitting on the window seat, wearing his shirt¡ªher long, delicate legs particrly striking, making it difficult to look away. Ashton swallowed. ¡°Don¡¯t sit there, you¡¯ll catch a cold. Come over here and sit on the couch. Have some fruit.¡± Briar turned her head and noticed the intrigued look on Ashton¡¯s face. A sly smile danced on her lips as she asked yfully, ¡°Ashton, why won¡¯t you look me in the eye?¡± With that, she moved gracefully towards him, causing his shirt to sway with each step, teasing him with glimpses of her hidden allure. Forsaken 196 Chapter 196 36% Briar advanced toward Ashton, sessfully cornering the usually calm andposed Ashton against the door. Today, he wore a ck shirt that coincidentally matched the white one Briar had on¨Cjust in a different color. Her unintentional choice made it seem as though she had deliberately worn matching couple shirts to flirt with him. As Briar approached, Ashton¡¯s rolled¨Cup sleeves revealed his lean, muscr arms, the veins standing out as he tensed. Watching here closer, he offered a helpless warning, his voice low: ¡°Babe, don¡¯t y with fire.¡± But his warning fell on deaf ears. Briar stepped closer, narrowing the distance between them to just a fist¡¯s width. Confident it was still broad daylight and that Ashton wouldn¡¯t dare to do anything, she adopted a sweet, innocent tone and teased, ¡°Me? When have I ever flirted with you?¡± Ashton closed his eyes for a moment, but when he opened them again, the heat of desire still burned in his gaze. With her standing so close, he could smell the scent of Briar¡¯s hair¨Ca fragrance he was familiar with, but in that moment, it felt like gasoline thrown on the fire of his desire, making it nearly unbearable. Because Ashton was so close, he could see the way Briar¡¯s chest rose and fell with every breath¨Cthe movement was alluring, yful, and utterly captivating. From this distance, he could appreciate every detail of her lovely face and those slightly parted, dangerously tempting lips. He had tasted those lips before¨Csoft, sweet, and so addictive that he craved them endlessly. Typicallyposed Ashton found himselfpletely thrown off his game with the woman he loved standing so close. He struggled to maintain hisposure, his voice strained. ¡°Babe, you can¡¯t do this to me. You know I have things to take care ofter¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, I am. What, you don¡¯t like it?¡± Briar tilted her chin up in a yful challenge, her delicate jaw lifting as she closed the distance¨Cher lips, which Ashton was obsessed with, now just a breath away from his. There was a mischievous sparkle in Briar¡¯s eyes; she was teasing him on purpose. Ashton was entirely at her mercy, all hisposure gone. ¡°I like it. Babe, do whatever you want¨CI¡¯m all yours.¡± With that, Briar grasped Ashton¡¯s taut, veined arm, rose on her tiptoes, and leaned in. Just when Ashton thought Briar was about to kiss him boldly, she suddenly reached out and effortlessly took the fruit tter from his hand, holding the ss of milk just as steadily as he had. ¡°Ashton, let me hold this for you,¡± she said, her eyes sparkling with yful mischief. Briar shed him a yful grin, released his arm, took a few steps back, and turned to walk away. However, she didn¡¯t get very far, Ashton suddenly grabbed her arm¨Chis grip just right, neither too tight nor too loose- preventing her from pulling away, yet the tter and the milk in her hand remained steady without spilling a drop. Ashton wrapped his arms around Briar from behind, pulling her tightly against his chest. He leaned down, his lips brushing her ear as he let out a low, husky chuckle¨Cimpossibly alluring. ¡°Babe, you think you can just tease me and run? Do you even realize where you are right now? It is my bedroom. Where do you think you can escape to?¡± Briar¡¯s body tensed for a brief moment before rxing again, but Ashton noticed it immediately. ¡°Babe, I know 13.25 Aug 36% you¡¯re using this whole flirting thing to blow off some steam, but don¡¯t you think it¡¯s getting a bit out of hand?¡± The fruit tter found its way back into Ashton¡¯s hands. With one arm holding the tter and the other wrapped around Briar, he led her over to the sofa. After cing the tter down on the low table, he gently lifted her onto hisp, facing him. Briar was wearing nothing but an oversized shirt. Seated this way, the shirt barely covered her, leaving her soft, delicate thighspletely exposed to Ashton¡¯s eager gaze. The air was thick with heat and flirtation, as if waves of desire were rippling all around them. Briar¡¯s heart raced¨Cshe began to panic, attempting to squirm out of Ashton¡¯sp, but hisrge hand held her firmly at the waist. There was no escaping him. ¡°What are you trying to escape from? Afraid I¡¯ll consume you?¡± Ashton grinned as he observed Briar Jennings¡¯s flustered and panicked expression. He purposefully tightened his grip around her waist, pulling her closer until their bodies were pressed entirely together, leaving no space between them¨Cevery inch of her was against him. Briar¡¯s eyes widened in shock¨Cshe couldn¡¯t believe Ashton was being such a shameless tease, acting like aplete rogue. ¡°You-¡± Her protest was abruptly silenced as he leaned in. Ashton gently grasped Briar¡¯s chin and tilted her face up. Locking eyes with her stunned expression, he pressed his lips against hers. As their lips connected, he let out a low, contented sigh¨Cit was just as intoxicating as always. The kiss was deep and fervent; Ashton¡¯s movements drew out every shy response from Briar. In the quiet bedroom, only the soft sounds of their kisses and Briar¡¯s gentle moans lingered in the air. When they finally broke apart, she felt entirely at ease, sinking into Ashton¡¯s arms without resistance. Briar¡¯s lips were now red, soft, and kissed¨Ctinged, her cheeks vibrant with color, and her eyes shimmering with yful allure. She struggled to catch her breath as she shot him a fierce re. ¡°Ashton, you¡¯re just too much.¡± Ashton lounged back on the sofa, one arm wrapped securely around Briar¡¯s waist to prevent her from slipping away, looking rxed andpletely satisfied. His deep eyes were half¨Cclosed, glowing with intensity. Just as Briar sensed the impending danger and attempted to escape, he murmured teasingly in a low voice, ¡°Babe, are you going to tease and run? That¡¯s a real heartbreaker move.¡± Briar was utterly speechless. ¡®Seriously, who¡¯s teasing who here?¡® she grumbled inwardly. ¡®I¡¯m the one who¡¯s been kissed so hard. My legs are jelly and I can¡¯t even sit up straight, and he still has the nerve to say that?¡® she fumed. Ashton offered her a knowing smile, embodying the essence of a charming gentleman. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Briar¡¯s angry expression froze, and all her righteous fury evaporated instantly. Her eyes darted around as she attempted to avoid the topic. ¡°My clothes are ready. I¡¯m going to change, so please let me go.¡± Ashton had already lured her into his bedroom¨Cthere was no way he would let her escape that easily, especially since she was the one who initiated all of this. ¡°Take your time. Drink your milk first.¡± He took the ss of milk from the low table and brought it to Briar¡¯s lips. ¡°I added some honey to it.¡± 36% Briar attempted to grasp the ss herself, but Ashton prevented her, insisting on feeding her instead. Eager to escape his hold, Briar gulped down the milk in one swift motion, not pausing for breath. Once finished, she looked up and met Ashton¡¯s gaze. ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± ¡®That should mean he¡¯ll let me go now, right?¡® she thought hopefully. But the hungry look in Ashton¡¯s eyes only intensified. ¡°Babe, it seems you have some milk on your lips. Let me help with that.¡± To her surprise, he leaned in and captured her lips once more. ¡°Ash-¡± Every bit of Briar¡¯s resistance was swallowed up as Ashton dragged her right back into the endless sea of his passion, leaving her utterly powerless to escape. Briar widened her eyes in ast¨Cditch attempt to make Ashton back off, but he covered her eyes with his hand¨Cand just like that, she surrendered, body and soul, all over again. AD Forsaken 197 Chapter 197 36% Briar sat by the window, already dressed, but no matter what anyone said, she wouldn¡¯t step outside. It wasn¡¯t for any specific reason¨Cjust a mix of embarrassment and frustration. The only time she¡¯d ever slipped up handling a weapon was back when she first started training. She never imagined she¡¯d face a very different kind of unexpected discharge today. Ashton had gone to the guest room and taken a cold shower for half an hour. When he returned, he found Briar still sitting by the window and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡®Shouldn¡¯t I be the one feeling embarrassed here?¡® Ashton thought. Caught off guard and nearly losing control, Ashton¡¯s emotions were on a tumultuous rollercoaster. Fortunately, his strong willpower enabled him to suppress his desires, allowing him to walk away just in time. Ashton approached and gently adjusted Briar¡¯s hair as he asked, ¡°Briar, are you still upset?¡± Briar stayed silent, her lips swollen and tender, each movement bringing a faint ache. She still couldn¡¯t believe it- Ashton had kissed her with such intensity it felt like he was trying to consume her whole. If that phone call hadn¡¯t interrupted him, she might¡¯ve truly been swept away by his hunger. ¡°No,¡± Briar muttered. She was mainly frustrated with herself for constantly losing herposure around Ashton, and since bing his girlfriend, these moments of weakness had be increasingly frequent. The possibility of things continuing to spiral left Briar feeling quietly unsettled. ¡°Now that you¡¯re no longer upset, how about we head downstairs together and see what Connor and the others uncovered during the interrogation?¡± Ashton suggested, crouching down to help her with her shoes. Briar stared at Ashton in silence, unsure of what to say. ¡°Alright,¡± she finally agreed. He was being so humble and trying so hard to please her that she couldn¡¯t ignore him any longer. She nodded, put on her shoes, and followed Ashton downstairs. In the living room, Brandon and Connor were sitting on the couch, chatting. When they saw Ashton and Briar Ashton pulled Briar down onto the couch and nodded at Connor. ¡°How did the interrogation go?¡± Connor nodded. ¡°We¡¯re almost done with the questioning. Based on Zayne¡¯s confession, he and Sawyer are involved in an undergroundb overseas, where they both hold senior professor positions. Zayne has been part of this undergroundb for twenty¨Cfive years¡­¡± As Connor reported the results of the interrogation, Briar felt a surge of anger welling up inside her. Her suspicions were confirmed¨CZayne was one of the researchers behind that new drug all those years ago. The project for this drug officially received funding and began twenty¨Cfive years ago. Three yearster, this depression¨Cinducing drug was sessfully developed. However, without any clinical trials, no one knew the potential side effects or the severity of harm it could cause to the body. Consequently, they ced ads on obscure websites seeking volunteers. Rosalia Jennings was one of the first participants in these ? .36%? experiments, and among all the victims, her death was the most tragic. Edgar, Rosalia¡¯s ambitious new husband, signed up for the drug trial, not Rosalia herself. To ensure everything went smoothly, Edgar kept the truth from her, falsely iming it was merely a special health supplement he had purchased for her. +13 Back then, Rosalia was still reveling in the bliss of newlywed life,pletely enamored with Edgar. She epted his words without question and took the pills he suggested without hesitation. As a result, Rosalia lost her sanity, fled from home, and ultimately died alone in a psychiatric hospital. It wasn¡¯t until Rosalia lost her mind and was sent to a mental hospital by a so¨Ccalled ¡°good Samaritan¡± that the undergroundb where Zayne worked discovered she was the heiress of the Grant family, one of the most powerful families in Shoneport, Dasmieca. At that time, the Grant family¡¯s influence in Shoneport wasparable to that of the Wade family today. Fearing that the truth would be revealed and that the Grant family would seek revenge, the undergroundb had promptly ceased all clinical trials of the new drug and had destroyed all rted evidence. It was also why, to this day, the Grant family had been unable to locate any trace of that undergroundb. During her initial interrogation, Briar hadpelled Zayne to disclose the precise location of the undergroundb overseas. She had already shared this information with the DDC Vanguard Base and her two uncles. Now, all she could do was wait and hope that they would return with good news. Connor captured Zayne because the undergroundb he worked for had been using the corpses of members from the 121 Mercenary Organization for their experiments. They even went so far as to hire hitmen to acquire washed- up or discarded mercenaries from the 121 Mercenary Organization, all to achieve better experimental results. As chaos unfolded, Ashton ordered a hunt for every researcher connected to the undergroundb. Zayne became the first target for Connor. However, no one anticipated that a seemingly insignificant researcher like Zayne would uncover so many concealed secrets. Considering what happened to Briar¡¯s mother, Zayne and everyone in that undergroundb were as good as dead. ¡°Briar, the individual behind that undergroundb, is certainly not someone to be taken lightly. Don¡¯t act rashly,¡± Ashton warned, concerned that Briar might engage in reckless behavior given her current emotional state. Briar¡¯s face grew solemn as she nodded. ¡°I know. I won¡¯t do anything reckless. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡®As if!¡® Briar scoffed inwardly. Now that she knew where the undergroundb was¨Cand had Sawyer as leverage- she wasn¡¯t about to let this chance slip by. The only reason she hadn¡¯t moved yet was because she was waiting on word from her uncles. Once that came, those people wouldn¡¯tst the day. Ashton studied Briar¡¯s calm gaze, feeling uneasy. He had once seen her as innocent, but now he knew how capable she truly was. After watching her steady demeanor while interrogating Zayne today, his view of her changedpletely. ¡°Mr. Wade, should I take Zayne back now?¡± Connor quickly said, having noticed the tension simmering beneath Briar¡¯s calm appearance. 13:26 Thu, 21 Aug 36% Ashton pulled his gaze away from Briar and nodded. ¡°Yeah, get him out of here as soon as possible. Keep a tight watch on him¨Cdon¡¯t let him die too easily.¡± Connor immediately stood up. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll get Zayne out of here right away.¡± Not wanting to risk anything going wrong, Connor knew he had to leave immediately. Brandon was watching Briar closely and noticed that when she heard they were taking Zayne away, she showed no reaction at all. ¡®This isn¡¯t right,¡® Brandon thought. ¡®With how much Miss Jennings hates Zayne, she should¡¯ve at least tried to stop us, or at the very least, asked a few more questions.¡® However, Briar didn¡¯t bat an eye, as if she couldn¡¯t care less about what happened to Zayne¨Cwhether he stayed or left, lived or died, it was all the same to her. ¡®If Miss Jennings doesn¡¯t care about what happens to Zayne, then whose life does she want?¡® Brandon couldn¡¯t help but wonder, suspicion gnawing at him. ¡°Wait a second¡­ Could it be that Briar¡¯s true target was never Zayne from the beginning?¡± The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. That same thought raced through Ashton, Brandon, and Connor¡¯s minds simultaneously, causing their hearts to pound wildly in shock. Forsaken 198 36 +13 Connor took Zayne away, while Brandon arranged for a private jet to send him out directly. They moved so quickly that it felt like someone was right behind them. Fortunately, Briar wasn¡¯t paying attention to Zayne anymore. Otherwise, with all the noise they made, she definitely would have tracked them in the shadows. Today was a good day, and Briar had a hearty appetite for dinner. After the meal, she and Ashton rode home. together. ¡°Make sure to get some rest early tonight,¡± Ashton said as he walked Briar to her door, handing her cupcakes. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink things.¡± The cupcakes were Briar¡¯s favorite vor, which Ashton had specially purchased just for her. Though indulging in sweets at night wasn¡¯t the healthiest choice, Ashton made it a point to bring her one. Briar had a sweet tooth and never refused a treat, no matter howte it was. She always made sure to finish it before the night ended. ¡°Okay, you should get some rest too¡­¡± Briar nodded, cradling the cupcakes in her hands. Remembering how Ashton often struggled to sleep, she teased, ¡°Do you want me to tuck you in tonight?¡± Briar never forgot to offer to tuck him in every night, and it always filled Ashton¡¯s heart with warmth. He gently cupped her cheek and said, ¡°No need. I¡¯lle byter and watch you fall asleep instead.¡± ¡°What?¡± Briar stared at him, caught off guard. ¡°You¡¯reing over to watch me sleep?¡± She shot Ashton a suspicious look, trying to figure out what he was plotting this time. Ashton felt a mix of amusement and exasperation at her reaction. He raised an eyebrow and replied, ¡°Oh? You alwayse over to tuck me in. Why can¡¯t I tuck you in tonight?¡± His tone was so casual, as if tucking his girlfriend in for the night was something he did regrly. Briar bit her lip, wanting to remind him that even if he came over to help her fall asleep, with how things usually went between them, he¡¯d likely end up dozing off first. But Ashton looked so serious, and after the closeness they¡¯d shared earlier that day, Briar couldn¡¯t bring/herself to refuse when she looked into those bright, earnest eyes of his. ¡°Alright, but just to help me sleep, okay? You take the couch, I¡¯ll be in bed¨Cjust like when I help you fall asleep,¡± Briar emphasized. Ashton certainly knew how to test the boundaries of his luck, and Briar couldn¡¯t resist him. Ashton caught the underlying meaning of her words, his eyes dancing withughter. ¡°Babe, as your boyfriend, I don¡¯t even get the chance to sit by your bedside and help you fall asleep? That genuinely breaks my heart, you know.¡± As he spoke, he dramatically clutched his chest, as if Briar had genuinely injured him. But Briar wasn¡¯t convinced. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about charming me with your looks, Ashton. Haven¡¯t you been told that you¡¯re far too dangerous?¡± People who looked good were always a threat. Ashton let out a soft chuckle. ¡°What a pity. I can¡¯t believe my looks aren¡¯t enough to impress my girl tonight.¡± Worried Ashton might try something again, Briar hurriedly pushed him out the door. ¡°Go on, get back and freshen up.¡± 13:26 Thu, 21 Aug 01 413 Brandon was standing by the gate. Seeing Ashton get brushed off by Briar again, he couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Mr. Wade, never thought I¡¯d see the day you got treated like this.¡± His face was practically glowing with glee at Ashton¡¯s misfortune. Ashton shot Brandon a sidelong nce, a faint smile on his lips, before walking away. In his mind, teasing only came with care, and care could grow into love. And love¨Cwell, that was unshakable. Briar was already his heart and soul. Once Briar got home, she hurried straight to the bathroom. Rather than jumping right into the shower, she took out her phone, connected to a securework, and dialed a hidden number. The person on the other end answered almost immediately, sounding a bit excited. ¡°Miss Jennings.¡± ¡°Memphis, any updates on those individuals?¡± Briar¡¯s tone was cold¨Cquite different from how she spoke to Ashton. Yet, for Memphis and his team, this was the voice they recognized best. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. By the time we arrived, they were likely tipped off and had already left. Theb was empty¨Cjust old equipment, nothing useful,¡± Memphis reported. It was rare for Briar to give him a direct task, and returning empty- handed frustrated him more than it did her. Briar offered a brief acknowledgment, saying little. It wasn¡¯t shocking. ¡°Understood. Keep searching, and let me know if you discover anything.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Memphis replied. Before hanging up, Briar added onest reminder: ¡°Make sure to tell the guys to stay safe and not underestimate the enemy.¡± Memphis chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Miss Jennings. We¡¯re all people you trained¨Ctaking us down isn¡¯t that easy.¡± Briar replied, a slight smile in her voice. ¡°Alright.¡± As soon as the call ended, the smile faded from Briar¡¯s face. She calmly removed her clothes and stepped into the shower, letting the warm water cascade over her. Zayne and the puppeteers behind him had better hope they would never cross paths with her. If they did, she would have made sure their torment was so excruciating they¡¯d beg for death. Half an hourter, the doorbell rang downstairs. Briar quickly dried off, slipped into her pajamas, swept her damp hair over her shoulder, and hurried downstairs to answer the door. It was a chillyte autumn night, and when Ashton saw Briare down like that, he frowned slightly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you dry your hair beforeing out?¡± Briar shrugged and led him inside. ¡°It¡¯s fine. My hair will dry soon enough.¡± Briar never enjoyed blow¨Cdrying her hair, Even when she did, she would only dry it halfway. When she visited Ashton¡¯s ce, she always made sure to dry it thoroughly so it wouldn¡¯t drip and wet her clothes. But now that she was at home, she couldn¡¯t be bothered. Ashton followed Briar upstairs and into the bedroom. Instead of heading to the couch, he slipped into the 13 26 Thu, 21 Aug ? ???36%¡ê bathroom. A momentter, he emerged holding a hair dryer and gestured for Briar toe over. ¡°Briar,e sit by the bed.¡± Briar tilted her head. ¡°Wait, is he going to dry my hair for me?¡± In the end, she didn¡¯t say no. She obediently walked over, sat cross¨Clegged at the edge of the bed, and turned her back to Ashton. Ashton¡¯s delicate fingers delicately gathered her damp hair, clumsily trying to dry it for her. As he lifted her hair, it showcased the elegant curve of her neck¨Ccaptivating in an irresistibly way. The steady hum of the hair dryer in the background intensified the cozy atmosphere, adding a subtle sense of intimate tension. Sensing the air between them thickening with unspoken tension, Briar instinctively attempted to pull away. However, with Ashton¡¯s hand still gripping her hair, she found no escape. His voice came from above her: ¡°Don¡¯t move; I¡¯m almost done here.¡± Briar felt as if the heat on her neck was intensifying, which might have been her imagination, but it reminded her of the way Ashton had stared at her earlier that day. Just as she attempted to pull away again, Ashton turned off the hair dryer and said, ¡°Alright, it¡¯s done.¡± The whirring suddenly ceased, and Briar immediately noticed Ashton¡¯s breathing behind her¨Cslightly rough and heavy. She turned around, giving him a cautious nce, and warned, ¡°Ashton, you promised¨Cyou¡¯re only here to help me sleep, nothing more. Keep it appropriate.¡± Forsaken 199 Ashton wound up the hair dryer cord and set it on the nightstand. Looking into Briar¡¯s eyes, he said, ¡°Of course. Just like you coaxed me to sleep, I¡¯ll coax you. Now, get under the covers.¡± Without a second¡¯s hesitation, Briar dove under the nket, pulling it all the way up to just below her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m all tucked in, Ashton. You should go sit over there now.¡± She thought Ashton would say something else, but to her surprise, he obediently walked over to the sofa and sat down. Except for those burning eyes of his, he didn¡¯t look dangerous at all. Still, Briar didn¡¯t dare let her guard down. The intimate time they had earlier today made her heart flutter just thinking about it. It was honestly mortifying. It was even more embarrassing than waking up to find herself sleeping in Ashton¡¯s arms. Ashton always knew how to squeeze every bit of value out of any situation. Even Briar could never get the upper hand when she was with him. But thankfully, this time Ashton seemed to be a man of his word. He stayed on the sofa the whole time, one hand propping up his head and the other drapedzily over the armrest, right up until Briar was drifting off to sleep. He lounged there, lookingpletely at ease, eyes closed. Briar couldn¡¯t tell if he was actually asleep or just resting. Either way, he seemed totally harmless. Briar was exhausted. She figured there was no way Ashton would be shameless enough to do anything to her while she was asleep. So she let her guard down and drifted off into a deep sleep. About ten minutes after she¡¯d fallen asleep, Ashton, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. He got up and walked over to Briar¡¯s bed. Looking down at her peaceful, defenseless face, with an unusually gentle look in his eyes, he cautiously leaned closer. Seeing that she didn¡¯t react, he quietly lifted the nket and slipped in beside her. If Briar had known that this sly man was nning something like this, there¡¯s no way she would¡¯ve let herself fall asleep so soundly. But her body reacted before her mind could catch up. When Ashtony down and pulled her into his arms, she instinctively buried her face in his chest, breathing in his familiar scent, her head unconsciously nuzzling against him. Ashton¡¯s gaze grew even softer. ¡®Nothing warms my heart more than someone trusting you without even thinking about it,¡® he thought. He bent down and pressed a gentle kiss to Briar¡¯s forehead. ¡°Go to sleep.¡® While things were all warm and romantic on one side, in a rundown warehouse on the outskirts, it was a whole different kind of hell for some people.¡± 13:26 AU 36% ¡°Ugh¡­¡± With every agonized scream, a man covered in blood was being beaten like a rag doll by four or five men in ck. If they hadn¡¯t deliberately avoided his vital spots, he¡¯d probably be dead already. ¡°Mr. Garza, please, have mercy. I swear. I don¡¯t know anything¡­¡± The man spat out a tooth, blood, and spit dribbling down his chin as he begged, barely able to speak. In the shadows of a corner of the warehouse, someone sat shrouded in darkness. The dim light couldn¡¯t reveal his face, only the glowing tip of a cigarette moving back and forth. ¡°All your men have been pinned down by Ashton¡¯s crew, and you¡¯re telling me you don¡¯t know anything? Jake, do you really believe that yourself?¡± Jake was stillpletely out of it. He had no clue how Ashton¡¯s guys managed to track down his crew. If it hadn¡¯t been Brandon who came to nab them, he would¡¯ve thought Ben was setting him up. ¡°I swear. I don¡¯t know anything! Please, Mr. Garza, have mercy¡­ Please, just let me go!¡± The more Jake thought about it, the more terrified he got. He dropped to his knees, banging his head on the floor as he begged Ben for his life, sobbing uncontrobly. For street punks like him, as long as they could stay alive, they¡¯d do anything, even if it meant groveling or calling someone ¡°Dad¡± right then and there. Ben flicked his cigarette into the light. ¡°End him.¡± They¡¯d been beating Jake for a whole hour. For a coward like him, he was already at his absolute limit. That just proved he really didn¡¯t know anything. No point wasting any more time. ¡°No! Mr. Garza, please, spare my life! I can make it right, I swear!¡± Jake broke down sobbing, his fear overwhelming him. It was all because of his own greed. That 1.6 million dors had blinded him, and now he and his crew were stuck in this mess. If he¡¯d been caught by Ashton¡¯s people, he might¡¯ve had a shot at survival. But once Ben gave up on someone, there were only two oues left: either get killed, or end up as a guinea pig in theirb. No matter what, it was a death sentence. Ben was more ruthless than Ashton. But Ben was already on his feet, leaving with his bodyguards in ck. The only ones left were the five men who¡¯d just beaten him up. Jake was plunged into utter despair. ¡®It¡¯s over! I¡¯m definitely gonna die today!¡® he thought. The five men in ck sneered as they closed in on Jake again, raising their guns in front of his terrified eyes. Jake squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for death toe. Bang! The gunshot rang out, but Jake didn¡¯t feel any pain. Confused, Jake peeked open one eye and saw that the man who had just aimed the gun at him was slowly copsing, a bullet hole in the guy¡¯s forehead, the guy¡¯s eyes wide open in shock. He didn¡¯t even know how he¡¯d died. Jake stared in disbelief at the group of people who had appeared at the warehouse door, mumbling, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m saved! Haha¡­ I¡¯m saved¡­¡± It was none other than Brandon and his crew. 13 26 Thu, 21 Aug 36% 413) Jake copsed to the ground, reaching out to Brandon, practically offering up his hands to be tied without a fight. ¡®Thank God. If I¡¯m caught by Ashton¡¯s people, at most it¡¯s just a beating. Beats getting dragged off to someb and cut up like a guinea pig,¡® he thought with relief. ¡°Brandon, they got away.¡± One of his men came back from a side door, looking pissed. ¡°We were toote again.¡± Brandon didn¡¯t seem surprised at all. He just waved it off. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter if they got away. Let¡¯s just take this guy back.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The man grabbed Jake and tossed him into the car like livestock. Then the whole crew swaggered off without a care. Once the car was far enough away, Brandon nced in the rearview mirror at several vehicles speeding off in the opposite direction, a cold smirk tugging at his lips. Some people thought they were ying everyone else for fools, not realizing they were actually the throwaway piece in someone else¡¯s scheme. ¡°Ashton, everything went smoothly. That guy ¡®escaped,¡®¡± Brandon called Ashton to report. Ashton replied, ¡°Good. Make sure you keep tabs on him. This time, don¡¯t let him slip out of the country.¡± ¡°Got it, Ashton. Don¡¯t worry about a thing,¡± Brandon said. In the bedroom, Ashton¡¯s face was icy cold, and the murderous aura rolling off him was enough to make anyone¡¯s blood run cold. Briar picked up on the danger, letting out a soft whimper, her brows furrowing as she began to stir. Ashton instantly smothered his killing intent, giving her shoulder a gentle pat. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Go back to sleep.¡± But Briar still woke up. Half¨Cawake, Briar hadn¡¯t even realized how close they were. She caught the chill in Ashton¡¯s eyes and asked, ¡°Ashton, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Ìï AD Comment Forsaken 200 Ashton had no choice but to give Briar a quick rundown of the news from Brandon. As soon as he finished, Briar shot up in bed. ¡°Where is he?¡± she demanded. Jake, just a street thug, had somehow caught the attention of a foreign underground organization. There had to be something about him that drew those kinds of people in. If they could just get a proper interrogation out of Jake, they might be able to dig up the secrets behind that organization. It was clear that Briar was thinking the same thing as Ashton. She couldn¡¯t lie still any longer and was itching to interrogate him herself. Ashton wouldn¡¯t dare let Briar go interrogate anyone at this hour, especially with her bloody, no¨Cholds¨Cbarred style. Jake wouldn¡¯t even survive a single round with her. She¡¯d probably y him to death before they got any answers. ¡°Baby, it¡¯s toote now. We can interrogate him in the morning. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure he¡¯s all yours to question. No one else will touch him,¡± Ashton said, gently pushing Briar back under the covers. ¡°I¡¯ve got Brandon watching him personally. Nothing¡¯s going to happen to him.¡± Briar reluctantlyy back down, but then, btedly, she realized something was off. ¡°Ashton, why are you in my bed?¡± She¡¯d been so focused on the news Ashton had just shared, and she trusted him so much that she hadn¡¯t noticed how close he¡¯d gotten. Now she finally found that they were lying so close together. Ashton cleared his throat awkwardly. ¡°Uh¡­ I was just following your method for getting me to sleep. Is there something wrong with that?¡± Briar was speechless. ¡®Seriously, can you at least try to have some shame?¡® she thought. ¡°Well, you can leave now. I can sleep on my own,¡± Briar said, kicking Ashton off the bed without a second thought. She yanked the covers over herself, burying her whole body underneath, refusing to listen to any more of his excuses. Only then did Ashton obediently go back to the couch and sit down. With everything weighing on her mind, Briar woke up early the next morning. She turned her head and saw Ashton curled up on the couch. The single sofa was way too small for his long arms and legs, so he looked really ufortable, his brow furrowed even in his sleep. Briar quietly got up, grabbed a thin nket, and tiptoed over to cover Ashton with it. Ashton¡¯s instincts were razor¨Csharp. The second Briar got close, his eyes snapped open. Even though there was still a trace of sleepiness in them, his gaze was alert and piercing¨Cnothing like someone who¡¯d just been woken up. ? Briar froze, holding the nket. ¡°Did I wake you?¡± Ashton shook his head. ¡°I was about to wake up anyway.¡± He stood up, took the nket from Briar, folded it a few times, and put it away. ¡°Go wash up and grab some breakfast. Once you¡¯ve eaten, I¡¯ll take you to see Jake myself.¡± Briar nodded. ¡°Alright, give me ten minutes and I¡¯lle find you.¡± Ashton left. Briar was quick with her morning routine, and ten minutester, she was already at Ashton¡¯s dining table. Brandon had arrived too, briefing Ashton and Briar on Jake¡¯s background. In just a few hours, Brandon had turned up everything there was to know about Jake, from his childhood all the way to now. ¡°Jake isn¡¯t local. He showed up here at fourteen, tagging along with some street thug to the outskirts. That guy was a real savage. That year, the thug took him under his wing, and together they muscled in on a bunch of territories, bing the new kingpins of the suburbs. But when Jake turned twenty¨Ctwo, he offed that thug, took over his turf, and became the new big boss himself,¡± Brandon exined. ¡°Over the years, Jake¡¯s crew just kept growing, and his turf¡¯s expanded to more than three times what it was. He¡¯s got some serious muscle now. That¡¯s probably one of the reasons Ben noticed him,¡± Brandon added. Brandon nced at Briar, who was quietly eating, and hesitated before going on, ¡°And there¡¯s something else. Anyone who showed even a hint of disloyalty under Jake got shipped off to Ben to beb rats. He says he was just ¡®sending them off,¡® but ording to Jake himself, Ben paid for every single one. So it¡¯s basically trafficking people and selling organs under the table¡­¡± Briar¡¯s hand froze halfway to her mouth. ¡®So that¡¯s how it is¡­ Disgusting.¡® she thought. Ashton reached over and kneaded the back of her/neck, trying to soothe her. ¡°Don¡¯t let it get to you.¡± He hadn¡¯t let her go interrogate Jake in the middle of the night because he was worried she¡¯d hear about these twisted things and end up fuming herself sick. ¡°Got it,¡± Briar said with a nod. ¡°Anything else? Did you find out why Jake and that Ben guy ended up falling out?¡± Normally, once Jake got involved with Ben, he wouldn¡¯t just break the rules out of nowhere. And Ben wouldn¡¯t just cut off a valuable connection like Jake for no reason, unless something really big went down that forced them to turn on each other. Brandon shook his head. ¡°We haven¡¯t asked about that yet. Ashton said to save it for you to handle personally.¡± Briar nced at Ashton. ¡°Wow, that generous? Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll dig up something you¡¯d rather I didn¡¯t know?¡± Ashton gave her a calm smile. ¡°Nothing gets past you, huh? You¡¯re right. Jake fell out with his backer because Hamish and Reece messed with things behind the scenes.¡± 13:26 Thu, 21 Au That was when it hit Briar that ever since they¡¯d caught Zayne, Hamish and Reece hadn¡¯t shown up again. 36% ¡°So how should I handle the interrogation?¡± Briar asked. If she just went by the book, she might end up exposing a lot of Ashton¡¯s connections. To track down Jake and then dig up Ben hiding behind him so quickly. Briar was sure Ashton hadn¡¯t just relied on his usual bodyguard crew. She figured even Xavion, who¡¯d never shown his face, probably had a hand in it too. ¡°Interrogate him however you like. There¡¯s nothing here you¡¯re not allowed to know,¡± Ashton said with a smile. He thought, ¡®She¡¯s trying to y mind games with me, huh?¡® Ashton made a go¨Cahead gesture. Briar smiled back. ¡°Great, then I¡¯ll just wing it!¡± After breakfast, Briar was about to drag Ashton out the door when they bumped into Frank, who was hurrying in. Spotting Ashton, he asked, ¡°Ashton, where¡¯s Connor?¡± Ashton noticed how anxious Frank looked. ¡°He went back. Why? Did you need something from him?¡± Frank¡¯s face fell even more. ¡°What? He left? Why didn¡¯t he tell me?¡± Ashton and Briar both shot Frank a suspicious look. Briar circled around him. ¡°You didn¡¯t have a fight with Connor, did you?¡± Frank looked both anxious and a little embarrassed. ¡°N¨CNo way! That was just some husbandly fun. How could you call that a fight?¡± Ashton asked, ¡°Did your parents give Connor a hard time?¡± ¡®They used to be totally fine with him!¡® Frank thought, feeling even more frustrated. Frank¡¯s shoulders slumped, and he nodded weakly. ¡°Yeah, after we split up that day, my parents basically locked me up. They wouldn¡¯t let me see Connor at all. Ashton, why are my parents suddenly so against him?¡± Ashton nced at Brandon, who looked a little sheepish. Meeting Frank¡¯s anxious gaze, Brandon said, ¡°I think I might know why¡­¡± AD Comment Forsaken 201 Chapter 201 All eyes turned to Brandon, who avoided Frank¡¯s gaze. ¡°Emily told about what happened to Connor at the border¡­¡± Everyone knew that, aside from Reece and Hamish, Connor was by far the most ruthless person around Ashton. Rumor had it that Connor had killed at least fifty people, if not a hundred. He was a downright killing monster. Word on the street was that the reason Connor never stayed in Shoneport was that Ashton didn¡¯t dare keep him by his side. He was afraid Connor would turn into a real killing demon. The guy was just too dangerous. Frank had deep feelings for Connor and would never let anyone say a single bad word about him. Whenever he overheard someone criticizing Connor behind his back, he¡¯d feel a surge of anger and want nothing more than to stand up for him, no matter what. Frank¡¯s parents were well aware of his feelings for Connor. Other than not being able to ept the idea of them officially registering their marriage just yet, they had pretty much acknowledged that the two were already a couple. Almost all of Ashton¡¯s international under¨Cthe¨Ctable earnings came from the border region. The reason Frank¡¯s parents had basically epted their rtionship was that Connor was Ashton¡¯s most trusted right¨Chand man, and he was in charge of all of Ashton¡¯s business along the border. No matter who you were, once you set foot in the border area, you had to y by Connor¡¯s rules and watch his mood. Secondly, when Frank was a kid and got bullied by the second and third branches of the family, Connor was always there to step in and protect him. Frank¡¯s parents were busy with their careers back then and were hardly ever home. Having someone who would protect Frank no matter what, they naturally felt deeply grateful to Connor. But Frank never would have imagined that, even with his deep feelings for Connor, Emily would still try to stir up trouble. Frank¡¯s expression immediately darkened. He rolled up his sleeves and turned to storm off, ready to confront Emily. ¡°Damn it, Emily! If I don¡¯t break your legs today, I¡¯ll take yourst name!¡± But Ashton grabbed him, sounding a bit impatient as he tried to calm him down. ¡°Hold on. Now¡¯s not the time to rush.¡± Frank pouted, looking absolutely miserable. ¡°Ashton, Emily totally did this on purpose! I swear, this time I¡¯m really going to make her pay, and nobody¡¯s stopping me!¡± He thought Ashton was trying to cover for Emily, and his eyes grew red with frustration and anger. Ashton ruffled Frank¡¯s hair, then shoved him toward Brandon, who held him back. ¡°Rx, you¡¯ll definitely get your chance to vent. But not now. We¡¯ve got more important things to handle first.¡± Frank paused for a second, just now realizing that Ashton and Briar looked like they were about to head out. He quickly asked, ¡°Ashton, where are you guys going?¡± Ashton and Briar started walking toward the car together. ¡°Come on, we¡¯re taking you to see something even more exciting.¡± Frank looked up at Brandon, who nodded and coaxed him, ¡°That¡¯s right. We¡¯re about to watch a good show. Miss Jennings is going to handle it herself.¡± ¡°Then what are we waiting for? Emily¡¯s not going anywhere, but it¡¯s not every day you get to see Briar throwing punches.¡± Frank was instantly fired up. His gut told him that whatever Ashton and Briar were about to do had to be way more exciting than just teaching Emily a lesson. And just like that, he happily forgot all about getting justice for Connor. Connor was speechless. When they got to Ashton¡¯s vi near thepany, Frank trailed after them into the basement, craning his neck and poking his head around like a nosy kid. Brandon tugged the ever¨Ccurious Frank out of the way and waved Briar in first. It was still the same basement, still the same torture gear, only this time, the person hanging on the wall waiting to be interrogated had changed. Jake had been strung up here all night. At first, he actually felt a bit lucky, but as the hours dragged on, helplessness set in, and in the end, left alone in the empty basement, he was swallowed by despair. He started thinking Ashton¡¯s people were just going to leave him here to die. He¡¯d been waiting forever for the door to open, and when it finally did, all he saw was¡­ a woman? Hold up, a woman? Jake, a shameless pervert if there ever was one, let his leering, half¨Clidded eyes roam all over the woman¡¯s gorgeous figure. But the second he got a clear look at her face, his expression changed in an instant. ¡°Y¨Cyou¡¯re¡­ you¡¯re that¡­¡± He stammered for ages but just couldn¡¯t bring himself to say Briar¡¯s
  1. me. He was clearly scared of her.
Briar arched an eyebrow, finding it amusing. Afraid of her? ¡®If I remembered right, we¡¯d never even met before, had they?¡® she thought to herself. She turned to Ashton, who was standing by the door, and said seriously, ¡°Ashton, looks like this guy knows more about who I really am than you all do!¡± Before meeting Jake, Briar had always assumed he was just a pawn Ben used to expand his influence in Shoneport. But now, Jake was actually scared of her? ¡®Now that¡¯s interesting,¡® she mused. She¡¯d only been back in Shoneport for a little over two months, and people were already remembering her? Ashton gave Briar a nod, signaling her to go ahead. ¡°Show no mercy,¡± he said. Briar strolled over to the wall of torture tools, casually grabbed a whip with a hook, and sauntered up to Jake. She shed a smile and asked, ¡°Jake, right? You know who I am?¡± Even though it sounded like a question, her tone left no room for doubt. Jake¡¯s whole body shuddered, his eyes darting everywhere. He just couldn¡¯t bring himself to meet Briar¡¯s gaze. He¡¯d been warned that Briar was the real deal, a total savage. Anyone who ended up in her hands almost never made it out alive. Briar didn¡¯t even need Jake to answer. She already knew. ¡°So you do know me. Let me guess. Was it Ben? Or Zayne? Or¡­ maybe the school doctor at Shoneport University, Sawyer?¡± With every name Briar mentioned, Jake flinched a little harder. By the time she said Sawyer, he was shaking like a leaf. ¡°Looks like I was right again.¡± Briar unfurled the whip in her hand. Standing outside the door with Ashton, Frank watched Briar exude a cold, intimidating aura and swallowed nervously. ¡°Ashton, what¡¯s up with Briar? It¡¯s like she¡¯s a totally different person now. She looks so domineering.¡± Brandonughed. ¡°Pretty shocking, right? You should¡¯ve seen Miss Jennings yesterday. That was scary. If you¡¯d been there, I bet you would¡¯ve run for your life.¡± Frank shot him a doubtful look. ¡°Come on, really? I¡¯ve got Connor, the ultimate big bad, on my side. I¡¯m not that easy to scare, you know.¡± Frank had never actually gone to the border with Connor, but he¡¯d definitely heard all about Connor¡¯s ruthless ways. Still, Briar just didn¡¯t seem like the type to be that savage. ¡®No matter how scary she gets, how bad could it really be?¡® he thought. But in the very next second, Frank saw Briar¡¯s whip move so fast it was just a blur. Screams started pouring out from inside, one after another. Jake was howling like a dog, but Briar didn¡¯t let up for a second. Her strikes were sharp, fast, and absolutely merciless. ¡°Ahh¡­ Help! You¡¯re killing me! Help¡­¡± Jake twisted himself up like a pretzel, begging, ¡°Miss Jennings, please! Have mercy! Whatever you want to know, just ask¡­ Please, just stop hitting me!¡± After all these years crawling through the underworld, Jake had seen plenty of vicious women. Bute on, how scary could a woman really get? Everysh from Briar felt like she was trying to end him right there. ¡°Miss Jennings, please¡­ have mercy, ahh! Whatever you want to know, I¡¯ll tell you. I¡¯ll tell you everything¡­¡± Forsaken 202 Chapter 202 Even as he begged for mercy, Briar didn¡¯t hold back in the slightest. it she didn¡¯t still have a use for him, with how much Briar loathed him and the people backing him, she wouldn¡¯t have hesitated to end him fight then and there. Outside the door, Frank stared as Briar kept whipping away inside, his jaw practically hitting the floor. He just stood there, mouth wide open, unable to close it for a long time. She¡¯d been whipping Jake for ten minutes straight. Didn¡¯t her arm hurt at all? Frank stammered, ¡°Ashton, isn¡¯t Little Briar being way too savage? Aren¡¯t you worried she might actually beat the guy to death?¡± With the speed and strength she¡¯s swinging that whip, she could probably kill someone for real. Frank thought, ¡®Man, you can barely find a single spot on this guy that¡¯s not messed up. Tsk tsk, what a pitiful bloody mess! Frank thought, ¡®Back at Shoneport University, some people always tried to mess with Briar, but she actually held herself back. If she really wanted to, she could¡¯ve beaten them so badly their own parents wouldn¡¯t recognize them. Guess she was showing mercy after all. Then he remembered the day of the sports meet, when hands and one of her feet werepletely crushed. got knocked out in the small grove on campus. By the time she was found, one of her Even with surgery, she probably wouldn¡¯t ever be able to dance again. When Frank first heard about it, he didn¡¯t think anything was strange. But now, looking at Briar, Frank¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡®Wait a second¡­ Did Briar do that?¡± ¡°She won¡¯t go too far. She knows her limits,¡± Ashton said, his eyes on Briar full of fiery affection and gentle warmth. Frank thought, ¡®Seriously? Wait, I¡¯m about to bete for ss, and Briar¡¯s in the same ss as me. Isn¡¯t she going to bete too?¡± He was speechless. Frank thought, ¡®Even with such a savage scene going on, Ashton is watching with real interest, like Briar¡¯s not whipping someone but putting on a graceful dance.¡® Finally, after Briar had beaten him enough and was worn out, she stopped. She hooked the end of her whip under the thug¡¯s chin, looking at his tear- and snot¨Cstreaked face with utter disdain. ¡°I ask, you answer. Can you answer honestly?¡± Jake nodded frantically. ¡°Y¨Cyes¡­ ah! Yes¡­¡± He was on the verge of despair. ¡®This woman is a total demon. Who the hell beats someone up first and only then starts asking questions?¡® Now that he was bleeding from head to toe, any will to resist had been beaten out of him. When he realized Briar was finally about to start questioning him, he nodded so eagerly it was like he wished he could grow a few more mouths just to answer faster. ¡°Alright, spill everything you know¨Cand even what you don¡¯t. If I¡¯m satisfied, I guarantee Ashton and the others won¡¯t make things hard for you,¡± Briar said, her tone still t but her eyes cold enough to freeze someone solid. The thug nodded desperately, sobbing, ¡°I¡¯ll talk, I swear I will.¡± So he became unbelievably obedient, blurting out everything he knew and even things he wasn¡¯t sure about. He even went into detail about how he contacted those people and what was said during every conversation. He dumped it all out, not leaving out a single detail. Frank was totally dumbfounded, staring in disbelief. ¡°Seriously? This actually works?¡± He thought, ¡®Damn, he¡¯s actually behaving himself for real! Guess a good beating really does the trick.¡® Chapter 202 Brandon spread his hands. ¡°Would you dare act up! Just look at the barbs on Miss Jennings¡® whip. They¡¯re all bent from theshing Brandon couldn¡¯t even imagine how much it must hurt to get whipped by something that could bend metal barbs He thought, ¡®Even those of us who¡¯ve been through special training would have a hard time taking that, let alone this guy. He¡¯s just some regr oude with a bit of muscle. Once the thug had confessed everything, Ashton finally stepped inside. He didn¡¯t care whether the thug had been thorough or not his attention was alt on Briar. He gently took her hand and looked it over carefully. ¡°Are you tired? Does your hand hurt? it¡¯s all red.¡± Briar¡¯s skin was so delicate that even if Ashton used just a little force, it would leave a bruise. The whip handle¡¯s rough texture wasn¡¯t sharp, but it had still rubbed her palm raw, leaving it a ring, angry red. Seeing this made Ashton¡¯s heart ache. ¡°Next time, I¡¯ll have someone get you some tools that won¡¯t hurt your hands. You can take your time with them.¡± He thought, ¡®After all, these tools were made for rough guys like us. They¡¯re definitely not suited for someone as delicate as you, Briar Jake stared at the man looming behind Briar,pletely speechless. He thought, ¡®Ashton, do you even realize what you¡¯re saying? Wasn¡¯t this beating bad enough? And you¡¯re already talking about next time? Next time, it sure as hell won¡¯t be me getting wrecked!¡® He started confessing on the spot, not daring to hold anything back. He racked his brains, desperate to remember anything else, and suddenly blurted out, ¡°Miss Jennings, wait. I still have more to confess¡­ Frank couldn¡¯t help but snort withughter. ¡°Man, look at this guy! What a wimp! Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be some big shot out in the suburbs? Where¡¯s all that street cred now?¡± Brandon just shrugged. ¡°Anyone who ends up in Ashton¡¯s hands falls in line real quick.¡± He¡¯d seen this kind of thing so many times. It didn¡¯t even faze him anymore. Honestly, if Briar hadn¡¯t been the one doing the questioning today, Jake would¡¯ve had it even worse. This guy was tied to the very organization Ashton had been after for ages. Now that they¡¯d finally caught him, there was no way he was leaving this basement until they¡¯d wrung everyst drop of value out of him. Ashton didn¡¯t spare Jake a single nce. His gaze was locked on Briar, soft and overflowing with affection. Jake was speechless. If it weren¡¯t for the pain all over his body, he¡¯d honestly think he was crashing some sappy confession scene instead of being locked up in a basement. What a romantic scene! Jake thought, ¡®Who knew Ashton would turn into such a softie when he¡¯s in love?¡® ¡°Anything else? This is your one and only chance. If you remember something after we walk out that door, the consequences won¡¯t be pretty,¡± Briar said coldly, even as Ashton gently held her flushed, raw palm. Jake snapped back to reality, shaking his head frantically. ¡°No, I swear I¡¯ve told you everything I know. There¡¯s nothing else.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Briar said, turning to leave. ¡°Ashton, let¡¯s go.¡± Ashton nodded and followed her out. At the door, he waved at Brandon and murmured, ¡°Deal with him.¡± Brandon bowed with a nk face. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Then he nced at Frank with a grin. ¡°Things might get a little¡­ bloody in here. Frank, maybe you should step out for a bit?¡± Frank nodded like crazy. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I¡¯m leaving right now. You guys are way too ruthless for me. No way I¡¯ming back down here again.¡± All of a sudden, he kind of got how his parents must¡¯ve felt when they found out his brother Dan could kill people at the border without even blinking. It 03 FM, 22 AUQ 22 Aug really was scary as hell! 45%8 After following Ashton and Briar back to the living room, Frank flopped onto the couch, grabbed a throw pillow, and hugged it to his chest. ¡°Ashton, what am I supposed to do about my problem?¡± He was still worried about his parents trying to make him break up with Connor. As soon as Briar got back to the living room, she asked Ashton for aptop. While they were talking, she was already busy typing away. A few minutester, she sent Frank a video. Frank¡¯s phone buzzed with a notification. He opened it, looking confused at first. Then he was so shocked he could barely get the words out. ¡°Bri¨CBri¡­ this¡­ What is this?¡± Briar closed herptop and shed him a smile. ¡°No need to thank me too much. Just treat me to smoothies for a month.¡± Forsaken 203 Chapter 203 Frank waspletely stunned on the spot, thinking he must be seeing things. He watched the video again just to be sure. The footage showed exactly how Emily had secretly met up with Sawyer to plot their dirty deeds. The whole thing was recorded. There were faces, voices, and undeniable proof. There was no way any of this could be faked. ¡®Is Emily out of her mind? She actually teamed up with someone who might be a terrorist? Does she really think she¡¯s untouchable? With brains like hers, she¡¯d probably get sold off and still help count the money,¡® Frank thought. After a long moment, Frank finally managed to speak. ¡°Ashton, so Emily was actually involved in trying to hurt Briar too?¡± Ashton let out a sigh. ¡°Yeah. And as for why Brandon came back to the country, you can probably guess. He was chasing after a guy named Zayne.¡± ¡°Zayne? Oh, I know who that is. He¡¯s the guy you all caught a few days ago, right? And he¡¯s also Sawyer¡¯s biological father¡­¡± Frank said. At that, Frank paused. He might be simple at heart, but his mind worked fast. In no time, he put the pieces together. ¡°So, Emily secretly let Zayne back into the country? And those murder cases that got uncoveredter¡­ don¡¯t tell me she was mixed up in those, too?¡± Frank asked, his voice full of disbelief. Ashton didn¡¯t say a word, but the look on his face said it all. Frank was furious. ¡°But why would she do something like that? Isn¡¯t the Wade family already giving her enough shelter to mess around as she pleases?¡± Frank just couldn¡¯t get it. ¡®Has she got shit for brains or what? Is she really trying to get herself killed? Does she honestly think Ashton can¡¯t see right through her?¡® he fumed. And now, everyone in the Wade family knew that Briar was Ashton¡¯s girlfriend and the future mistress of the Wade family. Even the family head had tacitly agreed to it. ¡®Does she really dare to go against what the family head and Ashton have decided?¡® Frank thought. ¡°The people from the second branch have been harboring ulterior motives for ages. They just never found a chance to break away from the Wade Group¡¯s protection, until Saywer showed up. His arrival was exactly the opportunity Emily had been waiting for,¡± Ashton exined. As Ashton spoke, he kept sneaking nces at Briar, afraid she¡¯d take it the wrong way or get upset. ¡°Damn it, that stupid woman! Doesn¡¯t she ever stop to think why anyone would help her for no reason? Her only real value is being a member of the Wade family,¡± Frank cursed. Frank was about to lose his mind over how dumb Emily was. He¡¯d seen idiots before, but never anyone this hopelessly stupid. She was practically running headfirst into her own grave. Compared to all the stupid things she¡¯d done, the fact that she tried to stir up trouble between me and Brandon didn¡¯t even matter anymore. That was nothing. No wonder Brandon left so decisively. Frank had thought he was just heartbroken and ran off to the border to lick his wounds. It turned out he never gave a damn about Emily¡¯s little tricks in the first ce. Yeah, Brandon didn¡¯t even have to lift a finger. Emily was doing a fine job digging her own grave. Once his folks found out about all the dumb stuff Emily pulled, all that bias against Brandon would just fall apart. ¡®That bastard, making a big deal out of nothing and pulling a disappearing act just to mess with me! Next time he shows up, let¡¯s see if I let him anywhere near my bed!¡® Frank fumed to himself. ¡°So, what are you guys going to do about Emily? If you can¡¯t handle her yourselves, I can always lend a hand,¡± Briar said bluntly, now that Frank had Chapter 203 finally wrapped his head around everything. Ashton reached out and pulled Briar, who was trying to scoot away, right back to his side with a grin. ¡°Why are you trying to run? You really think I¡¯d ever stick up for her?¡± Briar curled her lip. ¡°You never know. Everyone in Shoneport knows you always protect your own, right or wrong. What if I make a thove and you get in my way?¡± Ashton was almostughing at how feisty Briar was being. ¡°Babe, we¡¯re tied together now. Same rope, same fate. You can¡¯t just take it out on me because of some other woman. I¡¯m totally innocent here.¡± Briar gave a cold, mocking smile. ¡°Don¡¯t be so sure. What I have in mind for Emily is way more than just sending her to jail.¡± Frank, sitting off to the side, couldn¡¯t help but kick her while she was down and egg everyone on. ¡°Exactly! Just sending her to jail is letting her off way too easy. With the Wade family¡¯s name in Shoneport, she¡¯d still be living it up behind bars, eating and drinking like a pampered princess. Why not just tie her up and toss her into the sea to feed the fish?¡± Frank had heard Brandon say that those ouws running wild along the border never left any loose ends. Sometimes they¡¯d tie people up and dump them in the wilder by wild animals. to be eaten by wolves, leaving them wide awake to watch themselves get torn apart Other times, they¡¯d bind them up, tie stones to their feet, and throw them into the ocean, sinking straight to the bottom, their flesh rotting away and turning into fish food. Sounded pretty terrifying, but honestly, it was just right for Emily. She really was just in evil. ¡°Don¡¯t be so ruthless, kid,¡± Ashton said, giving Frank a smack on the back of the head. ¡°We¡¯ve got this. Leave it to us.¡± Frank nced at himself, already 22, and then at Briar, who was only 18 but somehow had all the ¡®talents¡® for bloodthirst, brutality, and violence. He couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®Man, how can people be so different?¡® Briarughed and patted Frank on the shoulder. ¡°Lighten up, senior. You grew up pampered, but I was raised wild. Of course we¡¯re not the same.¡± Those words, ¡°raised wild,¡± made Ashton¡¯s heart clench. He quickly waved Frank off. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, you¡¯re about to bete for ss. You know what you need to know, so just pretend you never heard any of this. Stay away from Emily and focus on your studies.¡± Frank thought, ¡®Seriously? Wait, I¡¯m about to bete for ss, and Briar¡¯s in the same ss as me. Isn¡¯t she going to bete too?¡® He was speechless. But before Frank could even protest, the vi¡¯s bodyguards politely escorted him out and arranged for a driver to take him to Shoneport University. ¡°Babe, we need to take our time and n this out. You can¡¯t just go off and act alone,¡± Ashton said, now that the troublemaker was gone, trapping Briar between the sofa and his arms. Briar struggled but couldn¡¯t get away, so she gave in with a sigh. ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll listen to you, okay?¡± Ashton still looked doubtful. ¡°You mean it?¡± Briar nodded. ¡°I mean it. I¡¯m with you all day, every day¨Cwhen would I even have a chance to sneak off and do anything?¡± That finally put Ashton at ease. ¡°Good point. We¡¯ve all got our eyes on this. When it¡¯s time to catch her, I¡¯ll bring you along, alright?¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Briar replied without hesitation. With Briar¡¯s endless reassurances and yful charm, Ashton found himselfpletely wrapped around her finger, never even considering that just because she had no chance to act during the day didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t pull something off at night. Briar really did y the obedient girlfriend¨Cshe went to ss on time during the day, and at night, she¡¯d even show up on her own to coax Ashton to 45% sleep. But then, two dayster, at 3:30 in the morning, Brandon urgently knocked on Ashton¡¯s door, waking him from his sleep. ¡°Ashton, something¡¯s wrong! Our people just reported. Emily and Sawyer have both disappeared at the same time¡­¡± AD Forsaken 204 Hearing that, Ashton immediately sobered up, and his expression turned serious. ¡°Check next door and see if Briar is home,¡± he said. His instincts told him this matter definitely had something to do with Briar. Brandon was stunned for a moment before he asked, ¡°Mr. Wade, do you think Miss Jennings is involved?¡± ¡®No way, right? Miss Jennings hade over tonight to put Mr. Wade to sleep. It would take at least an hour to drive from Moonspring Estate to where the incident happened. ¡®But wait a minute¨Cif she was riding a motorcycle, and it was 3:30 a.m. with barely any traffic, it would be possible if she was skilled enough. And Miss Jennings¡­ is Speed Queen Breel¡® he thought. now,¡± he said. Brandon turned around and dashed out. ¡°Mr. Wade, I¡¯ll check righ Ashton was already heading to the closet to get dressed. Actually, whether Brandon checked or not, he already knew the answer. Sure enough, a few minutester, Brandon returned with his face pale with shock. ¡°Mr. Wade, you¡¯re right. Miss Jennings isn¡¯t home. I checked her basementb, and the motorcycle that was parked in the garage was gone too,¡± he said. Ashton said while heading out, ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll deal with it when we find the person.¡± ¡®As for who to look for? It¡¯s of course Briar, who snuck out in the middle of the night! Brandon thought to himself. Brandon couldn¡¯t tell if Ashton was angry or amused at this point. Not many people could pull one over on Ashton like this. He didn¡¯t even dare imagine what Ashton would do to Briar when they found her. ¡®He can¡¯t possibly resort to domestic violence, can he?¡® Brandon thought. After starting the engine, Brandon kept sneaking nces at Ashton¡¯s expression while driving. After a long silence, he finally spoke up, choosing his words carefully. ¡°Uh, Mr. Wade, domestic violence¡­ is shameful.¡± ¡°Do I seem like the type who¡¯dy a hand on my wife?¡± Ashton asked, and Brandon didn¡¯t say anything, but his silence said it all. Ashton let out augh of exasperation and said, ¡°Rx, I don¡¯ty a hand on my wife.¡± ¡®With how delicate Briar is, no matter how angry I get, no way I¡¯d every a hand on her,¡® Ashton thought to himself. Brandon finally cracked a smile and said, ¡°Yeah, yeah, hitting your wife is definitely wrong. By the way, Mr. Wade, where should we start looking for her?¡± Three cars tailed them closely, each packed with people Brandon had mobilized at thest minute, even though he had already told Xavion to retrieve all the traffic camera footage. However, Shoneport was so huge, and tracking someone down here was no easy feat. ¡®Furthermore, if Miss Jennings dared to sneak out behind Ashton, she definitely had a backup n,¡® Brandon thought. Sure enough, just as Brandon and the others expected, Xavion couldn¡¯t spot Briar anywhere on the camera. The only footage was of her leaving Moonspring Estate. After that, it was like she had vanished into thin air. After hearing Xavion¡¯s update, Ashton¡¯s frown furrowed further. He was silent for a moment, then finally instructed Brandon, ¡°Head to West Street Dock.¡± Brandon¡¯s hands trembled on the steering wheel. ¡°West Street Dock? Mr. Wade, seriously? If Miss Jennings dragged someone there, wouldn¡¯t the people at the base pin her down?¡± West Street Dock was a trading port established after Ashton took over the Wade family¡¯s business empire. It was also the base of a stationed military unit in Shoneport. Therefore, for any ordinary person, getting through that ce was mission impossible. ¡°Reece hasn¡¯t called me yet. If Briar really brought someone there, it means she hasn¡¯t been discovered yet.¡± Ashton was already dialing Reece¡¯s number as he said this. Reece picked up very quickly at the other end. His slightly hoarse voiceced with the sound of heavy breathing as he asked, ¡°Ashton, what¡¯s up?¡± The moment Ashton heard him, he knew what Reece was doing on the other end. He paused before asking, ¡°Reece¡­ did anyone from the base look for you?¡± Picking up on the seriousness in Ashton¡¯s tone, Reece muttered under his breath, ¡°Babe, can you go downstairs and grab my cigarettes?¡± Then he spoke on the phone, ¡°Ashton, did something happen at the base?¡± Reece knew how tight security was at the base. He couldn¡¯t imagine anyone slipping past the defenses, but the fact that Ashton was asking made his expression turn cold. Ashton sighed and said, ¡°Briar¡¯s taken Emily and Sawyer away. I suspect she made it through the base, and I¡¯m heading there now. Reese, let the guys at the base know¨Cif they spot anyone nearby, tell them not to act rashly.¡± ¡°Holy shit!¡± Reece blurted out, totally stunned by Ashton¡¯s words. ¡°Are you serious? Is Briar that tough?¡± Ashton smiled bitterly and said, ¡°I let my guard down. She¡¯d been so well¨Cbehavedtely that I stopped keeping an eye on her. And now, to make things worse, her friend,n, is missing too.¡± That was what Ashton worried the most. No matter how capable Briar was, she was still just a girl who hadn¡¯t seen real danger. Butn was different. This guy didn¡¯t care about his own life back on the border. Now that the two had disappeared together, Ashton was seriously worriedn might drag Briar into some real trouble. Just Briar sneaking out in the middle of the night was enough to give him a headache. But ifn, who used to be a mercenary, was on it too, then even slipping past the military base wouldn¡¯t be out of the question. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give the guys at the base a heads¨Cup right now,¡± Reece replied, fully aware of the seriousness of the matter. He hung up, started putting on his clothes, and began calling his buddies at the base. ¡°Briar, this is thrilling! Fucking thrilling!¡±n, eyes zing with excitement, had just sessfully made it through the base, followed closely behind Briar, who was also carrying someone on her back without the slightest drop in speed. Briar said helplessly, ¡°Quick, we only have five seconds to escape from the surveince here!¡± Time was tight. She had only managed to dy the base¡¯s surveince for five seconds. If they didn¡¯t make it through the defenses within that window, their bodies would likely be riddled with bullets from machine guns. Briar tightened her grip on Emily, who hung over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes, and said, ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s race. Five, four, three, two, one¨Cgo!¡± As soon as the words left her mouth, the outer perimeter surveince of the base silently froze. Then, two figures shot out like afterimages, dashing forward at lightning speed. In just four and a half seconds, they both safely reached the blind spot at the opposite dock, right under the nose of the security system. Dropping the unconscious Sawyer onto the ground,n asked, ¡°Briar, what do you think Ashton¡¯s people will do when they discover we¡¯ve kidnapped both Emily and Sawyer? Will Ashton get mad?¡± Briar rolled her eyes at him and said, ¡°What do you think?¡± She had only nned to kidnap Sawyer, butn had been too fast and knocked Emily out as well. Briar had no choice but to take her along. Ashton probably wouldn¡¯t notice Sawyer was missing right away, but Emily was the Wade family member. Even if Ashton didn¡¯t pay much attention to 2/3 03 Fri, 22 Aug her, Emily had a few loyal bodyguards. The moment they realized she was missing, they would definitely report it to Ashton 45% It was just a coincidence. Whenn found Sawyer, he happened to catch Emily sneaking over in the middle of the night to meet up with him.n even overheard the two whispering about how to mess with Briar. ¡®How do I put up with this?¡®n thought. So he just knocked Emily out, too. 38 Ìï Forsaken 205 Briar raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°So, I should thank you?¡± Feeling awkward,n scratched his head and said, ¡°No need for thanks. Just don¡¯t beat me up.¡± If he hadn¡¯t taken it upon himself to bring Emily along, their operation tonight would have been much smoother. After all, with Emily, the risk of being discovered by Ashton¡¯s people only increased. Briar smiled and said, ¡°I won¡¯t beat you up tonight.¡± ¡®But after tonight? Well, no promise,¡® she thought. Briar had seen all kinds of people who had thrown their own family under the bus, butn was on another level. He didn¡¯t just screw over his teammates; it was as if he was dying to rip off her disguise himself, afraid that she was hiding too well. With Ashton¡¯s razor¨Csharp instincts, he would figure out in no time how they managed to sneak two people through a military base and all the way to the dock. Once Ashton realized the security footage had been tampered with by a hacker, and knowingn was just a mercenary who was only good at fighting, Ashton would rule him out right away. That would leave only one possibility. No matter how well Briar had been keeping up her act, in a situation like this, where all the suspicious points had been eliminated, even the most impossible answer would be the only one left. ¡®So yeah, my hacker persona is about to be blown wide open,¡¯ she thought to herself. After hearing Briar¡¯s analysis,n kicked Sawyer several times and said, ¡°Briar, it¡¯s my fault. I acted too impulsively. Is there any way to fix this? Maybe! can get a hacker friend to take the fall and say he did it remotely?¡± Briar chuckled and said, ¡°That kind of reason might fool others, but Ashton will see right through it. Don¡¯t forget, he¡¯s got Brannon controlling the border forces and a Dark Net at his disposal.¡± ¡°Briar, your man is so powerful. He monopolizes most of the big¨Cmoney gray businesses both in the country and abroad,¡±n said, and could no longer make excuses. Ashton was practically a devil. With terrifyingly powerful border forces and Dark Net intelligence where information shifted by the second, just these two industries alone were enough to make his assets skyrocket year after year. By international convention, any organization with border forces usually operated one unspoken ck¨Cmarket trade¨Carms trafficking. Especially in a few small Laozari countries gued by constant warfare, outdated weapons from developed nations could be sold there at sky¨Chigh prices, with demand far exceeding supply. Moreover, no matter how high a mercenary ranked internationally, they always obtained their weapons through their own sources. Although they ordered all their weapons and equipment through the official DDC Vanguard base website, ording to unofficial sources, even the official arsenal of the DDC Vanguard base sourced its arms from specific private forces. Briar shrugged and said, ¡°Well, we can¡¯tpete with that.¡± ¡°Yeah, we really can¡¯tpete with that. Let¡¯s just stick to doing what we can; something safe and within our abilities,¡±n said. Ian brought Sawyer and Emily into a small, pre¨Cprepared shipping container. Staring out at the endless stretch of sea, he let out an awkwardugh and said, ¡°Briar, do you think when Sawyer and Emily wake up tomorrow morning and realize they¡¯re floating on the ocean, will they freak out?¡± Chapter 205 ¡°That I have no clue, Briar said and nced at the time. ¡°But if you don¡¯t move faster, we¡¯re the ones who¡¯ll get busted ¡°Damn! I¡¯m done soon,¡± Ian eximed as he quickened his pace. He loaded the container onto the yacht, started the engine, and just before the yachti pulled away, he nimbly jumped back onto the shore. pping his hands, he said, ¡°Done. Briar, let¡¯s get out of here.¡± In a corner of the dock where no one was paying attention, Briar andn dashed through the darkness. For their safety, there was no way they could risk taking the shortcut near the base on their way back. ¡®What if we run into Ashton and his people? Wouldn¡¯t Briar beat me to death on the spot?¡®n thought. When they saw the yacht had already drifted away, with that strange container on board, Reece couldn¡¯t help but p. ¡°Nice move!¡± he said. Hamish had to admit he was impressed. ¡°Ashton, in all these years, this must be the first time someone¡¯s been this brazen on your turf, huh?¡± he said. ¡®Dodging the surveince near the base was one thing, but stealing a yacht from Ashton¡¯s dock and setting people adrift out at sea? That was next level. ¡®The tactic is both nasty and ruthless, yet it¡¯s neither legal nor illegal¨Cand the worst part is, there¡¯s nothing we could do about it, Hamish thought. ¡°If it was Briar and her friend who pulled this off, Ashton, here¡¯s my advice¨Cbringn onto your team. You rarely find such a talent,¡± Hamish said. Brandon brought his team to haul the yacht back to the shore. When they opened the container and saw Emily and Sawyer with their hands and legs tied up, their faces swollen, Hamish and Reece burst outughing simultaneously. Even Ashton, seeing how miserable the two looked, couldn¡¯t help but smirk and say, ¡°This little brat hits pretty hard.¡± One wouldn¡¯t aim for the face when attacking someone. Seeing the miserable Emily, Ashton was 100% certain it was Briar¡¯s doing. It was clearly a case of settling personal scores. ¡°Alright, now that we¡¯ve found them, let¡¯s get out of here. It¡¯s freezing on this dock at night,¡± Reece said, patting Ashton on the shoulder. Ashton nodded and told someone to send Emily to the hospital. As for Sawyer, it was good enough that he was alive. Besides, they had nned to talk with him anyway. As everyone returned to the car, Reece, sitting in the back seat, suddenly thought of something and blurted out, ¡°Wait, how did Briar and her friend manage to get two living people through the military base without a scratch?¡± Hamish¡¯s eyes lit up, and he said, ¡°Yeah, seriously, how did they do that?¡± Ashton, who was about to start the engine, paused, turned to Reece, and said,. ¡°Reece, let me see the surveince footage from the base again.¡± Reece retrieved the surveince footage his fellow soldier had sent over and said, ¡°Here you are. Take a look. I didn¡¯t spot anything off in there myself.¡± Ashton took over the phone and watched the footage with Hamish. It was pretty long, so Ashton estimated the right time by calcting the distance the yacht had drifted from the dock, then zeroed in on that section of the surveince. Finally, about twenty minutes before the video ended, Ashton spotted something and said, ¡°So that¡¯s how they did it.¡± Hearing that, Reece leaned in and asked, ¡°What? Did you spot something? Are they in the footage? Where are they?¡± Ashton shook his head and said, ¡°They¡¯re not in the footage¡­¡± ¡°Not in the footage?¡± Reece was curious and asked. ¡°Then what¡¯s with that smug look on your face?¡± Hamish seemed to realize something and said, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me Briar¡¯s some kind of skilled hacker and tampered with the surveince footage?¡± Forsaken 206 Holy shit!¡± Reece blurted out in shock. ¡°Seriously?¡± But Ashton¡¯s calm, faintly amused smile had answered it all. Reece was at a loss for words, so he could only join Hamish in apuding. ¡°Impressive! Ashton, you really struck gold! Briar¡¯s been hiding her identity far too well, hasn¡¯t she? First, she turns out to be the miracle doctor, Tristan¡¯s sole apprentice, then the Speed Queen Bree, and now she even knows how to hack!¡± ¡°Not only that, Briar can also fight,¡± Hamish chimed in. Meanwhile, the subject of their praise, Briar, was speeding on a deserted road on her motorcycle with fan. .¡± It turned out that when Briar hacked into the military base¡¯s surveince system, she had kept a trick up her sleeve, allowing them to watch as Ashton and the others chased them to the dock. ¡°Yeah, that was way too close,¡± Briar agreed, relieved that they had managed to escape in time. Otherwise, being caught on the spot was a whole different ballgame from trying to exin thingster. ¡®Since they didn¡¯t manage to catch us, it¡¯s notpletely exposed, right? After all, we never left a trace of evidence behind. Even if Ashton suspects something, it¡¯s just a hunch. He can¡¯t prove a thing,¡®n thought. Briar shot him an exasperated look and said, ¡°You really think the big shot of Shoneport built his power on solid, irrefutable evidence?¡±n shut up immediately. ¡®Of course not. Big shots like Ashton don¡¯t need solid evidence. If he¡¯s got even a hint of suspicion, you¡¯re guilty as far as he¡¯s concerned. ¡®If people like him really have to do everything by the book like the cops, that¡¯d be way too much trouble,¡®n thought. ¡°Alright,n. Don¡¯t me yourself. It¡¯s only a matter of time before I expose my identity. Honestly, this doesn¡¯t mess up my ns anyway,¡± Briar said, trying tofort him. The motorcycle screeched to a sudden halt, nearly throwingn off the back seat. He barely managed to grab onto Briar¡¯s waist in time. Briar putted off her helmet and looked at him. ¡°What, your hands getting itchy because you haven¡¯t killed anyone in a while?¡± she asked. ¡®Why is he suddenly talking about killing again out of nowhere?¡® Briar thought. Briar was speechless. ¡°Thanks, but there¡¯s no need. Beatrice can¡¯t die just yet,¡± she then said. ¡®That was one hell of a way to try and make up for it,¡® Briar thought to herself. If I can¡¯t kill Beatrice, what about Halle? She seems like an easy target.¡± ¡°No need,¡± Briar replied tly. Briar lowered her helmet visor. ¡°Seriously, there¡¯s no need. Let¡¯s keep these people around for now. If they die, who¡¯s going to help me fish out the ones Chapter 206 hiding in the shadows?¡± ¡°Nobody tried to rescue Zayne when he was caught. That shows he isn¡¯t that important in the eyes of the people behind the scenes: ¡®Even Sawyer didn¡¯t have anyone protecting him after Zayne was caught. We could even take him away effortlessly. All of this just proves that the real core members of that organization are still lurking in the dark, nowhere near the surface yet. ¡®Zayne¡¯s value as a pawn is gone, and it¡¯s even less likely that Sawyer would get anywhere near the inner circle. So for now, Edgar and the rest of the Jennings family must stay alive,¡® Briar thought. ¡°If they can¡¯t die for now, how about I just teach them a lesson to help you blow off some steam?¡±n offered. Worried Briar would turn him down again, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Briar. I promise I won¡¯t go too far.¡± Briar, thinking for a moment, didn¡¯t say anything further. As they took a back road on the motorcycle, by the time they got back to Moonspring Estate, Ashton and the others still hadn¡¯t arrived yet. Briar parked the motorcycle in the garage and turned ton, saying, ¡°Alright, it¡¯s almost dawn. You should head home and catch up on some sleep. Just remember, no matter what Ashton or the others ask you¡­¡± His words made Briarugh. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Ashton¡¯s not unreasonable. You¡¯re my friend; he won¡¯t give you too hard a time,¡± Briar said.n grinned and left. Ashton had left a bodyguard guarding the next door, so no matter how quietly Briar andn tried to sneak back, the guard still noticed and immediately informed Ashton. By the time Briar finished her shower, changed into pajamas, and was lying in bed preparing to sleep, Ashton slipped in through her half¨Copen window. Briar was speechless. ¡®Climbing through my window in the dead of night? Seriously?¡® she thought. Ashton didn¡¯t show the slightest bit of embarrassment about sneaking in like some shameless rogue. He strode right over to the bed, breathing a little heavily. Briar couldn¡¯t tell if it was from the climb or from being pissed about her sneaking out in the middle of the night. He stood over her by the bed, looking down at her with a nk expression. Briar couldn¡¯t tell if Ashton was angry or amused, so she just looked up at him, eyes wide, waiting. After a while, Ashton gave in. He crouched down by the bed, reached out, and gently pinched her cheek, still rosy from the shower. ¡°Wifey, you¡¯re really good at keeping your secrets, huh?¡± He didn¡¯t ask why she kidnapped Emily and Sawyer. Nor did he question why she beat their faces to a pulp. Ashton just sighed, a mix of fondness and helplessness in his voice. Briar felt a bit embarrassed. Since Ashton put it that way, it was clear he already knew she was the one who hacked surveince near the military base. ¡°Ahem¡­ I mean, I was kind of hiding it from you on purpose¡­¡± Briar topic and said, ¡°It¡¯s all Emily¡¯s fault. She¡¯s way too despicable.¡± wanted to exin, but didn¡¯t want to admit it so soon. So she quickly changed the Ashton let out a helplessugh, both amused and exasperated. ¡°Babe, did you n to keep ying dumb like this if I didn¡¯ty it out clearly?¡± Briar smiled faintly and said, ¡°What are you talking about, Ashton? I honestly have no clue.¡± Ashton pulled out his phone and yed the surveince footage. ¡°Xavion said that being able to do something like this with surveince footage would put you on the international hacker rankings. However, your name was nowhere to be found,¡± he said. ¡°Is that so?¡± Briar asked. Ashten put his phone away. ¡°So, anything you want to exin to me, Legendary Hacker Bree?¡± Briar was silent. 45% Thest three words shocked Briar, and her eyes slightly constricted. ¡°Wait¡­ How did you know I was Legendary Hacker Bree? What if you were wrong?¡± AD Forsaken 207 Chapter 207 Ashton¡¯s smile grew even deeper, ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure at first, but after hearing your tone of voice just now, babe, I¡¯m a hundred percent sure now.¡± Briar red up and asked, ¡°Ashton, did you set me up on purpose?¡± Ashton nodded, openly admitting it, and said, ¡°Yeah, what else could I do? My baby has way too many identities and hides them so well. if I didn¡¯t trick you, how would you ever confess to me?¡± Ashton finally let go of Briar, got up, and half¨Csquatted by the bed. He took both of Briar¡¯s hands in his palms and said, ¡°Babe, I know you came back to the country with some secrets you can¡¯t reveal. Maybe, initially, you got close to me because you wanted to take advantage of my identity¡­¡± Briar¡¯s heart raced as she defended herself, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. I was just blinded by your stunning looks,¡± she said. Ashton was at a loss for words, thinking, ¡®If my wife only loves me for my looks, how am I supposed to keep this rtionship going? Ask online, I need an answer urgently. Ashton nodded and said, ¡°Alright, even if you initially got close to me because of my looks, what about now? I¡¯m already yours. With all the resources and connections at my fingertips, isn¡¯t it only natural for you, as my girlfriend, to use them?¡± Briar blinked in disbelief, even sitting up in bed and giving Ashton aplicated look. ¡°I¡¯ve seen sugar daddies hand out resources, but I¡¯ve never seen anyone like you practically begging someone to take them. ¡°Ashton, do your business partners know you¡¯re this generous?¡± she teased. Ashton, feeling unhappy, replied, ¡°Babe, it really hurts me to hear you say that.¡± Briar shrugged it off, pulling her hand out of his. ¡°Ashton, can you be serious for once?¡± she said. Ashton had no choice but to nod, then reached out and took her hand back. ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯m serious now. So, can you finally tell me the truth?¡± Briar shook her head and said, ¡°No.¡± Ashton was speechless. Briar¡¯s fingers traced the circles in Ashton¡¯s palm. ¡°Ashton, don¡¯t ask. I¡¯ll tell you when I can, alright?¡± she said. Ashton gazed at her so intently that Briar almost felt herself surrendering right then and there. ¡°Alright, tell me when you¡¯re ready.¡± Briar quietly heaved a sigh of relief. ¡®Honestly, if Ashton had been just a bit more forceful, with that gorgeous face of his so close, I might¡¯ve actually spilled everything,¡® she thought. ¡°But even if you don¡¯t want to tell me why you came back, can you at least be honest with me that besides being Tristan¡¯s apprentice, the Speed Queen Bree, and the Legendary Hacker Bree, do you have any other secret identities?¡± Ashton asked. Briar was feeling seriously guilty deep down, thinking to herself, ¡®As expected of Ashton Wade! All your questions hit right at my weak spots.¡¯ But out loud she said, ¡°Of course not! No matter how impressive I might seem, I¡¯m just an 18¨Cyear¨Cold girl. I don¡¯t have so much time to pick up so many things.¡± Ashton nodded in agreement and said, ¡°Yeah, just learning traditional medicine and hacking have already taken up most of your time.¡± Briar said, smiling, ¡°Exactly. I¡¯m human, not a god. No matter how good I am, I still have to put in sweat and effort.¡± ¡®But a genius doesn¡¯t need to work that hard,¡® Briar thought to herself. ¡®A genius just needs to pick up a skill, and talent will handle the rest. After they finished talking, Ashton¡¯s expression grew even softer. He asked seemingly casually, ¡°When we arrived at the dock, we saw Emily and Sawyer left stranded on the yacht, locked up inside a shipping container¡­¡± Ashton kept a close eye on Briar¡¯s reaction, picking his words with care when he said, ¡°Emily is still part of the Wade family, so she¡¯s been sent to the LE MUY hospital. Babe, are you upset that we just let them go so easily?¡± Briar¡¯s smile grew even brighter when she said, ¡°Why would I be upset? I kidnapped Emily and Sawyer just because they pissed me off it¡¯s not that ever nned to kill them. If I did, I could¡¯ve just used my golden needles and ended them right there.¡± Ashton brought Briar¡¯s hand to his lips and said, ¡°That¡¯s good. When she wakes up, I¡¯ll make sure the second branch of the family gives you a proper apology.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for an apology; I don¡¯t feel like seeing them,¡± Briar said, guilt practically written all over her face as she refused without a second thought. After all, there¡¯s no way Emily and Sawyer would ever wake up. Unless, of course, they managed to get Tristan, the miracle doctor, to help them. ¡®Let them have a taste of their own medicine,¡® Briar thought to herself. Ashton could read between the lines in Briar¡¯s words, but he just chalked it up to how much she hated those two and didn¡¯t delve deeper into it. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t want to see them. But they still owe you an apology. In a few days, I¡¯ll have the second branch of the family transfer thepensation payment straight to your ount,¡± he said. Briar¡¯s eyes curved into a smile. ¡°Alright, make sure you squeeze them for more. It¡¯s time to spend money on myb right now,¡± she said. Seeing Briar so pleased, Ashton nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll make sure you get more than enough.¡± ¡°It¡¯s almost dawn now. You should go back and get some sleep; you¡¯ve been busy all night,¡± Briar said. Now that she had gotten what she wanted, she shooed him away without hesitation. With a tone of disdainced with a hint of petnce, she said, ¡°And your hand just touched the window, then you pinched my face and hand. It¡¯s gross!¡± Ashton was speechless. Ashton got up, went to the bathroom, and wrung out a towel. He carefully wiped Briar¡¯s face and hands clean, then applied her favorite moisturizer to both her face and hands. ¡°They¡¯re not dirty anymore, right?¡± Ashton asked. Briar waved him off and said, ¡°See yourself out, and don¡¯t forget to close the door.¡± Ashton could just shake his head and leave. Brandon had been waiting at the gate of Briar¡¯s house. When he saw Ashtone out, he came up to him right away. ¡°Mr. Wade, Hamish¡¯s just sent a message, saying something¡¯s wrong with Miss Wade¡¯s and Sawyer¡¯s condition.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ashton, still in a good mood after a long night, asked casually. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me they still haven¡¯t woken up yet?¡± Brandon was silent. Ashton raised an eyebrow. ¡°They really haven¡¯t woken up yet?¡± he asked. Brandon nodded and said, ¡°Hamish said that they¡¯ve done various check¨Cups, and everything looks normal. However, they simply don¡¯t wake up. It¡¯s like they¡¯re the living dead or something.¡± Ashton turned around to nce at the half¨Copen window on the second floor. Only then did he finally understand why Briar had swiftly turned down the offer of having Emily apologize in person. ¡®It¡¯s not that she doesn¡¯t want to see them; it¡¯s because Emily and Sawyer couldn¡¯t wake up at all. ¡®With how vengeful Briar is, I was wondering why she wasn¡¯t even a little upset that we saved them. It turns out that she still has a trick up her sleeve,¡¯ he thought. Ashton chuckled and said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about this matter. Just keep the news about Briar taking Emily and Sawyer away under wraps. Don¡¯t let anyone else know.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Brandon responded. Chapter 207 Ashton waved Brandon off to get some rest. While heading upstairs, he gave Hamish a call and briefly shared what he had figured out. ¡°Man, that littledy of yours is seriously fierce!¡± Hamish said. AD Forsaken 208 Ashton¡¯s face was full of pride as he grinned. ¡°Of course! Girls have to be a little fierce when they¡¯re out in the world, or people will just bully them. Brier¡¯s doing exactly what she should,¡± Ashton said. Speechless, Hamish hung up, clearly annoyed. ¡®Being bullied by people? With her skills, she¡¯s more likely to be the one who bullies others, Hamish scoffed deep down. ¡®This guy, when ites to Briar, she does nothing wrong in his eyes. Doesn¡¯t he even have a bottom line? What has happened to his principles? Hamish thought to himself. However, no matter how fast Brandon tried to keep things under wraps, some news still slipped out. Somehow, Edgar caught wind of it and showed up at the hospital early in the morning. He imed he was there to visit his daughter, Beatrice, but barely a minute after stepping into her room, he quietly slipped out and made his way to the floor where Emily and Sawyer were staying, clearly wanting to check on their conditions. Hamish had already stationed people near the rooms. The moment Edgar got close, he was politely and courteously ¡°invited¡± to leave. Not wanting to expose his purpose, Edgar had no choice but to turn around and leave. ¡°Dad, how is it? Did you see them?¡± Beatrice asked as soon as she saw Edgar return so quickly. She was puzzled. ¡®Why is Dad suddenly so concerned about Emily? Is he trying to curry favor with the Wade family? ¡®But it makes sense. Since currying favor with the Wade family through Briar isn¡¯t working, now he¡¯s trying to use me,¡® she thought. Edgar shook his head and said, ¡°No, people were watching both rooms. I couldn¡¯t get in.¡± Beatrice watched her distracted father, grinding her teeth in frustration, and tried to remind him, ¡°Dad, this must be Briar¡¯s doing. Emily and Sawyer offended her, so she messed them up just like what she did to my leg.¡± Edgar still couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡®How could Briar be so capable? Isn¡¯t she just a student who only knows a bit of traditional medicine?¡® he thought. Seeing Edgar still not convinced, Beatrice¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°Dad, Ben came to see me too¡­¡± she said. ¡°What?¡± Edgar¡¯s face instantly darkened. ¡°Ben came to see you? How on earth do you even know him?¡± he asked. Beatrice stammered, ¡°It was¡­ When I was hanging out with Emily 1 identally caught her meeting up with Ben¡­¡± Edgar was silent. The affection in his eyes when looking at Beatrice vanished, reced by a sharp, menacing re. ¡°Beatrice, why didn¡¯t you tell me this important thing sooner?¡± he asked. Beatrice shrank back under his gaze, trembling as she tried to hide herself under the nket, terrified. ¡°Dad, I really didn¡¯t know you were working for Ben. At first, I just wanted to use him to teach Briar a lesson¡­¡± Beatrice tried to justify herself, but her voice grew weaker under Edgar¡¯s cold, piercing gaze, and she shut her mouth, sulking. ¡°Do you have any idea what kind of person Ben is? Do you know what will happen once you get involved with him? One day, you might not even know how you die,¡± Edgar snapped. ¡°Dad, Ben isn¡¯t as terrifying as you say. If it weren¡¯t for Briar setting me up, I¡­¡± Beatrice tried to defend. ¡°Shut up!¡± Edgar exploded, his fury boiling over. ¡°This ends here. You¡¯re not to contact Ben again. If I ever catch you, I¡¯ll break your other leg.¡± With that, he stormed out with anger without giving Beatrice a chance to respond, leaving Beatrice alone in the ward, looking both innocent and panicked. Hamish¡¯s people caught everything, and Hamish got wind of it right away. At that moment, Hamish was lounging on the sofa in Ashton¡¯s office when he received the call. ¡°Got it. Keep an eye on her. Let¡¯s see who she¡¯s waiting, f?r if she¡¯s so determined not to be discharged,¡± he said. After hanging up, Hamish shed his usual roguish grin and said, ¡°Ashton, you guessed it right. It turns out Beatrice really is tied to that mysterious Ben Hamish had put the call on speaker just now, so Ashton heard everything. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re on the right track,¡± Ashton said. ¡°By the way, where¡¯s your fierce little girl? Why didn¡¯t you bring her to the office with you? Aren¡¯t you worried she¡¯ll sneak off and cause trouble again?¡± Hamish asked. Ashton red at him and said, ¡°How is my Briar fierce?¡± Hamish just shrugged, grinning. ¡®Not fierce? Beatrice¡¯s leg is broken, and Emily and Sawyer are practically living dead now¡­ Hamish thought. Ashton replied, ¡°She has ss this morning and has gone to theb.¡± Hamish nodded and said, ¡°Good. Once she¡¯s in theb, we don¡¯t have to worry about her causing any trouble.¡± Meanwhile, the ¡°trouble¨Cfree¡± Briar had already finished Joshua¡¯s research project ahead of schedule. She sent the report to his email and smiled sweetly. ¡°Mr. Swift, I¡¯m all done. I¡¯ll head out now.¡± Joshua looked over Briar¡¯s report and nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Good work. There¡¯s nothing else for you this afternoon. You may go now.¡± Joshua knew Briar had her ownb at home, her own research direction, and she was working on specialized drug experiments for rare conditions. Therefore, he was always more lenient with her. Briar slung her backpack over her shoulder and left. Frank, who had been put in charge, quickly took out his phone to update Ashton. ¡°Ashton, Briar¡¯s going home now,¡± he said. Ashton asked, ¡°So fast? Weren¡¯t you guys supposed to be working on experiments all morning?¡± Frank sounded embarrassed when he said, ¡°Yeah, but Briar finished everything in less than two hours. Mr. Swift was so impressed and let her leave early.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give her a call,¡± Ashton said. Hamish burst outughing and said, ¡°Your girl is seriously impressive!¡± Before Ashton could call Briar, her call came through first. ¡°Ashton, I¡¯m all done here. Should I go find you now?¡± Ashton said, ¡°Alright. Where are you now? I¡¯ll have Brandon pick you up.¡± Briar told him her location and then stayed put, waiting for Brandon toe and get her. Not far away, a ck sedan was slowly approaching Briar. The windows were heavily tinted, making it impossible to see who was inside. But the car¡¯s sneaky vibe immediately put Briar on alert. She kept her calm, pretending to lower her head and dig through her bag as the car got closer. Just as it stopped, two big guys in ck rushed out of the passenger and back seats, right as she dug out a piece of white chocte. ¡°Thud.¡± The chocte slipped frorn Briar¡¯s hand as the two men grabbed her and dragged her into the car, which sped off down the street. By the time Brandon arrived, Briar was nowhere to be seen. Brandon got out, dialing Briar¡¯s number as he looked around. Soon, his eyesnded on a piece of white chocte lying on the ground. Brandon¡¯s face turned pale. ncing at the surveince cameras in the surroundings, he realized the ones facing this spot were all busted. Without hesitation, he called Ashton. ¡°Mr. Wade, Miss Jennings might be in trouble¡­¡± 10:04 FT 22 Aug Forsaken 209 On a deste road on the outskirts of Shoneport, a ck sedan sped against the wind. Inside the car, a man dressed in ck with a long scar on his belt check was driving nervously while keeping a wary eye on hispanion in the passenger seat Seeing hispanion try calling again, but there was still no answer on the other end. His face grew grim, and his voice was icy. ¡°How is it? Still can¡¯t get through?¡± he asked. Thepanion on the passenger seat shook his head, somewhat agitated, and pounded the car door with a heavy thud. ¡°Can¡¯t get through, damn it! he cursed. In the back seat, a fierce¨Clooking, heavily tattooed man sat next to a slender, pale¨Cfaced girl whose small frame leaned against the seat. The girl slumped in the seat, eyes tightly shut as if ¡°unconscious,¡± lookingpletely harmless. Probably being confident in the effectiveness of their drug, they didn¡¯t bother to tie her up or search her body after knocking Briar out. They simply left her lying in the seat. The tattooed man casually nced at Briar, then turned his attention to the two guys up front. Hearing the passenger¡¯s frustration, he started to get anxious. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Wasn¡¯t the guy still reachable two hours ago?¡± he asked. Thepanion in the passenger seat was even more anxious than the other two. ¡°Damn it, this guy¡¯s shady. Once we¡¯re done with this job, we¡¯ll leave Shoneport immediately. I have a bad feeling about this. He better not rat us out,¡± he said. Hearing his words, the other two immediately started cursing, and the air in the car grew even more tense. ¡°Damn it, I told you that guy looked like a total wimp, unreliable at all. I knew he couldn¡¯t be trusted. Now look at us, we might be busting our asses for nothing,¡± one of them grumbled. ¡°Seriously, how did we end up agreeing to this so muddle¨Cheadedly? That punk better hope we don¡¯t run into him. Otherwise, I swear I¡¯ll mess him up s badly that he won¡¯t know what hit him,¡± the other snapped. ¡°Yeah, he dares to screw us over, does he? Just wait till we get our hands on him,¡± the other chimed in. ¡°But what now? We can¡¯t just toss her out on the side of the road, can we?¡± ¡°No way. She¡¯s already seen our faces. If we just let her go, the cops will be on us in no time. I don¡¯t want to spend my days being chased around by the police; it¡¯s way too frustrating.¡± ¡°So what? Do we just kill her?¡± ¡°Killing isn¡¯t what we do, man. We¡¯re in this for cash, not to kill¡­¡± ¡°What else can we do then? She¡¯s seen us; there¡¯s no way we can let her live.¡± ¡°Then screw it, let¡¯s just get rid of her to save the trouble in the future.¡± ¡°Who dares?¡± Suddenly, a girl¡¯s sweet voice rang out,through the tense, cramped air inside the car. The three men turned their heads around in unison, eyes wide with terror, looking at Briar, who was supposed to be knocked out in the back seat but was now slowly sitting up. Thepanion in the passenger seat, shocked, asked in a shaky voice, ¡°You¡­ How are you awake?¡± ¡°With that subpar knockout drug, do you really think you can take me down?¡± Briar tilted her neck and stretched her arms, smiling as she spoke. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve, daring to kidnap me! Do you even know who I am?¡± The tattooed guy was the fastest to react. He swore and lunged straight at Briar. ¡°Damn it, Tiger, pull over! Tie this chick up before she runs away!¡± These guys were ustomed to work that risked their lives. Regardless of what happened to the hirer, ensuring the hostany¡¯s safety remained fait their professional code. Although it was the first time they had encountered a hostage waking up halfway and turning around to threaten them, they couldn¡¯t just ignore it Moreover, this girl looked so calm. The tattooed guy suddenly had a bad feeling about all this. With a screech, Tiger pulled the car over. He and thepanion in the passenger seat jumped out, one from each side, teaming up with the tattooed guy to pin Briar down. ¡®How could three big grown men fail to handle one little girl?¡® they thought. However, reality proved them wrong. They were no match for her, no matter how big and tough they were. Briar had let them take her without a fight just to find out who was behind the kidnapping, but now, that wasn¡¯t necessary anymore. It looked like their hirer had already run off; Ashton must have made his move. Since these few guys were no longer of any use, there was no way Briar was going to go easy on them. As soon as the back door opened, Briarshed out with a swift kick, sending the tattooed guy flying out of the car. In the same motion, she knocked the scar¨Cfaced man down with him. The two crashed to the ground in a tangled heap and couldn¡¯t even get up for a long time. The eyes of thepanion in the paeat went bloodshot with fury. ¡°Damn it, you bitch! You don¡¯t take the easy way, huh? Fine; guess you¡¯re courting death¡­¡± he cursed. Briar turned around coldly and said, ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re the one with a death wish.¡± With a twist of her wrist, a dagger suddenly appeared in her hand. The dagger gleamed, looking brand new, but the tip shone with a chilling light. At a nce, it could tell it had seen blood before. As thepanion in the passenger seat lunged at her, Briar¡¯s dagger pressed right up against the artery in his neck. All his anger and bravado vanished in an instant. The chill of the dagger against his skin made him freeze as if someone had hit pause on his whole body. Briar¡¯s face was icy. ¡°Get on your knees and don¡¯t even think about moving if you want to live. Otherwise, my knife won¡¯t show any mercy,¡± she said. The tables turned so fast that in just a few seconds, Briar calling the shots. Now, their lives were in her hands. With her knife pressed against the passenger¡¯s throat, she forced the other two to back off. Her tone was icy and threatening when she said, ¡°You¡¯ve got two choices: tell me who sent you to kidnap me, or else.¡± Even though they were scared, their professional code was carved into their bones. All three shook their heads and refused to tell. Briar didn¡¯t press them. ¡°Option two: I¡¯ll kill you all, dump your bodies out in the wild, and I promise¨Cno matter whoes looking for you guys, no one will ever trace your deaths back to me.¡± The three were shaking all over, their shoulders trembling. They wanted to run, but were too scared. ¡°Since you¡¯re all keeping quiet, that means you¡¯ve picked option two. Great! I like option two best. It¡¯s so much more exciting,¡± Briar said. So right there, under the terrified and helpless stares of the three men, Briar lifted her dagger high up, her eyes cold and merciless, and, without hesitation, shed it straight at the throat of thepanion in the passenger seat. ¡°Screech!¡± Suddenly, the screech of brakes rang out behind them, and immediately after, Ashton called out, ¡°Briar¡­¡± Briar reacted just as fast. She let go of the dagger, her legs went weak, and she was about to fall backward. Ashton rushed over and swept her into his arms. ¡°Briar, are you okay?¡± he asked. Briar looked up at him, putting on her most pitiful face as she whimpered, ¡°Ashton, what fook you to long? I ran seared in death. They wanted to give de It was so close¡­ the three kidnappers were at a loss for words. Seriously, do you even hear what ! you¡¯ve just said?¡± the three thought,pletely dumbfounder. AD Forsaken 210 Chapter 210 ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I should¡¯ve gotten here sooner,¡± Ashton said, holding Briar close, his hand gently soothing her back. After making sure she wasn¡¯t hurt, he coaxed her gently, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Briar shook her head and said, ¡°No, I fought back. I even just lightly kicked them out of the car. All three of them tried to squeeze into the backseat at once. It was so scary. I had no idea what they were trying to do¡­¡± She whimpered, putting on a pitiful act. The three kidnappers were dumbfounded. ¡®Just a gentle kick? You sure about that?¡® the kidnappers thought in disbelief. Ashton¡¯s face darkened, and the same with Hamish and Reece behind him. Briar was too innocent and had no idea why three grown men squeezed into the backseat with her. But as men themselves, they knew all too well about men¡¯s innate depravity. They could guess what those three had in mind for Briar. There was no need for Ashton to give any orders. Brandon immediately grabbed the tattooed kidnapper, lifted him off the ground, and growled with murderous intent, ¡°You¡¯re all dead!¡± The three kidnappers were on the verge of tears. Although they had guts and nerves, no way they would reveal the real reason. It was because they noticed how skilled Briar was, and out of fear that something might go wrong halfway through, they decided to gang up to subdue her. But their men¡¯s pride was on the line¨Cno way they would ever say that out loud. Brandon wouldn¡¯t give them a chance to talk either. He waved his men over and had the three dragged away, ready to teach them a real lesson back at the base. The subordinates were furious, too. ¡®Miss Jennings is still so young; how could they even bring themselves toy a hand on her? ¡®Uh¡­ But of course, Ashton¡¯s not included. It¡¯s just an older guy dating a younger girl, and it¡¯s with Miss Jennings¡¯s consent, which is totally above board they thought. On the way to get the car, the subordinates didn¡¯t hold back, giving the kidnappers a good beating. Their screams echoed nonstop, but honestly, no one felt the slightest bit sorry for them. Briar buried her face in Ashton¡¯s chest, hugging his waist. She looked a little down, but her face, which was hidden in Ashton¡¯s arms, lit up with a grin she couldn¡¯t hide. They still couldn¡¯t obtain the name of the mastermind behind the kidnapping, but with Ashton¡¯s methods, those three wouldn¡¯t be able to hold out for long. Soon they would spill everything. In the end, it turned out Briar had overestimated the three of them. They didn¡¯t even make it to the destination. Inside the car, they were already crying and begging to confess everything. They had simply been beaten too badly in the car on the way. There was no escape, no way to dodge, but pain and misery. They were brought to the residence near Ashton¡¯spany. When Briar stepped out of the car under Ashton¡¯s protection, the three kidnappers were already in tears, begging and pleading as they obediently followed Brandon into the small, dark room in the basement. Ashton guided Briar to the couch in the living room, then got her a ss of milk. ¡°Have some milk; it¡¯ll help calm your nerves,¡± he said. Briar nodded and drank the milk without a fuss. Seeing Ashton still looking so tense, she secretly wondered if she had put on too much of an act and ended up scaring him. ¡°Ashton, I actually¡­¡± Briar said, but Ashton cut her off. ¡°Sorry,¡± he said, his tone full of guilt. ¡°Sorry, this happened because I let my guard down. I promise, I won¡¯t ever let you be in danger like this again 10:04 Fri 22 Aug Chapter 210 Briar felt even more guilty. This whole thing had nothing to do with Ashton. She had allowed herself to be kidnapped on purpose to flush out whoever was behind it. It had nothing to do with Ashton, but it had scared him out of his wits. Briar slid onto Ashton¡¯sp, looping her arms around his neck. ¡°How is it your fault? It has nothing to do with you; it¡¯s my problem. I was just trying to beat them at their own game to catch the real culprit¡­ Mm?¡± But before she could finish, Ashton cut her off again. This time, he sealed her lips with his gentle and soothing kiss, holding Briar tightly in his arras. After a long moment, Ashton finally let her go. ¡°You don¡¯t need to exin. I knew it all,¡± he said. Briar blinked in surprise. ¡°You knew it? You knew I got myself caught on purpose?¡± she asked. Ashton nodded. ¡°And you even knew I was faking my tears and ying the victim on purpose?¡± Briar continued. Ashton nodded again and said, ¡°I knew you were faking your tears, but you weren¡¯t ying victim. Anyone would feel scared and helpless in a situation like that.¡± Briar felt a little embarrassed. ¡°Then why did you just me keep pretending?¡± Briar asked. ¡®Ashton knew the whole time, yet he never exposed me. Did he need to be so thoughtful?¡® Briar thought. ¡°I¡¯m your man. Isn¡¯t it only natural for you to me?¡± Ashton said matter¨Cof¨Cfactly. ¡°Besides, you¡¯re so adorable when you do that!¡± What Ashton didn¡¯t say was that he let her act spoiled because he felt guilty. Deep down, he knew this whole mess was his fault. Just because Briar was skilled and capable didn¡¯t mean he could ck off on protecting her. ¡®Today, it was just three ordinary thugs who tried to kidnap her, so she was fine and managed to escape unscathed. ¡®But what if they were from those top¨Cranked international mercenary organizations? Would Briar really be that lucky? Would she still be able to slip away before anyone could get to her? ¡®Today, someone had the guts to kidnap her. Tomorrow, someone will be willing to push things further. If that happens, Briar will be living in the same kind of danger I face every day. ¡®I can handle living being a target, but no way I¡¯ll let my girl be dragged into this kind of life,¡® Ashton thought. ¡°Ashton, we managed to get them to talk,¡± Hamish and Reece said as they came up from the basement, both of them wearing weird looks on their faces. Ashton frowned, letting them in, and asked, ¡°What happened?¡± Hamish and Reece exchanged a nce. Finally, Reece flopped down on the couch with a grin and said, ¡°Take a wild guess. Who do you think was behind hiring these three wimps to kidnap Briar?¡± Hamish waggled a finger. ¡°Here¡¯s a hint. We all saw this person not too long ago.¡± Briar had already suspected something when she was dealing with the kidnappers, and now, with Hamish and Reece¡¯s hints, her suspicions were confirmed. Briar and Ashton said in unison, ¡°Hayden!¡± Hamish snapped his fingers and said, ¡°Bingo! You got it right.¡± Reece asked, ¡°Bet you didn¡¯t expect it to be him?¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect that. Since when did the Garzas dare to reach their hands this far?¡± Hamish let out a couple ofughs. ¡°My guess is, Hayden probably did this behind his family. ording to those three wimps, after they snatched Briar, they kept trying to call Hayden but just couldn¡¯t get through to him.¡± 10:04 Fri, 22 Aug Briar nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. I heard them too, in the backseat. They kept calling their hirer, but even when the call went through, nobody ever picked up.¡± Ashton waved a man over. ¡°Keep tabs on the Garzas¡® every single move, and alert all the train stations and airports. No one from the Garza family leaves Shoneport unless I give consent.¡°Garzas The subordinate nodded and said, ¡°Got it, Mr. Wade. I¡¯ll get on it right away.¡± If this is all Hayden¡¯s doing by himself, the Ga first to save his life,¡® Ashton thought. would definitely realize the consequences once I find out. They¡¯d try to sneak him out of Shoneport AD Forsaken 211 Chapter 211 54 ¡°Smack!¡± In the living room of the Garza family residence, a crisp pnded hard on Hayden¡¯s face as he sat in a wheelchair, his left cheek swelling up almost instantly. Norma rushed to him, both heartbroken and helpless. ¡°Dad, why did you hit the kid? Hayden already knows he¡¯s at fault,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s all because you all spoiled him,¡± Geoff snapped, pointing his finger at his son, Qeturah, and daughter¨Cinw Norma, his voice full of bitter disappointment. Qeturah didn¡¯t dare talk back. He lowered his head and said, ¡°Dad, please calm down. What¡¯s done is done. We need to find a way to help Hayden. If we wait any longer, Ashton¡¯s people will be knocking on our door.¡± Geoff was so furious at his son¡¯s words that he nearly passed out. ¡°You¡­ all you ever do is stir up trouble for me! Is there anything else you¡¯re good at?¡± Qeturah was annoyed, but he knew Hayden had indeed messed up this time. By the time they found out what had happened, Briar had already been kidnapped. At that time, Qeturah was so scared that his legs went weak. ¡®Of all the people to mess with, why did this brat have to go after Briar? ¡®Briar is Ashton¡¯s woman now. Even if he wants to target her, he shouldn¡¯t be so brazen. Wasn¡¯t one lesson enough for him?¡® he thought. They could ignore whatever happened to Briar, but Ashton¡¯s revenge was something they absolutely couldn¡¯t handle. If Qeturah hadn¡¯t snatched Hayden¡¯s phone in time and stopped the kidnappers from making the call, it would have been impossible to clean up this whole mess. Norma, after consoling Hayden, turned to plead to Geoff, ¡°Dad¡­¡± ¡°Enough! Before Ashton¡¯s people show up, quickly send Hayden back to Qathana to lie low for a while. If Ashton can¡¯t find him, he¡¯ll drop it,¡± Geoff said. ¡®What else can I do? Hayden is my only precious grandson. Even if he messes up again, I¡¯d still have to cover for him,¡® Geoff thought. There was nothing that Geoff could do. Hayden was his only precious grandson. Even if he messed up again, he would still have to cover for him. ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯ll arrange it right away,¡± Qeturah said, his face lighting up with relief. ¡®Now that Dad¡¯s said so, once Hayden is in Qathana, no one will be able to find him,¡® he thought. Norma, just as relieved, hurried upstairs to pack Hayden¡¯s things herself. Sitting in the corner of the sofa, Manny secretly pursed her lips. ¡®It¡¯s always the same thing. No matter how badly Hayden screws up, no matter how furious Grandpa is, in the end, he¡¯ll just let him off with a light p. Hayden¡¯s getting bolder. ¡®Hayden¡¯s getting bolder. Sooner orter, he¡¯s going to blow through everything our family has worked so hard to build,¡® Manny thought to herself No one noticed Manny¡¯s expression. They were all too busy scrambling to get Hayden off to Qathana. They spent nearly an hour getting everything ready, making sure the bodyguards were in ce to escort Hayden. But during all that time, nobody noticed that after so long, Ashton¡¯s people hadn¡¯te knocking yet. Manny did notice, but as usual, nobody listened to her. The whole family bustled around, finally getting Hayden into the car, then stood at the door, watching it drive off with lingering reluctance. Mandy was speechless. ¡°Ashton, Miss Jennings, the Garzas did send Hayden to the airport. Their private jet has already filed a flight n and will take off in an hour,¡± a subordinate reported, summarizing the information they had gathered. Ashton nodded and waved him away. ¡°Got it. Have someone stop Hayden, and let him feel what it¡¯s like to be kidnapped,¡± he said. 10:17 Sat, 23 Augus The subordinate grinned wickedly and said, ¡°Alright, Mr. Wade. We¡¯re good at this. We¡¯ll make sure it¡¯s perfect.¡± ? ???, 54% Hamish was practically rubbing his hands together in anticipation. ¡°Ashton,e on, when are we going to deal with the Garzas? I can¡¯t wait any longer,¡± he asked. Reece chuckled. ¡°What? The dignified Hamish actually has his eye on the insignificant Garza family?¡± he said. Hamish red at Reece and said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you anticipating too? Sure, the Garza family isn¡¯t exactly top¨Ctier, but thosebs in their hands are pretty valuable. ¡°Why don¡¯t we just take them over? It¡¯d be perfect for my family¡¯s hospital to integrate their resources.¡± Reece raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°Seriously? Can youe up with a more ridiculous reason?¡± ¡®The Parkinson family, one of the top families in Shoneport, is short on resources from a fewbs owned by the Garza family? If words get out, people willugh their heads off,¡® Reece thought. Hamish red at him and said, ¡°Let¡¯s not call each other out; that¡¯s what friends are for.¡± The two kept bickering and were too caught up to notice how unusually calm Ashton and Briar were. ¡°Briar, what¡¯s your n with the Garzas?¡± Ashton finally spoke up, ignoring Hamish and Reece. He could tell Briar was itching to get involved. With those few resources, even if the Garzas offered them to him for free, he wasn¡¯t interested. But if Briar had her n in mind, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to make a move. Briar shed a wicked grin. ¡°The Garzas act so fearlessly just because they¡¯ve got power overseas, right? I want to let Hayden get back to Qathana safe and sound,¡± she said. Ashton¡¯s brows furrowed, but he quickly caught on to her meaning. ¡°You want to nab Hayden in Qathana?¡± he asked. Briar nodded and said, ¡°Garzas¡¯s influence in Qathana is nothing to underestimate. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have spent all these years, yet still unable to find the exact location of theirbs. This is a golden opportunity. I don¡¯t want to miss it.¡± Ashton nced at Hamish and Reece, both clearly hooked by Briar¡¯s daring idea. ¡°You guys heard that? My Briar wants to take the lead,¡± he said. Reece just shrugged, grinning, and said, ¡°I¡¯m good with whatever.¡± Hamish immediately volunteered, ¡°Briar, I can handle myself well in a fight. Want me to tag along to Qathana with you?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be too much trouble for you, Hamish?¡± Briar said, but her eyes sparkled with excitement. She was obviously all for his suggestion. Hamish turned to Ashton with a grin. ¡°Ashton, you saw it yourself. Briar agreed with it. Don¡¯t you dare ruin our trip abroad together.¡± Ashton was at a loss for words, thinking, ¡®Seriously? My buddy just hijacked my first overseas trip with my girl. So frustrated.¡® ¡°I¡¯ve got nothing going ontely, and I¡¯m actually thinking about heading overseas to check on some business. Why don¡¯t we all tag along together? The private jet i ordered just finished its test flight a few days ago. Let¡¯s take that one,¡± Ashton said. There was no way he would let such a rare chance slip through his fingers. Coming up with an excuse to go abroad was second nature to him. Reece shed an extremely say grin and said, ¡°I¡¯m jn. Let¡¯s all go together.¡± So, when Hayden finally made it to the airport with his people and boarded his family¡¯s private jet, he didn¡¯t truly rx until the ne took off safely in the air. Only then did he finally let go of all the tension he had been holding deep down. ¡°Ha, Prince of Shoneport, huh? He¡¯s even aware that I¡¯ve already made my getaway!¡± Hayden lounged on the sofa, a ss of red wine in one hand and his other arm draped around his girlfriend¡¯s waist,ughing with wild arrogance. His girlfriend stayed quiet the whole time, sitting right next to him and asionally topping off his wine. 10:17 Sat, 23 Aug 54%8 One of the bodyguards who got on the ne kept staring at her for quite a while. He leaned over to his buddy and whispered, ¡°Hey, don¡¯t you think the girl Mr. Garza brought this time looks kind of unfamiliar? I don¡¯t remember seeing her before.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so strange about that? With how fast Mr. Garza changes his girls, she¡¯s probably just another pretty face he picked up somewhere,¡± his buddy said. ¡°Yeah, and this trip was decidedst minute. No way anyone could sneak in,¡± the bodyguard agreed with him and said. AD Forsaken 212 Chapter 212 55% Their conversation drifted over to Hayden¡¯s and his girlfriend¡¯s ears. Only then did Hayden realize the girl in his arms looked even more gorgeous than the one who hade to the hospital to apany him that night. He frowned, grabbed her chin, and lifted her face. ¡°Sweetheart, how is it that you look even better than that night when you were sitting on me?¡± he asked. Hayden could still remember exactly what his girlfriend looked like that night, even after more than half a month, because she had been so passionate that night. Her lips, breasts, waist, and legs deeply impressed him. Panic shed in her eyes for a moment, but she quickly forced a sweet smile and looked up at Hayden. ¡°Mr. Garza, do you really think I look better than that night?¡± she asked. Seeing her reaction, Hayden¡¯s frown eased a bit. ¡°What did you do?¡± She lowered her gaze, feeling a bit embarrassed, and said, ¡°Mr. Garza, I¡­ I used the 30 thousand dors you gave me to do some minor cosmetic work. Ever since we got on the ne, you haven¡¯t really looked at me. I thought maybe I had ruined my face¡­¡± Hayden perked up right away. ¡°Cosmetic work? Show me. What have you fixed?¡± Hayden didn¡¯t care if his girlfriend had stic surgery or not. How many true natural beauties were there anyway? As long as she looked good, that was enough for him. It wasn¡¯t like he nned to marry any of these women. But what made Hayden happy was that she was the first to be frank about her cosmetic work, and she had even done it for him. That kind of effort was enough to make Hayden dote on her for a while. She immediately grabbed Hayden¡¯s hand, all sweet and clingy, guiding him to feel around her face. However, before long, Hayden¡¯s hand started to stray to other parts of her body. Seeing this, the two bodyguards hurriedly turned around, moving a bit further away. Just then, the affectionate gaze of the girl who had been all sweet and snuggly in Hayden¡¯s arms suddenly turned icy and fierce the moment the bodyguards turned away. In a sh, she struck Hyden with a sharp, precise karate chop, knocking him out cold in an instant. While casually shoving Hayden onto the sofa, she kept an eye on the reactions of the two bodyguards nearby, all the while letting out moans that would make one blush. Half an hourter, things finally quieted down, and Hayden ended up ¡°asleep,¡± still holding the girl in his arms. The bodyguards, watching from a distance, didn¡¯t notice anything unusual about Hayden. They just thought he was tired and had dozed off. It¡¯s not like they were looking down on Hayden¡¯s skinny frame, but honestly, with a body like his, what woman could he ever satisfy without money? Their flight was going to take at least twelve hours, so if Hayden could get some sleep, they would just let him. It was better than having him get bored and start causing trouble again. ¡°Hey! Why are we stuck here being your free pilots? We¡¯re supposed to be passengers on this ne, you know!¡± Reece and Hamish wereughing in disbelief at Ashton¡¯s legendary stunt. ¡®What? Just because we both know how to fly, he thinks he can just exploit us for freebor?¡® they both thought. ¡°I wanted to enjoy some private time with Briar, so I didn¡¯t bring a pilot along. That means I¡¯ll have to trouble you guys with the flight to Qathana,¡± 10:1 Sat, 23 Aug 55% +33) Ashton said, not feeling the slightest bit guilty about roping his friends in. Both Reece and Hamish were speechless. ¡®So, just because we¡¯re single, we get banished to the cockpit, huh?¡® they both thought bitterly. Reece and Hamish both turned to look at Brandon, who just shrugged and went to the smallpartment. Just as he closed the door, it was dead silent inside. Reece turned around and said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go fly this thing.¡± Hamish followed him. Before long, the huge cabin was left with just Ashton and Briar. Briarughed and pushed Ashton¡¯s face away as he leaned in. ¡°You¡¯d better watch out. They might team up and beat you up,¡± she said. Ashton just let her push him back, a smirk on his lips when he said, ¡°They probably couldn¡¯t even beat me.¡± Briar didn¡¯t buy it. Reece and Hamish were both former special forces legends. If Ashton went against just one of them, he might be able to fight to a draw. But if both of them teamed up against him, his chances of winning weren¡¯t great. Ashton smiled quietly. The twelve¨Chour flight was quite boring. Fortunately, out of the five people on board, Briar was the only one who couldn¡¯t pilot a ne, while the other four could. The four guys took turns flying the ne, so the hours actually went by pretty fast. When they touched down in Qathana, it was already the middle of the night. Nightfall is the best camouge for things that need to stay hidden. Hayden and his team were picked up by the people Geoff had sent. Covered by darkness, none of them noticed a car trailing behind them. It wasn¡¯t too close and yet not too far. That car shadowed the convoy across the wide Vyrnoss River, only finallying to a stop when they were about to turn into a junction. Inside the car, Briar sat in the passenger seat, just like Reece and Hamish, with binocrs in hand, tracking Hayden¡¯s car as it kept moving forward. Briar knew every major city in Qathana like the back of her hand. ¡°They¡¯ve just turned into an abandoned factory area. It used to be a steel mill there,¡± she said. Reece quickly calcted their speed and distance. ¡°Judging by the speed they¡¯re going, that whole abandoned factory area must be massive,¡± he said. Ashton nced at Brandon, who nodded, took out his phone, and sent the location to Xavion, telling him to send over all the maps of the area as soon as possible. Xavion had already been waiting for this. Barely a few minutes after Brandon sent the message, the maps popped up on his phone. Brandon found the abandoned steel mill on the map and frowned. ¡°Miss Jennings, this abandoned steel mill is massive. It¡¯ll be pretty tough for our people to sneak in without getting noticed,¡± he said. if i were one of the Garzas, and I cared a lot about theb here, I¡¯d have guards posted at every single entrance and exit of that abandoned steel mill,¡® he thought. Hearing that, Briar nced at Ashton and grinned. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s my showtime now,¡± she said, Ashton pulled aptop out of thepartment in the passenger seat and said, ¡°Alright, you may start your show now.¡± Reece, Hamish, and Brandon all leaned in, curiosity written all over their faces. What happened next reshaped their impression of Briar. ¡°Holy shit! Briar, you¡¯re a total badass hacker!¡± Beece eximed. Hamish said, ¡°Yeah, yourputer skills are almost at Xavion¡¯s level. That¡¯s pretty awesome!¡± Brandonmented fairly, ¡°Nah, I think Miss Jennings is actually better than Xavion.¡± In just a minute and a half, Briar had taken over every single surveince feed in the abandoned steel mill. It wasn¡¯t just impressive, but next¨Clevel, 213 10:17 Sat, 23 Au absolutely insane! 55% Initially, they were still a bit skeptical when they found out Briar was the international Legendary Hacker Bree. But now, after witnessing her god¨Ctierputer skills in action, all their doubts vanished, leaving behind only pure awe. Briar replied humbly, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just handy.¡± Everyone was at a loss for words. ¡®Seriously, who could be handier than you?¡® they all thought. Ìï Forsaken 213 After hacking into the surveince cameras at the entrances and exits of the abandoned steel mill, as well as those around the parking lot, Briar soon spotted the car that had just driven in. The car was parked near what resembled a basement entrance, illuminated only by a faint glow from a dim streetlight. If Briar hadn¡¯t searched so thoroughly, she might have overlooked it. +33 ¡°Got it,¡± Briar said with a smile as she hit the ¡°enter¡± key. The screen split into a dozen smaller windows, and in one of them, she saw the unmistakable figure of Hayden in a wheelchair. Reece leaned over to get a better look at the footage. ¡°Looks like they¡¯re about to head into the basement. Is theb really down there?¡± he asked. Hamish nodded and said, ¡°Yeah, it seems like they¡¯re going downstairs. If there¡¯s a secretb here, hiding it in the basement is probably the only way it wouldn¡¯t get discovered.¡± Ashton just tilted his head and looked at Briar, who was eager to make a move. ¡°Let¡¯s confirm their exact location first and have someone keep an eye on them. We¡¯lle back for them tomorrow after we¡¯ve had some rest,¡± he said. It was alreadyte, and no one knew the situation inside the undergroundb. There was no way Ashton would let the girl just get out of the car and try to catch them now. Briar knew there was no room for negotiation, so she obediently nodded. ¡°Alright, we¡¯lle back tomorrow. Now that we¡¯ve found their hideout, there¡¯s no way they¡¯re running away,¡± she said. Even after they drove off, the guards watching over the abandoned steel mill didn¡¯t notice a thing. An hour and a halfter, their car pulled up in front of the five¨Cstar Victoria Hotel. The hotel manager hurried over, opening the car doors with a respectful bow. ¡°Wee, Mr. Wade, Mr. Goodwin, Mr. Hamish, Miss Jennings, Brandon,¡± ¡°Are the rooms ready? We¡¯re exhausted,¡± Bradon said. The manager nodded and said, ¡°All the rooms are ready. Pleasee with me.¡± The Victoria Hotel had dozens of branches all over Qathana. It was also one of Ashton¡¯s many overseas businesses. The manager had once worked directly under Ashton before being sent to Qathana three or four years ago. Now, seeing his boss again, he was very excited. If it weren¡¯t for Ashton¡¯s overwhelming aura, he honestly wanted to rush over, cling to Ashton¡¯s leg, and bawl, ¡°Mr. Wade, do you still remember the loyal dog you kicked out back then?¡± Everyone knew that even though Ashton owned a ton of businesses, those of them who had been ¡°exiled¡± to far¨Coff ces rarely got any favor from him. They were like a bunch of kids who had just been weaned and tossed out by their dad, forced to make it on their own in the big, wide world. He had thought that being sent abroad would mean living a life filled with gunfire and action. However, it turned out that Ashton¡¯s influence overseas was so strong that most local troublemakers would consciously avoid their dozens of chain hotels whenever they stirred up trouble. With all his skills going to waste, he could only vent his frustration at the gym after work every day. The rooms prepared for them were the hotel¡¯s private suites, upying the entire top floor. The ce was several times more extravagant than the presidential suite, and all of it had been specially set up by the manager just to curry favor with Ashton. ¡®After four whole years, it¡¯s finally getting put to use. What a long wait!¡® the manager thought. After leading Ashton and the others into the suite, the manager didn¡¯t leave. Instead, he lingered awkwardly by the door, wringing his hands like a timid girl. 10:17 Sat, 23 Aug ? 3, 55% Brandon knew exactly what these ¡°exiled¡± underlings were thinking, but trying to act all coy with Ashton was just asking to get smacked with the back of his hand. He red at the manager, but the manager just pretended to be blind and acted like he didn¡¯t see a thing. Ashton caught the manager¡¯s hopeful expression and let out a helplessugh. ¡°You got something to say? If not, then scram!¡± he said. ¡°Mr. Wade, how long will you be staying this time? The others heard you¡¯re in Qathana and are all rushing over from everywhere!¡± The manager, seeing a chance, piped up eagerly. ¡°Everyone¡¯s been missing you like crazy.¡± Ashton was at a loss for words, thinking, ¡®This guy¡¯s clingy, fawning act was even more authentic than Briar¡¯s.¡® ¡°Looks like life¡¯s been a breeze for you guys out here, huh? Maybe I haven¡¯t given you guys enough to do,¡± Ashton said. He knew that ever since he had sent these guys overseas, he had barely checked in on them. And when this guy said he missed him, it wasn¡¯t really about missing Ashton himself but just that he was worried Ashton would forget about them for good. The manager chuckled and said, ¡°Not at all! We¡¯re busy every day. However, no matter how swamped we are, we can always make time to see you.¡± Ashton waved his hand and said, ¡°Alright, enough with the ttery. Go tally up how many people areing with Brandon. I know you all haven¡¯t stretched your muscles in a while. Once the sun¡¯s up, I¡¯ll take you guys out for some action.¡± The manager¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Mr. Wade, who do you want to take down? How much firepower do you need? I¡¯ll get someone to bring it over right away,¡± he said. Judging by Ashton¡¯s tone, it sounds like things are going to get bloody. It¡¯s so exciting and thrilling,¡® the manager thought. Brandon really couldn¡¯t take it anymore and dragged the manager away. ¡°You brat, just zip your mouth,¡± he scolded. Briar, Reece, and Hamish exchanged nces, then burst outughing. Briar grinned and asked, ¡°Ashton, were all your guys used to serve on the border or something? They¡¯re even more battle¨Chungry thann.¡± Reece nodded repeatedly. ¡°Battle¨Chungry? They¡¯re downright starved for ¨¤ fight. How long have they been kept on a leash like this?¡± he asked. Hamish said, ¡°I know this. Ever since Ashton started running things here, his guys probably haven¡¯t even gotten their hands on a real gun in three or four years.¡± ¡®Damn! Putting a bunch of guys like that in a peaceful part of Qathaha is like giving them cigarettes without a lighter. They could only look but not smoke. What difference does it make?¡® Reece thought. Ashton didn¡¯t intend to continue with this topic. He brought Briar away and said to his two friends, ¡°Let¡¯s get some rest. We¡¯ll deal with everything else tomorrow.¡± Ashton pulled Briar into the room, and when she saw there was only one king¨Csized bed, she raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Ashton, there¡¯s only one bed. Where are you gonna sleep?¡± Ashton stumbled a bit. ¡°Babe¡­ We¡¯re in a foreignnd.. Are you going to make me sleep on the floor?¡± Briar had already walked over to the closet, opened it, and pulled out a nket. ¡°Of course I am. Because I know you¡¯d never let me sleep on the floor myself.¡± And just like that, Ashton was banished to the floor by Briar on their first night together in Qathana. Meanwhile, the others who received the manager¡¯s call and heard that Ashton was going to take them on a rampage were rushing over as fast as they could. There was no way they were going to let a golden opportunity like this slip by. At theb ir, the abandoned steel mill, Hayden teased, ¡°Sweetheart, you actually know this stuff?¡± 10:18 Sat, 23 Aug. ???,55% 33 After being thoroughly ¡°served¡± by his girlfriend on the ne and coaxed with just a few sweet words, Hayden ended up agreeing to take her on a tour of theb. But he never expected her to know so much about biological research. Hayden couldn¡¯t help thinking he had picked up a real gem. 55% Forsaken 214 Inside theb, Hayden and his girlfriend, Sasha Brooks, were having a st, but the bodyguards standing outside, watching through the transparent ss, were feeling anything but cheerful. The bodyguards had just received thetest update from Ben that Ashton had left the city on a private jet, taking Briar and his friends with him. Ashton¡¯s flight path still hadn¡¯t been tracked down, but Ben had made it clear that they had to keep a close eye on Hayden and absolutely couldn¡¯t let him run off or cause any trouble. Ben also told them to constantly remind Hayden to keep a low profile during this period to avoid any unnecessary trouble. Ben was being so cautious because the timing was just too much of a coincidence. Ashton had left almost at the same time as their private jet. There were no such things as coincidences in this world. But the bodyguards exchanged nces. Hayden acted like nothing was wrong, goofing around and flirting with his girlfriend. If Hayden really wanted to do something, they wondered if they could actually stop him. The bodyguards sighed. Compared to the tense atmosphere in the undergroundb at the scrapyard, the hallway on the top floor of the Victoria Hotel was packed with ck- suited henchmen who were so hyped, they were about to explode on the spot. Ashton was about to take them out to flex and go wild. Just thinking about it got everyone fired up. Briar rubbed her temples, then stepped back to stand beside Reece and Hamish, watching the cringey, overdramatic scene unfold in front of them. It was just so funny that she couldn¡¯t hold back and whispered, ¡°Reece, Hamish, did Ashton really use to take his men out like this, getting into fights and stirring up trouble?¡± ¡®Getting into fights? Stirring up trouble?¡® Reece and Hamish thought, both twitching at the corners of their mouths. Reece gave Briar a thumbs¨Cup. ¡°Briar, you really nailed the description.¡± Hamish started giving Briar the lowdown on Ashton¡¯s legendary past. ¡°Briar, don¡¯t be fooled by how Ashton looks all innocent and is always smiling at everyone. You wouldn¡¯t believe the things he pulled off in Qathana and a bunch of other countries back in the day.¡± Briar¡¯s eyes lit up with curiosity. While Ashton was still busy dealing with his hungry¨Cfor¨Caction underlings, she pressed Hamish, ¡°Come on, spill the beans.¡± ¡°Ever heard of the Unequal Qathana¨CDasmieca Financial Treaty?¡± Hamish asked. Briar nodded, ¡°Who hasn¡¯t? That treaty essentially states that if one wishes to conduct business with anypany in Dasmieca, one must use Dasmieca currency. Otherwise, Dasmieca will just find someone else to work with, no questions asked, and draft a new contract.¡± She¡¯d actually heard about this back when she was still in Qathana, way before she ever met Ashton. ¡°Yeah, that was Ashton going head¨Cto¨Chead with Qathana¡¯s top capitalists,¡± Hamish exined. ¡°They tried to outy him in business, but couldn¡¯t. They tried to take him out by force, but that didn¡¯t work either. In the end, they had no choice but to cave and sign the deal.¡± Briar was utterly at a loss for words. This time, she was truly stunned, shocked to her core. Every single use of the Unequal Qathana¨CDasmieca Financial Treaty was a direct humiliation for Qathana¡¯s upper¨Ccrust capitalists. 55% 33 However, there was nothing they could do. If they dared defy the treaty, Ashton had more than enough ways to make them vanish from this world without so much as a ripple. ¡°And that¡¯s not all,¡± Reece added. ¡°Five years ago, Ashton was making moves on the turf of major crime syndicates overseas, taking over territory and pulling resources together. He was a total pro at it.¡± Briar nodded along, thinking, ¡®Looks like the Hacker Alliance¡¯s files on Ashton need some serious updating.¡® None of the stuff Reece and Hamish were talking about was in the Hacker Alliance¡¯s database. ¡°The wildest thing is, nowadays, just hearing Ashton¡¯s name is enough to make these people give his turf a wide berth. They¡¯re all scared stiff of getting on his bad side and facing his payback,¡± Reece went on. ¡°Five years ago, Ashton uncovered an undergroundb where they were doing live experiments on actual people¨Cmost of them Yastrians and Nardians. He nearly lost his life trying to save those poor folks who were being used as test subjects.¡± As they brought up this painful memory, both Reece and Hamish¡¯s faces twisted with anger and grief. ¡°That was also the time Ashton¡¯s father forced him toe back home,¡± Hamish added. ¡°He wasn¡¯t allowed to run wild out there anymore after that.¡± ¡®Wait, five years ago?¡® Briar thought, her mind racing. ¡®An underground human experimentationb?¡® As those phrases came together in her mind, Briar¡¯s expression changed as well. ¡°What are you guys talking about?¡± Just then, Ashton finished giving his orders and walked back over. Noticing the odd look on Briar¡¯s face, he asked. Briar quickly suppressed the sudden excitement bubbling up inside her and shook her head. ¡°Nothing much. We were just reminiscing about your legendary exploits overseas.¡± Reece shrugged. ¡°Briar was curious about all the fighting and chaos you used to get into, so we just gave her a quick rundown.¡± Hamish added, ¡°Rx, we definitely didn¡¯t air any of your dirtyundry.¡± Ashton was speechless. ¡°Everything¡¯s set up,¡± Ashton said stiffly, clearly trying to change the subject. ¡°Briar, didn¡¯t you say you wanted to lead the team yourself and catch them? Go on, Brandon is already waiting for you.¡± Briar peeked over, and sure enough, at the end of the hallway, Brandon and a bunch of ck¨Cd henchmen were waiting. The moment they saw Briar looking their way, all those burly guys tried to ster on what they thought were friendly smiles. Little did they know, no matter how hard they grinned, they still looked like total tough guys. The more they smiled, the more intimidating they got. Honestly, they¡¯d be better off just keeping a straight face. That would look way more natural. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take the team and head out,¡± Briar said, giving a little shiver at their attempts to smile. She nodded and headed over to join them. With Brandon and a crew of menacing, ck suited bruisers in tow, they marched off toward the scrapyard, looking like trouble itself. During the day, the scrapyard looked like just another abandoned factory from the outside. Even the few security guards patrolling the derelict buildings seemed normal. But the moment Briar and the others parked their five cars at every entrance and exit of the scrapyard, a swarm of ck d bodyguards suddenly burst out of the quiet factory grounds, armed with stun batons and guns. As soon as those bodyguards shed their guns, Briar¡¯s ck suited bruisers moved in perfect unison, instantly drawing their own weapons and aiming with such deadly precision, they looked like grim reapersing to collect souls. Qathana was a country where carrying guns was legal, so the fact that these guys were just pulling out handguns was already them holding back. 10:18 Sat, 23 Aug Honestly, if it were up to them, since they finally had a chance to let loose, they¡¯d rather just storm in with a rocketuncher. 55% ¡°Miss Jennings, bullets don¡¯t care who they hit. Just stay in the car, whatever happens, don¡¯t get out,¡± Brandon said. As Ashton¡¯s trusted jack¨Cof¨Call- trades, he wasn¡¯t even a little bit rattled by this kind of minor scuffle. After warning Briar, he simply opened the car door and stepped out without a second thought. He didn¡¯t even spare a nce at the gun barrels aimed right at them. ¡°Who are you people? Leave now. This is private property, no trespassing!¡± one of the ck¨Cd bodyguards shouted at Brandon, clearly recognizing him as the leader of this group of tough guys. Brandon just scratched his ear, thinking, ¡®How noisy.¡® Forsaken 215 As soon as Brandon stepped out of the car, his men lit up with excitement. One of them couldn¡¯t hold back and shouted, ¡°Brandon, can we start now? We¡¯re all itching to get going.¡°, Their hands seemed to have a mind of their own, itching to do something. Brandon casually slipped one hand into his pocket and took the AK¨C47 from a nearby man with a grin. ¡°Can¡¯t wait, huh?¡± Everyone responded in unison, their voices booming, ¡°We can¡¯t wait!¡± The faces of the scrapyard¡¯s bodyguards went pale as they thought, ¡®Brandon? Which Brandon? Could it be Ashton¡¯s right¨Chand man, Brandon?¡® One of the bodyguards recognized Brandon and blurted out, ¡°It¡¯s really Brandon. Boss, what do we do? Are we still going to fight?¡± The head bodyguard smacked his subordinate on the head. ¡°Fight? You think we¡¯ll live to tell the tale if we do?¡± The subordinate protested, looking wronged. ¡°But you always say, ¡®We take the money, we fix the problem.¡® Isn¡¯t that your rule, boss?¡± The head bodyguard said nervously, ¡°Yeah, but you¡¯ve got to know who you¡¯re dealing with. Put your guns away and fall back.¡± He thought, ¡®Sure, you take the money to fix someone¡¯s mess, but only if you¡¯re still alive to spend it.¡® The subordinate shot a look at the head bodyguard, who was already backing off, and pursed his lips, thinking, ¡®Look at you, acting all scared. Some boss you are!¡® Still, the subordinate didn¡¯t dare disobey, and he followed the head bodyguard, stepping aside to clear the way. He wasn¡¯t being a coward; he was just knowing when to back down. Brandon¡¯s men were left dumbfounded. They thought, ¡®Seriously? You¡¯re throwing in the towel before the fight even starts?¡® ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong with you guys? You¡¯ve got guns in your hands. Why are you chickening out? Stop hiding ande at us,¡± Brandon taunted. Brandon was both amused and exasperated by the bodyguards¡® antics. He didn¡¯t expect that after so many years, Ashton¡¯s name still scared people this much. ¡°So what are we waiting for? Let¡¯s go in and capture Hayden,¡± Briar called out from behind. Before Brandon could even reply, she took the lead and walked right in. As she passed the group of bodyguards clutching their guns, Briar strolled in like she owned the ce, not even bothering to spare them a nce. Brandon wouldn¡¯t dare let Briar go in there by herself. The bodyguards at the door might be cowards who¡¯d back down at the mention of Ashton, but the ones sticking close to Hayden were ruthless thugs with blood on their hands. They only cared about money and wouldn¡¯t show mercy just because Briar was with Ashton. If things got messy, they¡¯d just ditch their boss, hop to another country, and continue to risk their necks for money. Brandon quickly stuck to Briar¡¯s side, guarding her closely. ¡°Miss Jennings, why did youe down here? Capturing Hayden is a trivial matter. Just let us handle it.¡± Briar smiled. ¡°Brandon, I¡¯m actually pretty badass.¡± Brandon was speechless. He¡¯d definitely heard that one before. Thest time Briar said that was thest time they met. And that was when her cover got blown. ? 355% +33) Brandon felt a flicker of excitement. He wondered if Briar still had another persona she hadn¡¯t revealed yet. She was already a genius doctor, Speed Queen Bree, and Legendary Hacker Bree. Just those three identities alone were enough to leave most people in the dust. If she had yet another alias to reveal, even Ashton might not be worthy of her. With the bodyguards turning a blind eye, the group strolled straight down to the basement without anyone getting in their way. ¡°Briar! Take her out! Kill her now!¡± Hayden bellowed. The bodyguards in the basement had already gotten word about the intruders and were locked and loaded. The men guarding Hayden were elite killers, handpicked by Geoff. They were real desperadoes with blood on their hands. With these guys around, Hayden wasn¡¯t scared of Briaring for payback. At Hayden¡¯s order, the bodyguards opened fire right away. They didn¡¯t care who wasing. Even if it was Ashton¡¯s men, they¡¯d shoot all the same. Besides, the people who showed up didn¡¯t look like much of a threat, other than Brandon, who was the only one who looked like he could put up a fight. In particr, Briar, who was hiding behind Brandon, just looked like some pretty face who probably slept her way to the top. Even if they killed her, there was no way Ashton would go all out and put a global bounty on them just for her. Feeling fearless, the bodyguards kept firing. Gunshots and Hayden¡¯s screams echoed down theb hallway. On Brandon¡¯s side, his men were hyped up. ¡°Brandon, you saw it. They pulled the trigger first. We have no choice but to fire back.¡± ¡°Yeah. Guys, if someone points a gun at us, what do we do?¡± ¡°Fight them!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± With that, they went absolutely berserk, opening fire like maniacs. The men who looked harmless a moment ago suddenly turned savage, yelling at the top of their lungs and charging forward like they¡¯d just downed a gallon of adrenaline. They werepletely unfazed by the bullets flying their way. Their craziness left not just Hayden stunned, but even the bodyguards were spooked. They thought, ¡®What¡¯s going on? Do they have a death wish? They¡¯re actually charging straight into the bullets? Do they think they¡¯re made of steel or something? Before anyone could react, a blur shot out from the growd¨Cso fast it was almost unreal¨Cand then, a gunshot rang out. ¡°Ow, my legs!¡± Hayden¡¯s scream snapped the bodyguards back to their senses. They looked down and realized that somehow Hayden, who¡¯d been hiding behind them, was now in front of them. His legs were gushing blood, his face pale as a ghost, and he was screaming his lungs out. And Sasha, who¡¯d been pushing his wheelchair, hadpletely disappeared. 10:18 Sat, 23 Aug J It finally clicked for the bodyguards as they thought, ¡®Shit! Sasha wasn¡¯t just some pretty face. She was a mole sent by Briar.¡® It was obvious where Sasha had gone. Of course, she must¡¯ve doubled back to theb. With all those experimental reports and data in there, if she managed to copy even a single file, their whole operation would be finished. One of the bodyguards immediately tried to turn back to capture Sasha, but the moment he moved, Briar pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the ground right next to his foot, dead on target. If he hadn¡¯t spent years living on the edge, with danger always at his heels, that shot would¡¯ve gone straight through his leg. ? ??55% ¡°Darn it, darn it, kill her! Hurry up, kill her. Oh, it hurts so bad¡­ I¡¯ll pay you more. 150 thousand dors each. Whoever finishes her off gets another 300 thousand dors on top,¡± Hayden howled. Big rewards always brought out the reckless ones. The bodyguards instantly stopped backing down. They didn¡¯t care if they pissed off Ashton. With that money, they couldy low, change their names, and live it up for a year. No matter how one looked at it, it was worth the risk. ¡°Pathetic,¡± Briar said,pletely unfazed. Even as the bodyguards unleashed a barrage of gunfire, she kept her grip steady on her gun, not even flinching. But while Briar stayed cool as ever, Brandon and his men were totally losing it. ¡®Holy crap,¡® Brandon thought, ¡®Miss Jennings is insane with a gun. Not a single shot is missed. With an aim like that, being a doctor is such a waste of her talent.¡® Brandon was freaking out on the inside, but he didn¡¯t miss a beat. He whipped out his phone and started recording, catching every badass second of Briar in action. Then he sent the video straight to Ashton, captioned: [Ashton, is this whom you call an innocent and delicate girl?] Ìï Forsaken 216 Chapter 216 ¡°Help!¡± Suddenly, a high¨Cpitched scream rang out, making Brandon immediately put away his phone and rush to Briar¡¯s side, using his bulk to shield her. He thought the bodyguards had found a chance to turn the tables on his men. However, when Brandon saw what was really happening, his mouth twitched uncontrobly. Armed with nothing but a military knife and shielded by Briar¡¯s remarkably urate gunfire, Sasha managed to slip out of theb and make her way right back to Hayden¡¯s side. Now, that military knife was pressed against Hayden¡¯s neck, forcing his bodyguards to hold their fire, terrified that they might hit Hayden by mistake. Brandon nced at Sasha¡¯s sharp moves and icy stare, then at Briar¡¯s calm face. No matter how he looked at it, the two had the same vibe. So Brandon asked uncertainly, ¡°Miss Jennings, is she¡­ one of your subordinates?¡± Briar nodded without hesitation. ¡°Yeah, after I found out who was behind my kidnapping, I had Sasha get close to Hayden on purpose.¡± Brandon could only give her a thumbs¨Cup. ¡°That¡¯s so like you, Miss Jennings. Truly impressive.¡± +33 With that kind of cunning and those tricks up her sleeve, if anyone was dumb enough to mess with Briar again, and she teamed up with Ashton, who was equally scheming, that poor soul might as well start digging their own grave. The bodyguards didn¡¯t dare to step forward, but they couldn¡¯t back away either So the three sides were stuck in a strange but stable standoff. It was Sasha who finally broke the deadlock. ¡°Briar, how do you want me to kill him?¡± she asked. She traced the military knife back and forth across Hayden¡¯s neck, her tone as casual as if she were just talking about ughtering poultry. Before Briar could even respond, Hayden was already freaking out. ¡°No, please, don¡¯t kill me. I have money. Take whatever you want, just please don¡¯t kill me.¡± Now, Hayden was seriously regretting everything. He thought, ¡®Why did I ever have to mess with Briar? Wasn¡¯t getting my legs brokenst time lesson enough? He¡¯d thought Briar was just some shallow chick who used her looks to climb up. He might be scared to fight back against Ashton, but he had no qualms aboutying a hand on Briar. So he went ahead and secretly nned that kidnapping. Sure, he expected some payback, but he thought it would just be Ashton putting the squeeze on the Garza family¡¯s business in Shoneport. Losing a bit of money was no big deal. All the Garza family¡¯s businesses would be his sooner orter anyway. A little loss was nothing to him. The Garza family had plenty of money, so he didn¡¯t are. However, things wentpletely off the rails. After Briar was kidnapped, the first person to figure out that Hayden was the mastermind behind it wasn¡¯t Ashton¡¯s people but Geoff. Geoff took Hayden¡¯s phone and then shipped Hayden straight off to Qathana, thinking that Hayden would be safe hiding out in the undergroundb here. But before Hayden could even catch his breath, Briar stormed in with her men, ready to tear the ce apart. 10:18 Sat, 23 Aug And most humiliatingly, the girl he¡¯d randomly picked to keep him entertained turned out to be one of Briar¡¯s people, too. She¡¯d only messaged him right before he left for the airport, and he¡¯d just agreed to bring her along on a whim. Hayden thought, ¡®How could Briar be so sure I¡¯d agree and bring the girl with me? What if I¡¯d said no, or ignored her messagepletely?¡® ?.,55%¡é No matter how much Hayden tried to figure it out, it was pointless. He was already caught, his bodyguards had blown their best shot at fighting back, and he still ended up in Ashton and Briar¡¯s hands. And worst of all, Briar had gone for his legs again. This time, they were definitely done for. Faced with the fierce attacks from Brandon¡¯s men, the bodyguards had no choice but to surrender. They were just working for a paycheck. There was no way they were going to risk their lives for their boss. If they couldn¡¯t win, then they just stopped fighting. Getting caught by Ashton didn¡¯t mean death. At worst, they¡¯d get roughed up a few times, then be let go. As for whether their current boss lived or died, that was none of their concern. If the Garzas wanted to settle scores, they¡¯d only go after Ashton and Briar. It had nothing to do with them. ¡°He¡¯s all yours. How do you want to finish him off?¡± Briar strolled toward Hayden. Her tone was gentle, but every word made Hayden¡¯s blood run cold. ¡®What does she mean? Is she really going to kill me?¡® Hayden thought. ¡°Briar, don¡¯t push it too far. If I die, the Garza family will make you pay,¡± Hayden blustered from his wheelchair, but his legs were so numb with pain that his threats sounded more like begging. If it weren¡¯t for the knife at his throat and the fear that if he passed out, he might never wake up again, someone as pampered as Hayden would¡¯ve already copsed by now. What pissed him off the most was the bodyguards Geoff had shelled out a fortune to hire. With their so¨Ccalled skills, they had the nerve to charge 150 thousand dors. As soon as they saw Brandon and his men storming in, guns zing, they folded like a house of cards. ¡®Weren¡¯t you guys supposed to be professional bodyguards?¡® Hayden cursed inwardly. ¡®Weren¡¯t you supposed to keep me safe in Qathana with you around? All of it is total bullshit! They were even more scared than I am.¡® ¡°I¡¯ll kill you if I feel like it. The Garza family is just a third¨Crate wannabe rich n. Do you think I¡¯ll be scared of your family¡¯s revenge?¡± Briar towered over Hayden, looking down at him like he was nothing but a joke. The floor under Hayden¡¯s legs was already stained with a huge pool of blood. If he didn¡¯t get help soon, not even God could save his legs. ¡°No, you can¡¯t kill me. I can help you find theb,¡± Hayden said. Sasha pressed the knife in, slicing a fresh line of blood across his neck. ¡°Save the crap. I already know exactly where the Garza family¡¯sb is, so you can stop pretending to be useful. Just sit tight and wait to die.¡± ¡°Murder is a crime. You wouldn¡¯t dare kill me.¡± Hayden turned to Brandon, desperation in his eyes. ¡°Brandon, please save me. I can¡¯t die.¡± Brandon just looked down, ignoring himpletely. ¡°Oh, Ashton just texted me. Let me check.¡± He could feel the tension in the air, and he knew better than to open his mouth. No way was he about to bring trouble on himself, Even though Briar was still smiling, the chill around her was getting thicker by the second. He wasn¡¯t about to mess with her right now. Besides, Ashton sent him here to protect Briar. As long as she was safe, she could do whatever she wanted for all he cared. 10:18 Sat, 23 Aug ? 55% And murder being a crime? Please, what a joke! This was Qathana, where people dropped dead in shootouts every single day. Even if Hayden died, no one would even bat an eye. The bodyguards were hauled off by Brandon¡¯s men, leaving Hayden all alone, pathetic, powerless, andpletely abandoned. In the end, he finally realized there was no way he¡¯d be catching a break from Briar today. After all his stammering and begging failed, he finally clung to hisst hope. ¡°Briar, you can¡¯t kill me. I mean it. I know how your mother died back then. Please don¡¯t kill me.¡± 10:19 Sat, 23 Aug Chapter 217 Forsaken 217 Chapter 217 Briar¡¯s nonchnt look changed in a sh. She strode over to Hayden in a few swift steps and said, ¡°Spit it out now, or keep it to yourself forever.¡± Hayden waspletely deted now and nodded meekly. ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll talk, I¡¯ll talk.¡± Briar shot Sasha a look, and she instantly understood. She yanked Hayden¡¯s neck up higher, the knife almost digging into his artery. ¡°Speak up.¡± ¡°Your mother¡­ Ow!¡± Hayden had barely gotten two words out before the knife shed across his face. Sasha sounded thrilled by the sight of blood, her voiceced with murderous intent. ¡°Are you trying to insult Briar?¡± Hayden was at a loss for words. He thought, ¡®Darn it! Seriously? I got stabbed for that?¡® But with his life in their hands, Hayden didn¡¯t dare talk back. He just reluctantly changed his words. ¡°I mean, Mrs. Jennings. Is that good enough?¡± Sasha didn¡¯t move the knife, which meant Briar approved of the new title. ¡°Mrs. Jennings was just a test subject for ourb¡¯s first¨Cgeneration experimental drug back then,¡± Hayden muttered curses under his breath but kept his tone respectful, watching Briar¡¯s reaction as he spoke. When her expression turned even colder, he stammered, ¡°Let me just say, all that stuff was my grandpa and my dad¡¯s doing, not mine. I was just a baby back then. You Can¡¯t take it out on me.¡± Sasha started moving the knife again. Hayden was on the verge of tears and quickly continued, ¡°The experimental drug Mrs. Jennings took back then didn¡¯t cause hallucinations at first. It waster, when your father¡­ oh, I mean, Mr. Jennings, suggested increasing the dosage¡­¡± That was a lot to process. Not only did Briar¡¯s face darken, but even Brandon, who¡¯d been standing quietly in the background, almost lost his bnce. He thought, ¡®So Edgar really did murder his wife and steal her fortune back then. What a bastard. It turns out that Miss Jennings¡¯s father killed her mother: Brandon typed out a message quickly. [Ashton, hurry, Miss Jennings needs you.] ¡°And then what happened?¡± Briar¡¯s voice was calm. Technically, she should¡¯ve locked Hayden up and questioned him in private. However, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to waste time on that. It wasn¡¯t like Brandon and the others couldn¡¯t hear about Edgar¡¯s crimes. Anyway, once she found and destroyed all thebs and made it back home, the first people she¡¯d make pay would be the Garza and Jennings families. Hayden continued, ¡°Then my grandpa handed the drug over to Mr. Jennings. I heard it happened at your one¨Cmonth celebration. Someone pretended to be a guest and slipped the drug to Edgar as a gift¡± When Hayden first heard this story, he honestly found it ridiculous. Edgar was a nobody with no power or status. What could he possibly gain by killing his rich wife? That was just straight¨Cup idiotic. In the world of the wealthy, families and corporations usually formed marriage alliances to build even bigger business empires. Yet, Edgar did the exact opposite. He ditched his rich wife and then turned around to marry his first love, who was just as powerless and ordinary as he was. 10:19 Sat, 23 Aug That was the real difference between people at the bottom and the upper crust. The folks at the bottom chased after love, thinking love could fix everything But to the upper crust, love only counted if there was profit involved. Otherwise, it was just charity work. In the end, it proved Edgar feally was an idiot. He killed his first wife, married his first love, and now hispany was doomed to stay small and weak for the rest of his life. In the world of the rich, a truly ambitious man would never dump his first wife just to bring home some first love who brought nothing to the table. No matter how much one liked one¡¯s first love, one could just keep her as a mistress. Briar nodded, signaling for Hayden to keep talking Hayden swallowed nervously, trying to inch his neck away from Sasha¡¯s de, but of course, it was pointless. ¡°After that, Mrs. Jennings¡¯s health just kept getting worse. With all the pressure, her mind started to fall apart. In the end, right before shepletely lost it, we had someone take her away. And after that, you probably know the rest.¡± Briar¡¯s expression was so calm that it was like Hayden wasn¡¯t even talking about her mother. But Hayden could still feel the killing intent rolling off her, sharp and chilling He forced a weak smile, trying to please her. ¡°Briar, look, I¡¯ve told you everything. Can you let me go now?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve said everything you were supposed to.¡± Briar smiled. ¡°Now, let¡¯s talk about the things you were never meant to say.¡± Hayden¡¯s pupils shrank in fear. ¡°What do you mean, ¡®things I wasn¡¯t meant to say? I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Briar stepped back a couple of paces. ¡°Oh? You don¡¯t know? Fine, then. Kill him.¡± Sasha¡¯s hand moved in a sh, the knife aiming straight for Hayden¡¯s throat. Terrified, Hayden scrambled on all fours, trying desperately to get away. ¡°Oh! Help! I really have no idea what you mean by ¡®things I wasn¡¯t meant to say.¡°¡± Hayden¡¯s screams did nothing to evoke Briar¡¯s sympathy, nor did they slow down Sasha¡¯s movements. He squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself for the end. Luckily for him, the de didn¡¯t sh his neck. It plunged into his thigh instead. Hayden let out a honking, goose¨Clike scream of pain. ¡°Ow!¡± AD Comment Send gift No Ads Forsaken 218 Chapter 218 Brandon, watching from the sidelines, couldn¡¯t help but grin as he saw how close to madness Briar and Sasha had driven Hayden. Of course, he didn¡¯t forget to record this spectacr scene and send it to Ashton. By his calctions, Ashton and his men should be arriving soon. Hayden truly felt like dying. Briar and Sasha were driving him insane. ¡°Briar, I really don¡¯t know what you want from me. Just ask. Just ask, and I¡¯ll tell you, okay?¡± Right now, Hayden was full of regret. ¡®What the hell was Grandpa thinking with this stupid n?¡® he thought. If he¡¯d known Briar was this ruthless, he never would¡¯ve bothered escaping to Qathana. This was no different from walking into their trap. Maybe if he¡¯d just stayed in Shoneport, at home, even if Briar came knocking, she would just beat him up a bit. At least he wouldn¡¯t have to get stabbed. His parents and sister would¡¯ve had his back. Now he was all alone, with no one to rely on. He had no idea if Briar, that crazy woman, would really let Sasha finish him off. He was not done living. He didn¡¯t want to die. Briar asked, ¡°Where did you send all those people you abducted? Whichb did you send them to be turned into guinea pigs?¡± This question was almost too easy, like handing Hayden the answer on a silver tter. But only Hayden knew just how vicious Briar could be. She was asking this on purpose, setting a trap. If he told the truth, he would be spilling secrets he should never reveal. But if he imed he didn¡¯t know, with Briar¡¯s ruthlessness, she would probably stab his other thigh without a second thought. Either way, he was the one who would end up suffering. Seeing Hayden¡¯s eyes darting around, it was clear this bastard was scheming something again. Sasha lost her temper again, waving the knife at Hayden¡¯s other thigh. ¡°Briar asked you a question. Spit it out!¡± Hayden shut his eyes tight. ¡°Bersy Ind. We moved the human experimentb to Bersy Ind.¡± ¡°Whatever, let it end here,¡® he thought. ¡®If she stabs me one more time, I¡¯ll be dead anyway.¡¯ Briar nced at Brandon, who gave a quick nod. ¡°Leave it to me, Miss Jennings. I¡¯ll have my people on it right away.¡± ¡®Miss Jennings is something else, Brandon thought. ¡®Ashton¡¯s men have been searching for that ce forever, but her subordinate got the answer out of Hayden with just one stab Briar turned to Sasha and gave a little wave. ¡°Sasha, do whatever you want with him. Just make sure he doesn¡¯t die too fast.¡± Sasha shed an ¡°okay¡± sign. ¡°Rx, Briar, People in my hands never get to die that quickly.¡± Just as they finished, hurried footsteps echoed from outside. Briar turned at the sound, and when she recognized who it was, the cold, vicious look on her face melted away, reced by a sweet smile. ¡°Ashton, what brings you here?¡± Ashton walked over to Briar, his eyes sweeping over her from head to toe, lingering on her face for a full five seconds. ¡°I was worried about you, so I came to check on you.¡± Then Ashtci¡¯s gazended on Hayden, who was being dragged away by Sasha. Noticing the blood dripping down Hayden¡¯s legs, Ashton arched an 10:19 Sat, 23 Aug eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯ve finished questioning him?¡± ¡°Yeah, I asked everything that needed asking.¡± Briar nodded, then told Ashton what she¡¯d learned. Ashton¡¯s eyes lit up with interest. ¡°He said they moved the human experimentb to Bersy Ind?¡± 55% +33 ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ve already had Brandon send people to verify it. Until we get results, my subordinate will take her time torturing Hayden,¡± Briar replied. Ashton tried to hold back augh. Briar was totally fishing forpliments, and honestly, it was adorable. He reached out and gave her head a gentle p?t, his voice soft. ¡°Good job.¡± Briar didn¡¯t say a word, but her eyes crinkled up. She obviously loved the praise. Just then, Brandon walked in. He nced at Hayden, who was being dragged into theb to be roughed up some more, before turning to Ashton and Briar. Ashton, Miss Jennings, I¡¯ve already sent people to check out Bersy Ind. It¡¯s about a two¨Chour trip from here. How about we head back and wait?¡± Brandon asked. The Garzas would find out about the mess at the scrapyard soon. To keep them from doing something desperate, Brandon was hoping Ashton would get Briar out of here as soon as possible. They could handle things here. If anything else happened to Briar, Ashton would totally go ballistic. If that happened, the Garzas would really be finished. ¡°Should we head back and wait, or stay here?¡± Ashton turned to Briar, clearly leaving the choice up to her. Briar considered it for a moment. ¡°Let¡¯s head back and wait.¡± Then Briar walked over and whispered a few words to Sasha, whose eyes sparkled even brighter. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Briar. You can count on me. It¡¯ll be done.¡± Ashton took Briar with him and left. Not only did Brandon finally heave a sigh of relief, but even the tied¨Cup bodyguards secretly rxed too. They were scared of Briar, but even more terrified of Ashton and his intimidating aura. When Ashton showed up, they were practically holding their breath, terrified he might notice them. Luckily for them, Ashton only had eyes for Briar and didn¡¯t even bother looking their way. As Briar followed Ashton out of the scrapyard, Reece and Hamish, who were standing by the car smoking, quickly stubbed out their cigarettes. Hamish grinned at Briar. ¡°Briar, is Hayden still alive?¡± Briar replied, ¡°He¡¯s not dead. Not yet, anyway.¡± Reece burst out ¡± 10:19 Sat, 23 Augj Briar nodded. ¡°Alright, I guess I was a bit careless.¡± 55% Ashton unwrapped a candy and gently fed it to her. ¡°You¡¯ve already done an excellent job. You got thetest location of the Garzas¡®b. Even if Geoff realizes something¡¯s amiss and warns theb on Bersy Ind to pull out, there¡¯s no way they¡¯ll get away in such a short time.¡± +33) Reece chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s right. The Garzas might have some pull in Qathana, but we¡¯re no pushovers either. It won¡¯t be so easy for them to escape this time.¡± As long as both the sea and air routes were locked down, Bersy Ind would bepletely cut off, stranded, and helpless. No one and nothing on that ind would be able to slip away. Hamish, who was driving, clicked his tongue. ¡°Do you guys think Geoff is now regretting sending Hayden out of the country?¡± Forsaken 219 55% Shortly after the car left, several military vehicles arrived at the entrance of the scrap yard. The men who got off were all strong and well¨Cbuilt, each carrying a gun in hand. They looked menacing and up to no good. The ck¨Cd bodyguards inside the factory immediately raised their guns. The leader stepped forward and shouted a warning, ¡°Who are you? This area is now under Mr. Wade¡¯s control. Unauthorized personnel, leave at once.¡± 33) The mercenaries exchanged nces, surprise and tension shing in their eyes. ¡®Mr. Wade¡¯s territory?¡® they thought. ¡®Didn¡¯t Mr. Garza say this ce was theirs? How did it suddenly be Mr. Wade¡¯s?¡® When they saw the bound men at the scrapyard entrance, the mercenaries knew better than to make a scene. After all, Ashton was not someone they could afford to cross. ¡®Mr. Garza had shelled out a fortune to hire us for his grandson¡¯s rescue, they thought, ¡®but before we could even make a move, we lost their territory. Is there even a point in trying to save Mr. Garza¡¯s grandson now? He¡¯s probably already dead anyway!¡® ¡°We¡¯re here to rescue Mr. Garza¡¯s grandson. If possible, could you please tell Mr. Wade to release Hayden?¡± one of the mercenaries asked. The mercenaries still feared Ashton¡¯s power. They all operated along the borders, and Ashton¡¯s methods were well¨Cknown in those areas. Even though Ashton had rarely appeared on the border recently, Connor¡¯s entire way of operating was straight out of Ashton¡¯s ybook. The lead ck¨Cd bodyguard nced at them and asked, ¡°Did the Garzas tell you why Mr. Wade took Hayden?¡± The mercenary shook his head. ¡°Nope. We do the job for money. No questions asked about the employer.¡± Cash rules. They never pried into their clients¡® business. The lead ck¨Cd bodyguard smirked sympathetically, adopting a surprisingly polite tone. ¡°You might as well get your facts straight beforeing here. Otherwise, you¡¯ll stir up trouble and bring unwanted heat to yourselves.¡± Doubtful but dutiful, the mercenaries sent a man to verify, and after he came back with the result, they all fell silent. They traded looks, then without another word, piled back into their vehicles and drove off. ¡°Damn! Mr. Garza treated us like suckers,¡® they thought. ¡®His grandson dared to kidnap Ashton¡¯s woman, and he still thought he could just pay us to bail him out? Does he want us to end up in the grave with his grandson?¡® The mercenaries left grumbling and cursing, but whether they¡¯d turn around and cause trouble for Geoff was none of the bodyguards¡® concern. One of the bodyguards filmed the whole thing and sent it to Brandon. ¡°Brandon, it looks like the Garzas still haven¡¯t given up. Our guys must not have found Bersy Ind yet!¡± If they had, the bodyguard thought, ¡®the Garzas wouldn¡¯t be acting so calm, let alone have the guts to send mercenaries right to our door asking for Hayden back, unless they had a death wish! Brandon just shrugged it off. ¡°Let them do whatever they want. The Garzas are doomed this time, no matter what.¡± ¡®No matter how much they struggle, Brandon thought, ¡®there¡¯s no way they can escape Ashton¡¯s final reckoning. ¡®From those undergroundbs and shady drugs nearly twenty years ago, to the recent corpse case at Shoneport University¡­ One thing after another, they¡¯ve been dancing on Ashton¡¯s bottom Ime for years. ¡®And now, they¡¯ve added kidnapping Miss Jennings to their list of crimes. The Garza family is doomed.¡® 55% Meanwhile, Briar and Ashton had already left for Bersy Ind. No matter how fast they drove, it still took over three hours to reach the coast. As if the universe were against them, just as they pulled up next to the yacht, a sudden downpour hit the sea. ¡°Damn it! We can¡¯t go out in this weather,¡± Reece said and grabbed Ashton, who was trying to get out of the car. ¡°The waves out there right now would tear this yacht apart.¡± Ashton wasn¡¯t bothered by it. ¡°Just a level¨Ceight storm, no big deal.¡± ¡®We¡¯ve braved way worse storms before, and this is nothing to us,¡® Ashton thought. Hamish¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Just a level¨Ceight storm? Ashton, you can go ahead and take the risk if you want, but do you think Briar can handle it?¡± ¡®No matter how badass Briar is, she¡¯s still got a small frame. There¡¯s no way she can handle the rough tossing of the ocean waves,¡® Hamish thought. As soon as Hamish finished speaking, Ashton pulled the car door, which he had just opened, shut again, and he didn¡¯t get out after all. Ashton turned to Briar, asking for her opinion, ¡°Briar, should we wait until the rain stops before heading out?¡± To his surprise, instead of answering, Briar just pushed the door open and stepped out. ¡°It¡¯s just a bit of wind and rain, no big deal. Let¡¯s head out now.¡± With that, she walked away without even looking back. Ashton hurried after her, leaving Reece and Hamish utterly stunned. ¡°Holy crap! That¡¯s wild!¡± Reece blurted out. ¡°Ashton¡¯s already a madman, and now we¡¯ve got Briar, who¡¯s a total maniac. The Garza family is seriously doomed this time.¡± Hamish shrugged. ¡°Exactly! Let¡¯s go. Both of them are already on the boat. If we don¡¯t join them, I¡¯m afraid Briar will take the yacht and leave us behind. Better y along with the daredevils!¡± They followed Ashton and Briar onto the yacht. Hamish¡¯s prediction turned out to be spot on. The moment Briar stepped on board, she headed straight for the cockpit. If Ashton hadn¡¯t stopped her in time, she would¡¯ve already taken the wheel. ¡°Ashton, your girl is a total badass!¡± Reeceughed, genuinely surprised. He hadn¡¯t expected Hamish¡¯s words toe true. Briar indeed wanted to take the yacht for a spin herself. Ashton was a little helpless. ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s something.¡± ¡°Baby, the waves are too rough. Let the pros handle it. Let¡¯s go chill in the lounge for a bit,¡± Ashton said, quickly pulling Briar away. Reece quickly chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s right! Let¡¯s take a break first. We¡¯ll have our hands full once we get to the ind.¡± Hamish went to fetch some of Ashton¡¯s prized liquor from the yacht. He said, ¡°If you ask me, only a real badass would dare to have a few drinks at a time like this.¡± As he spoke, Hamish poured Briar a ss of strong gin, 58% alcohol, no less. Briar took the ss and, with the yacht rocking beneath her, downed the whole thing in one go. Ashton tried to snatch the ss away, but he was a second toote. ¡°Are you stupid? Hamish was only trying to mess with you,¡± Ashton said with a sigh, quickly helping her over to the sofa. ¡°Dizzy? Does your stomach feel upset?¡± Briar shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Ashton. Truth is, I hold my liquor pretty well¡± She wasn¡¯t exaggerating. She never got flushed from drinking. Even if she finished a whole bottle, one could tell she had a drop. 10:19 Sat, 23 Augy ????,55% +33) When Reece heard that, he pped his hands andughed. ¡°Alright then! All our worrying was for nothing. Whenever Briar says stuff like that, you know she¡¯s not just a little impressive, but she¡¯s on a whole other level!¡± ¡®Those legendary alter egos Briar had exposed before are proof enough,¡® Reece thought. Hamish poured himself a ss and drank it down in one go. ¡°Damn, that¡¯s strong!¡± Ashton stopped Hamish from pouring another for Briar. ¡°No more drinks for her. Let¡¯s keep her sharp for the fight.¡± Only then did Hamish set the bottle down. ¡°Alright.¡± Reece brought over a bunch of snacks. ¡°Here, line your stomach a bit.¡± Right then, Ashton¡¯s satellite phone buzzed. He picked up, listened for a bit, nodded, and hung up. Turning to the group, he said, ¡°Our guys have already made it onto Bersy Ind. As soon as we dock, we¡¯re good to go.¡± Chapter 220 Forsaken 220 Chapter 220 Briar¡¯s eyes sparkled, but she suppressed her excitement and kept still. ¡°Have our people checked theb?¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°They¡¯re in theb now, but only the personnel and rted equipment, someputers in particr, are under control. Rest assured, the data and materials are safe.¡± All of that was crucial evidence of the Garzas¡® crimes. Even though the undergroundb was overseas, beyond the reach of Dasmieca¡¯sws, once these things came to light, the local government wouldn¡¯t just stand by. That was when Ashton stepped in to smooth things over, ensuring the Garzas got nailed to that pir of shame. Only then did Briar nod in satisfaction, lowering her head to y with her phone, acting all innocent. The yacht had to crawl along in the stormy seas, and by the time they finally reached Bersy Ind, it was already past three in the afternoon. Their people had subdued the ind¡¯s security team, so they walked straight into theb without meeting any resistance. Bersy Ind used to be an uninhabited ind, not very big, but with more than half of it covered in dense forest. That¡¯s why theb was built deep in the woods, making it nearly impossible to spot from the sea or even from the air. Because of this, theb on Bersy Ind was the most hidden and thergest of all the Garza family¡¯sbs. ¡°Miss Jennings, this is the data room of theirb. Our team had secured all the files andputers the moment we arrived,¡± one of the bodyguards said. Briar followed the bodyguard into a small, unremarkable room, but was taken aback by the rows of bookshelves and dozens ofputers humming with real¨Ctime data updates. The scale of this operation wasparable to that of a medium¨Csizedb. Briar walked through the room, found the file Hayden mentioned about her mother from that year, and took all the records of her mother¡¯s experimental drug intake. Her eyes glistened slightly as she said, ¡°Appreciate it. Please have someone copy everything here and send it all back home.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± The bodyguard called in a few more people to start sorting and packing everything ording to Briar¡¯s instructions. ¡°Briar,e take a look at this,¡± Ashton called from the room next door. Briar hurried over and found herself in a storage room packed with hundreds of bottles, each filled with organs and body parts suspended in formaldehyde. None of that fazed Ashton or the others. But when Briar followed Ashton¡¯s pointing finger and caught sight of thebel on a jar containing a human brain, she suddenly stumbled. ¡°This is¡­¡± Ashton reached out and steadied her in a sh, his voice tight with barely contained anger. ¡°Be careful.¡± Thebel had faded with age, but the name was still clear. Written on it was Rosalia Jennings. It was the brain of Rosalia, Briar¡¯s mother Briar couldn¡¯t believe those people had taken Rosalia¡¯s brain and dumped it in formaldehyde, without any other precautions. It was apparent they weren¡¯t nning to do any further experiments. They just kept it here. No one knew why the Garzas insisted on preserving Rosalia¡¯s brain, but it was clear they had nothing good in mind. Reece and Hamish both felt their hearts clench as they looked at Briar, who looked like she was ready to wipe out the Garzas. Briar had herb, and ever since she was five, she¡¯d been learning all kinds of medical skills from Tristan. She¡¯d seen and handled more human organs than she could count. She had a perfect anatomical grasp, from organ systems to neuromuscr trigger points. 10:20 Sat, 23 Aug j +33) By all logic, this brain, lifeless, with not even a hint of research value, shouldn¡¯t have scared her. But right now, she couldn¡¯t stop herself from trembling all over. Because on the jar¡¯sbel, besides Rosalia¡¯s name, there was also a note that described in chilling detail how they¡¯d gotten their hands on this brain. It was disturbing, bloody, and so cruel. ¡°Briar, rx your hand. Easy, sweetheart, listen to me.¡± Ashton grabbed Briar¡¯s hand and gently pried her clenched fingers open. Reece and Hamish finally realized how tense Briar was. Reece said, ¡°Get her out of here, now. Don¡¯t let her see any more of this.¡± Ashton immediately grabbed Briar by the arm and pulled her away. ¡°Let¡¯s go check out somewhere else.¡± Briar et Ashton pull her away, but her whole vibe was off. Her eyes were icy and dangerous, like a wild beast about to explode. After leaving the room, she slipped into a deserted corner, pulled out her phone, and said coldly, ¡°Georgiana, put the Garza family on the global bounty list. 30 million dors for everyst one of their lives.¡± Ashton¡¯s heart pounded wildly as he wondered, ¡®Georgiana? The global bounty list? 30 million dors? Is she about to unleash the full force of the Hacker Alliance?¡® He knew if Briar unleashed the full power of the Hacker Alliance and put out a global bounty, it would send every elite mercenary in the world into a frenzy. After all, the Garzas were easy prey. There were only a few dozen people. With 30 million dors up for grabs, even if every top¨Ctier mercenary joined in, each one would get a hefty cut. On the other end, Georgiana instantly sensed Briar¡¯s tone was off. She didn¡¯t ask anything else and just said, ¡°Got it. Putting the bounty up now.¡± Things happened so fast that even if Ashton wanted to stop them, it was already toote. ¡°Briar, don¡¯t be impulsive. The Garzas deserve what¡¯sing to them, but pulling a stunt like this will bring you a world of trouble. Why not let Connor¡¯s mercenary group handle it instead?¡± Ashton tried to talk her down. If that 30¨Cmillion¨Cdor bounty goes out, Briar¡¯s alias will go global,¡® Ashton thought. ¡®Sure, the Hacker Alliance is powerful, but they are just as good at stirring up trouble. From what I know, hundreds of hackers end up on the international wanted list, all filed anonymously!¡¯ ¡°Ashton, the Garzas did this on purpose. They wanted me to see it. They even know I¡¯ve been looking into what happened to my mom all these years¡­¡± Briar was almost rambling now, but the murderous intent in her eyes was so strong that even Ashton was a little shaken. Ashton pulled her into his arms, holding her tight. ¡°Alright, alright, we¡¯ll make sure they pay. Rest assured, every one of the Garzas will burn.¡± Briar gave a hollowugh. ¡°Ashton, if my hands run red with blood, will you still see me as clean?¡± Ashton pulled her in even tighter, ¡°Of course. My hands are far redder than yours.¡± Briar fell into silence. Briar¡¯s silence put Ashton on edge. ¡°Wait a minute, sweetheart. You¡¯re not hiding another identity from me, are you?¡± Briar didn¡¯t reply, pretending she hadn¡¯t heard him, If it weren¡¯t for the time and ce, Ashton would¡¯ve been both exasperated and amused by her evasive look. ¡°Sweetheart, let¡¯s talk about this properly when we get back home, okay?¡± Forsaken 221 ¡®So, does that mean he¡¯s not going to ask me any more questions for now?¡¯ Briar wondered. Her eyes flickered, and she instinctively leaned closer to Ashton, wondering, ¡®Is this him agreeing to have a proper talk?¡¯ Reece and Hamish couldn¡¯t help but feel amused by Briar¡¯s subtle moves. ¡®So she has other identities after all?¡¯ they thought. ¡®How old is this girl anyway? Just eighteen, right? Does she even sleep, or does she spend all her time picking up new skills?¡± Maybe Hamish¡¯s gaze was too intense. Briar turned to him. ¡°Hamish? Why are you looking at me like that?¡± The expression on Briar¡¯s face when she saw the jar with her mother¡¯s brain inside was terrifying. Now, to distract her, Hamish, picking up on Ashton¡¯s subtle hint, shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m just wondering how many more surprises you¡¯re going to pull out of that little frame of yours.¡± Briar just smited and said nothing. ¡°Everything¡¯s sorted. Let¡¯s head back,¡± Ashton said. The storm at sea had finally passed. He took a copied file from one of the ck-d bodyguards and handed it straight to Briar. Briar put the file into her backpack and zipped it shu ¡°Yeah, time to head back,¡¯ Briar thought. ¡®Once we¡¯re back, I can way they¡¯re getting away.¡± let¡¯s go.¡± finally deal with the Garzas. With a 30 million dor bounty on their heads, there¡¯s no They left a small team behind to guard the ind, while the rest of the ck-d bodyguards followed onto the yacht. The tension was suffocating, and none of the bodyguards dared to say a word. Briar sat alone by the window, resting her chin on her hand as she gazed out at the endless sea, lost in thought, perhaps, but the telltale smirk and lethal glint in her eyes left Ashton, Reece, and Hamish stunned. Reece and Hamish pulled Ashton aside and whispered, ¡°Ashton, Briar¡¯s alone again.¡± not herself right now. You need to keep a close eye on her. Don¡¯t let her sneak cut ¡°Yeah, if she slips away this time, it won¡¯t be as simple as just kidnapping someone likest time,¡± Hamish agreed, nodding. Of course, Ashton could see the chill hidden in Briar¡¯s eyes. Luckily, they were still overseas, and the Garzas weren¡¯t nearby. Otherwise, he honestly wasn¡¯t sure he could hold Briar back if she lost control of her fury./ ¡°I know. I¡¯ll keep an eye on her,¡± Ashton said. Unlike the treacherous storm they¡¯d faced heading to Bersy Ind, their trip back was eerily calm. But to Ashton, Reece, and Hamish, it felt like the eye of the storm, leaving them unsettled to their core. Sure enough, when they reached the shore and saw Brandon running around like a headless chicken, Ashton¡¯s sense of unease only got worse. He grabbed Briar¡¯s wrist and led her off the yacht, his grip firm enough that Briar couldn¡¯t pull away, but not rough. ¡°What happened?¡± Ashton asked Brandon. Brandon came over, shot a nce at Briar¡¯s nk face, and finally said, ¡°Morton just told me that a bunch of foreign mercenaries suddenly showed up on the flight lists to Dasmieca. He already checked with Connor, and it wasn¡¯t Connor¡¯s people who let them in.¡± Ashton and the others¡¯ expressions changed instantly, thinking, ¡®Those mercenaries are moving fast. Looks like the 30 million dor bounty has even drawn out the ones who usually keep their heads down.¡¯ Briar nced over at Ashton, a sh of feigned innocence flickering in those wild, fearless eyes of hers. ¡°Ashton, do your people keep tabs on every single flight heading back home?¡± Ashton paused for a moment, looking like he was seriously thinking it over, then replied, ¡°Usually, we only check now and then. But after sen left tre country, Morton¡¯s team started monitoring all the iing and outgoing flight lists.¡± He spoke with such earnestness, his dead-serious expression making it impossible to tell he was lying. Ashton didn¡¯t know if Briar had believed it. She just nodded, headed straight for the car parked by the curb, opened the door, and got in, Reece and Hamish exchanged a look, then nced at Ashton, who was still talking to Brandon. Reece leaned in and whispered to Hamish with a mischievous grin, ¡°Oh ho, looks like Briar¡¯s mad this time, huh?¡± Hamish nodded. ¡°If Ashton can¡¯t smooth things over for Briar this time, I doubt he¡¯ll be able to coax her back. I heard those ¡®chasing after your ex¡¯ stories can get pretty intense.¡± Reece smirked. ¡°You looking forward to seeing that?¡± Hamish nodded again. ¡°Of course! I can¡¯t wait to watch the show.¡± ¡®Just imagine, the usually cool and scheming Ashton, totally at the mercy of his 18-year-old girlfriend, having to grovel, sweet-talk, and apologize just to win her back¡­ Honestly, who wouldn¡¯t want to see that?¡¯ Hamish thought to himself. The two of them snickered and followed Briar into the car. Ashton was speechless. That night, on the private jet back to Dasmieca, Reece and Hamish finally got their wish. They got to watch Ashton start his ¡°ex-chasing¡± routine, doing his best to coax his young girlfriend. Ashton asked, ¡°Briar, want some cherries? I had them flown in from abroad this morning.¡± ¡°No, thanks.¡± Briar shook her head. Ashton tried again, ¡°Sweetheart, this dessert is your favorite white chocte. Want to try it?¡± Briar shook her head again. ¡°No, thanks.¡± Reece and Hamish leaned in, grinning like a couple of troublemakers, and nudged Brandon. ¡°Hey, shouldn¡¯t you snap a pic of Ashton looking this embarrassed for once? You can post it on the Dark Net. I bet it¡¯ll sell like crazy.¡± Brandon rolled his eyes. ¡°Come on, Reece, Hamish, if you guys are looking for trouble, just don¡¯t drag me down with you.¡± Meanwhile, Ashton was still coaxing Briar. ¡°Honey, is there anything you want to eat?¡± Honestly, for someone as famously impatient as Ashton, he was ridiculously sweet and gentle with Briar. He¡¯d been coaxing her for ages and still hadn¡¯t lost his cool. If anyone else dared to throw a tantrum at Ashton like this, he¡¯d have tossed them out of the ne without a second thought. Maybe Ashton¡¯s soft words finally melted Briar a little, because she scooted closer to him, looked up with a sly smile, and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat anything, but I do want to kill someone. Are you still going to stop me?¡± Before Ashton could respond, Reece, Hamish, and Brandon were already gossiping. Reece grinned and said, ¡°Hey, what do you guys think? If Briar wants to take out the Garzas herself, will Ashton try to stop her?¡± Hamish put on a straight face. ¡°I¡¯m no psychologist, but with Briar¡¯s kind of temper, that¡¯s what they call bipr disorder, right? If it gets bad, she might go off and kill someone. How do you treat that again? Something about changing her environment and making sure to keep her calm or whatever¡­ 19:45 Sat 23 Aug. A Brandon¡¯s mouth twitched hard. ¡°Changing her environment? Calming her down? Stopping her? Seriously, have you two just met M. Wade or weki L?n telling you, if Miss Jennings wants to kill someone herself, not only will Mr. Wade just let her, but he¡¯ll probably hand her the knife himself Oh, but Mi Jennings is a crack shot, so Mr. Waden will probably hand her the gun instead. Hearing that, Reece and Hamish just cracked up. ¡®Gotta say, Brandon has Ashton all figured out,¡¯ they thought. ¡®That¡¯s something Ashton would do. The guy is fiercely protective. If Briar wants to cause trouble, Ashton won¡¯t just let her. He¡¯d hand her the gun himself and then personally clean up the mess for her afterward. Forsaken 222 Ashton finally realized that Br was teasing him on purpose, to mess with him. But what could he do? Honestly, he was a sucker for her bad girl vibe. So Ashton pulled Briar into his arms, holding her close as he chuckled low. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t stop you, okay? Whoever you want to kill, however your items to do it, go for it. You do the killing, and I¡¯ll keep watch for you. How about it?¡± Briar broke into a bright grin. ¡°Alright, you said it yourself, so next time, don¡¯t go dragging everyone in the city to hunt me down and stopn She was talking about thatst time she andn kidnapped Emily and Sawyer. ¡°Yeah, I promise,¡± Ashton repliedzily, his handsome features finally rxing. ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever you say.¡± ma Honestly, Ashton didn¡¯t dare stop her this time either. The Garzas had gone way too far. Rosalia wasn¡¯t some scientist or technical genius, so even if they took her brain, it wouldn¡¯t be worth much for research. But the Garzas still kept her brain. ¡®What were they nning to do with it?! Ashton wondered. Back at theb, Ashton had been careful not to say too much, worried that even one wrong word might set Briar off. He hadn¡¯t gone into details with Reece and Hamish, but they all knew that the Garzas¡¯ real goal was to use that brain to control Briar. Briar had spent years digging into the truth behind Rosalia¡¯s death. ¡®As one of the masterminds back then,¡¯ Ashton thought, ¡®the Garzas, or more specifically, their head, Geoff, knew she was on their trail. ¡®Moving theb to Bersy Ind might have been one way to evade Briar¡¯s investigation.¡¯ Making sure no one else was watching, Briar tipped ho and affectionate. ¡°Now that¡¯s more like it.¡± head up and pressed a kiss to Ashton¡¯s lips, then nuzzled him with her nose yfully, alls Ashton loved every second of her sudden affection. His hand slid from her slender waist up to trace her spine, his gaze burning with possessive intensity ¡°So, you¡¯re not mad at me anymore, right?¡± Briar let out a soft whimper. ¡°Mmm.¡± ¡°Good, I¡¯m d you¡¯re not mad,¡± Ashton said, scooping her up with one arm and carrying her toward the small room. ¡°It¡¯s still early. Let me coax you to sleep for a bit.¡± Briar giggled, curling against his chest. ¡°Seriously, who¡¯s putting who to sleep here?¡± Ashton grinned. ¡°Either way works for me. I¡¯m not picky.¡± With that, the door to the small room mmed shut right in front of the other three. Reece, Hamish, and Brandon were utterly stunned. At eight in the morning, the private jet touched down at the airport in Dasmieca. Morton, who had gotten the heads-up in advance, was already waiting at the exit with his team. When he saw Briar, hand in hand with Ashton, he stepped forward, a rare smile breaking out on his usually stern face. ¡°Mr. Wade, Miss Jennings.¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°None of them slipped away, right?¡± The bush was, when the cures nullend zekitas pbzipit und in any danda hayal edib & en dit sal deter Ever since stepping of the ne, firar was practically buzzing with sunuption Morton foured her day licking frestart ng mg destroyed. ¡°Can we go to the Garza family¡¯s ce first?¡± Brist asked as the loftowed Ashton toward that car, her fonerg, hot angina her velice Ashton didn¡¯t answer right away. He gestured for Briar to get in the car first, then turned to his two friends behind fum ¡°Brise and need you guys to keep an eye on a few things for me. I¡¯ll be¡­¡± ¡°Pretty busy.¡± Ashton said after a pause, choosing his words carefully. Reece waved him off. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Just focus on keeping Briarpany these next few days. We¡¯ll reach out if anything ¡°Pretty busy? Reece thought to himself. ¡°Yeah, right. That¡¯s putting it mildly. He¡¯s going to be seriously busy. Like,pletely swamped! Briar is in, if she has a knife right now, she¡¯ll probably hack the Garzas to pieces on the spot, limb from limb, no hesitation Ashton nodded, slid into the car, and shut the door. Morton hit the gas immediately, the vehicle peeling away without hesitation. Brandon stayed behind. He¡¯d be running around with Reece and Hamish for the next few days, since Ashton probably wouldn¡¯t have time to handle anything else. In the car, Briar lounged back in her seat,zily spinning a sharp scalpel between her fingers. She lowered her gaze, her features clear and cold, w aloof sharpness that made her whole presence feel even more dangerous than the de in her hand. It was as if she were waiting for a spark to set her off, and that spark was Ashton. Ashton knew better than to go against her right now, so he softened his voice, sounding almost overly gentle. ¡°Briar, we¡¯ve been on traz ne for too long. How about we go home and get some real rest for a day, then go and deal with the Garzas? Okay?¡± He even dragged out thest syble, adding a yful little wave to his tone. Without waiting for her answer, Ashton let out an exaggerated, sleepy yawn. ¡°I¡¯ve been pampering you this whole trip. How about you return the favor and put me to sleep?¡± Briar just stared at him, lost for words. Morton did his best to blend into the background, pretending to be a soulless extra. After all the years he¡¯d spent with Ashton, seeing Ashton act all. cutesy and needy like this was honestly a bit much for him to handle. But what blew Morton¡¯s mind was that Briar, who usually had that cold, distant look in her eyes, didn¡¯t even crack a smile at Ashton¡¯s pitiful act, instead, she just nodded and agreed, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go home. I¡¯ll help you get some sleep.¡± Ashton hadn¡¯t had a proper night¡¯s sleep in days, and the dark circles under his eyes were impossible to miss. No matter how anxious Briar was inside, when faced with that handsome, tired face, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say no. Briar couldn¡¯t help it. She was a total sucker for Ashton¡¯s looks. With a face like that, there was just no way she could ever say no to him. Besides,n wasn¡¯t even ready yet, so she decided she might as well let the Garzas enjoy a few more hours of life. Chip 12 at put my load down and insisted on go and brands She narrowed her eyes as she looked at Ashton. ¡°Time, I¡¯ll help you steps today, but tomorrow, don¡¯t you dare try to stall me agant Ashton nodded eagerly. ¡°Of course. I¡¯m just so tired. I want you to help me catch some sleep, that¡¯s all AD Comment Send gift No Ads Forsaken 223 Moonspring Estate had been unupied for days, dust setifing over every surface, Brandon had ratified the old Butler at the Wade Stanser ada sa the butter brought several maids to clean both vis thoroughly. By the time Ashton and Briar arrived, the maids had just finished up and warn about. To love The butter¡¯s wrinkled face blossomed into a smite as he saw Ashton and Brial step out of the car. Wee home, Mr. Wards and Miss Jennings¡¯ peering over his reading sses, the butler looked past Ashton to Briar. ¡°Miss Jennings, you must be tired from the journey. When I heard you wereing back today. I had the chef prepare your favorite desserts. I had them ced in your living room Briar nodded, smiling sweetly. ¡°Thank you.¡± The butler then ryed the message from Griffin before leading the maids away. Briar went home first to freshen up, changing into a conservative set of loungewear. She then carried a te of delicate desserts over to Ashton¡¯s house next door. Ashton was still in his original clothes, deep in conversation with Morton and the others in the living room. The ck-d figures nking Morton radiated lethal intensity, an unmistakable warning to stay clear. One man, in particr, currently whispering a report to Ashton, had a stern face, a sinister gaze, and a muscr build. Under his ck shirt, his muscles bulged, and a long, thick scar ran down his neck. His right pinky finger was missing a segment, and his hands were rough with old wounds If these guys weren¡¯t with Ashton, they¡¯d be the kind of people folks would secretly call the cops on if they saw them walking down the street. The man reported, ¡°Mr. Wade, our people havepletely taken over all of the Garza family¡¯s underground business operations, and we¡¯ve also found¡­ Briar strolled in, her unhurried entrance cutting off the man¡¯s report. He gave her a slight bow and greeted her, ¡°Miss Jennings.¡± He spoke with an air of deference. Briar nodded. ¡°You guys go on. I¡¯m heading upstairs¡­¡± ¡°No need,¡± Ashton called out, stopping Briar as she was about to head upstairs. He waved her over. ¡°Briar,e sit here and eat your desserts.¡± Briar ambled over and sat down next to Ashton, casually leaning over to nce at the file in his hand. ¡°Are those the Garza familypany¡¯s files?¡± Seeing her interest, Ashton passed the file to her. ¡°Yeah, see if it¡¯s more thorough than what the Hacker Alliance dug up.¡± Briar set down the te of desserts and started flipping through the pages one by one. ¡°Let me take a look¡­¡±\ Their easy, close interaction left the men in ck stunned ¡®So the rumors are true,¡¯ they thought. ¡®Miss Jennings does mean a lot to Mr. Wade.¡¯ Ashton, seemingly oblivious to their surprise, said tly, ¡°Go on, Dempsey.¡± Dempsey Woodward quickly hid his surprise and nodded. ¡°Yes, our people also discovered that the Jennings Group has been secretly doing business with the Garzas. Two-thirds of their liquid fundse from Edgar¡¯s ount.¡± Briar looked up from the file, her gaze sharp as she looked at Dempsey. ¡°Has this information been confirmed?¡± Dempsey nced at Ashton, who nodded, then exined to Briar how they Edgar and his family under¡­¡± had obtained the information. ¡°The source is reliable, our team has ced Dempsey studied Briar¡¯s expression. Seeing she had no particr reaction to Edgar¡¯s name, he continued, ¡°Under temporary surveince.¡± Briar was part of the Jennings family, too, and Dempsey figured she¡¯d at least be a little upset that they went ahead and put Edgar and the rest of the Jennings family under surveince without even telling her. But to his surprise, Briat just nodded in acknowledgment and didn¡¯t say anything else, She didn¡¯t even look the slightest bit bothered. ¡®Guess Miss Jennings does hate Edgar and the rest of the Jennings family, Dempsey thought. Seeing that Briar had no more questions, Ashton took the file from her, pointed at the desserts on the coffee table, and said, ¡°Enjoy your desserts. Do you want milk, coffee, or fresh orange juice?¡± Briar thought for a moment. ¡°Coffee, please.¡± Ashton nodded, got up, and went to the kitchen himself to make her a cup of coffee, cing it beside her. Then he leaned back into the sofa, draping one arm casually along the back of the couch behind Briar, and signaled to Morton and Dempsey. ¡°You two, keep going.¡± Dempsey was so stunned he could barely process what Morton, on the other hand, had gotten used to this now. He ignored the girl engrossed in her dessert and mobile game, forcing himself to focus. ¡°If we stick to our original n, once the Garzas find out that Hayden is in our hands, they¡¯ll do everything they can to get him back¡­¡± Briar¡¯s identity as a hacker was already out in the open, so she didn¡¯t bother hiding her use of the Hacker Alliance¡¯s internalwork from Ashton anymore. Right now, she was contacting Georgiana from the Hacker Alliance, instructing her to freeze all of the Jennings Group¡¯s overseas ounts and block any foreign currency transactions. She told Georgiana to do it on her behalf. Ashton watched from the side, the corner of his eye twitching in surprise. ¡®This scorched-earth tactic is truly ruthless,¡¯ he thought. Once he targeted the Jennings Group, Edgar would try to make a run for it overseas. But with Briar cutting off all their liquid assets ahead of time, even if Edgar wanted to escape, he¡¯d have nowhere to go. People always said that schemers had dirty hearts. Watching the girl beside him, who was just as sly as he was, Ashton couldn¡¯t agree more. Half an hourter, they finally wrapped up their business. Ashton noticed that after finishing her desserts, Briar was starting to look a little sleepy. He told Morton to take Dempsey and leave. Then, he bent down and pulled the sleepy Briar into his arms. ¡°Tired? Want to go to our room and get some sleep?¡± Briar nuzzled his shoulder. ¡°Okay, but go take a shower first. You smell.¡± Ashton was at a loss for words. He carried Briar upstairs, tucked her into bed, pulled the covers over her, and told her to get some rest while he hurried off to the bathroom to give himself a thorough scrub. After all, Briar had just said he smelled. Even though he knew Briar was teasing, Ashton still took it seriously and scrubbed himself squeaky clean from head to toe. Half an hourter, he slipped into a bathrobe and quietly lifted the nket. Briar was already fast asleep, her delicate features rxed in a peaceful, yetzy, way. In sleep, she looked even sweeter and softer, nothing at all like the ruthless side of her with a gun in hand. Ashtony down beside her, gently pulling her into his arms and carefully adjusting her head into afortable position. His dark eyes seemed to hold all the tenderness and starlight in the world as he gazed at the girl in his arms for a long time. Finally, with a contented sigh, he closed his eyes. A gentle breeze drifted in through the half-open window, carrying the unique warmth and gentle touch of the morning sun. It wrapped around the young T?uple entadovu in sleep, painting a krene if que Forsaken 224 Chapter 224 Briar slept until two in the afternoon, missing lunch entirely. Ashton was no longer in bed. When Briar came downstairs, she saw Brandon standing by the dining table with a conflicted expression, as if holding back words, while Ashton, an apron tied around his waist, was stepping out of the kitchen. He carried a bowl of thick soup, its murky surface dotted with shreds of what appeared to be stew meat. Seeing Brandon¡¯s reaction and Ashton dressed like that, Briar raised an eyebrow. ¡°Ashton, did you cook this?¡± she asked. Ashton turned at the sound. ¡°You¡¯re up? Perfect timing. I made some soup. Come have some.¡± Briar felt a little touched, dashed over, and plopped herself down at the table, propping her chin on her hand, her eyes full of anticipation. She pretended not to notice the kitchen trash full of butchered ingredients and a shattered casserole dish. Ashton ced the bowl of soup in front of her, grabbed a spoon, and gently stirred it to cool it down. ¡°It¡¯s my first time cooking. Give it a try.¡± Briar took the spoon, scooped up a little, blew on it, and then took a bite, tasting it seriously. ¡°It¡¯s yummy. You¡¯ve got some serious cooking talent, Ashton!¡± Ashton let out a sigh of relief. ¡°I¡¯m so d you like it.¡± ¡®All those hours I spend ving over the stove are worth it,¡® he added in his mind. Briar seemed to love the meat soup Ashton made. Her slender fingers never left the spoon as she ate it spoonful by spoonful, finishing everyst drop. Having someone polish off his very first homemade dish like that boosted Ashton¡¯s confidence. Full and satisfied, Briar wiped her mouth, stood up, and shed Ashton a smile before asking, ¡°Shall we head out now?¡± It was time to go and deal with the Garzas. She was just too sweet, and Ashton couldn¡¯t find any reason to refuse her, so he nodded. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s go now.¡± Brandon wiped theplicated look off his face and quickly headed out. He would be driving. Outside, the wind was picking up, whipping Briar¡¯s hair all over the ce. Ashton shifted to shield her from the gusts, gently smoothed out her messy hair, and pulled her hoodie up over her head. ¡°I noticed you always liked wearing hats back when you were in Qathana,¡± he said. That was something he¡¯d seen when he was looking into her before. There were some photos attached to the files. Ever since she was five, Briar had worn hats in public, like baseball caps and hoodies, anything to shield her face. Few photos of her without one even existed. Briar nodded, her tonezy and a bit smug as she said, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m good¨Clooking. Wearing a hat cuts down at least half the people trying to hit on me.¡± Ashton was at a loss for words. He knew Briar was stating a fact, but the way she showed off still made both him and Brandon burst outughing. (+28) When the Garzas lost contact with Hayden, Geoff immediately gathered his family and took shelter in their secluded safe house outside the city. They thought they were being discreet, but the truth was, Ashton¡¯s people had been monitoring their every move from the start. So basically, from the moment they left the vi to the second they pulled up at the safe house, they were under Ashton¡¯s people¡¯s watch the entire way. So after an hour¡¯s drive, when their car stopped right in front of the Garzas¡® safe house and Ashton and Briar got out together, Qeturah, who was sitting in front of the surveince monitor, jumped up from his chair in fright. Hepletely lost it, shouting, ¡°Dad! Dad! They¡¯re here! They found us¡­¡± ¡®This family is bound to fall apart sooner orter, with such a useless father and a spoiled, ipetent brother,¡® Manny thought, looking at Qeturah, who was scared out of his mind, her face full of contempt and frustration. Norma was so terrified she could barely speak. ¡°This is the end. Our family is doomed.¡± Geoff let out a low sigh. One careless move, and everything was lost. All the years of hard work by the Garza family, and in the end, it all ended up ruined in Hayden¡¯s hands. ¡°Manny, go to the door and show Mr. Wade and Miss Jennings in,¡± Geoff said to Manny after a moment. Manny nodded, got up, and went to open the door. Soon, Ashton and Briar walked in, followed by a group of men in ck. The moment they entered, the men in ck immediately surrounded the Garzas. If the Garzas hadn¡¯t been so obedient, they probably would¡¯ve been tackled to the ground on the spot. ¡°Mr. Wade, Miss Jennings,¡± Geoff¡¯s voice was rough with age and exhaustion. Knowing full well Ashton and his people wouldn¡¯t let them off easy, he stood up and gave Ashton and Briar a slight bow to show his respect. Seeing this, the other three quickly followed suit, standing up and bowing as they greeted, ¡°Mr. Wade, Miss Jennings.¡± They were putting on the most pitiful, respectful act imaginable. Brandon narrowed his eyes. ¡®Do these people seriously think that just because they¡¯re bowing and scraping, Mr. Wade and Miss Jennings will let them go?¡® Honestly, that was exactly what Geoff hoped for. Even though he knew Ashton¡¯s people had already uncovered all the Garzas¡® overseasbs, those were just their foreign operations, and they didn¡¯t touch anything in the domestic market. Ben thought maybe Ashton just wanted to stand up for Briar and wouldn¡¯t go so far as to wipe out the entire Garza family. Perhaps this was just the desperate self¨Cdelusion of a drowning man, onest attempt to cling to hope before the storm hit. Ashton frowned, watching the family¡¯s pathetic, two¨Cfaced disy. He didn¡¯t even spare them a nce, just waiting for Briar to speak. Briar sneered. ¡°What¡¯s with the whole weak and pitiful act? You sure didn¡¯t act like this when you were pushing those experimental drugs on my mom, did you? And maybe you can walk me through how you managed to steal her brain after she died, without anyone noticing? I want all the gory details.¡± Geoff¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Briar¡¯s words cut right through his self¨Cdelusion. ¡°Miss Jennings, there¡¯s been a misunderstanding here. I can exin¡­¡± 09:55 Sun, 24 Aug 0 Briar¡¯s voice was t, cold as steel, every word cutting through the air with terrifying authority. A , 72%2 Geoff couldn¡¯t help but think that the real reason Briar was able to stay so calm was all because of thatst sentence, that she wanted all the gory details. ¡®What kind of steely resolve does it take to demand the details of her own mother¡¯s brain getting harvested?¡® Ben thought in fear. Qeturah¡¯s legs gave out, and he dropped to his knees with a loud thud. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me¡­ It wasn¡¯t my fault¡­¡± +28 Norma tried a few times to haul her husband back up, but when that didn¡¯t work, she just gave up and got down on her knees, too. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me either, it was all the rest of the Garzas!¡± Geoff never saw his son and daughter¨Cinw¡¯s betrayaling. His wrinkled face cycled through every shade of shock and indignation. Briar couldn¡¯t help but feel amused by the way this family was tearing each other apart. But she wanted to see just how low they¡¯d stoop. So she stood there, arms crossed, watching the spectacle in cold silence. B Forsaken 225 Chapter 225 72% 0 While arguing with Norma, Qeturah kept a close eye on Briar. When he noticed a subtle change in her expression, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of joy inside. Qeturah thought, ¡®Damn, that worked. She¡¯s still just an 18¨Cyear¨Cold kid, no matter how clever she thinks she is, and she¡¯s easy to fool. That¡¯s always been my dad¡¯s problem, though, caring more about his pride than what matters.¡± To Qeturah, pride meant nothing when his own life was on the line. Nothing else mattered. He thought, ¡®They¡¯re literally at our doorstep trying to kill us, and you¡¯re still worried about your damn pride? Right now, survival is all that matters! Stay alive, and there¡¯s still hope. Die, and you lose everything.¡± ¡°Miss Jennings, you have to believe me. I got dragged into that whole live human experimentation mess without even realizing what was going on. And if I¡¯d known from the start that the test subject was your mother, I would¡¯ve been the first to object. This whole thing is just wrong.¡± Qeturah said. Norma quickly chimed in, ¡°Yeah, exactly! If I¡¯d known about these shady, harmful things, I definitely would¡¯ve stepped in to stop them. After all, women understand each other best.¡± Honestly, these two would do anything to survive under Ashton¡¯s hand. They were shameless, bending the truth at will with every word out of their mouths. Geoff and Manny were utterly speechless. Norma and Qeturah¡¯s behaviors were so humiliating that Ben and Manny couldn¡¯t even bear to watch. At that moment, Manny wished she could pretend these two weren¡¯t even her parents. Briar¡¯s eyes grew even colder and more impatient. ¡°That¡¯s it? That¡¯s all you¡¯ve got?¡± she asked. Qeturah tried to say something else, but before he could, Geoff, furious, swung his cane and knocked him to the ground. ¡°I¡¯ll beat you to death, you ungrateful brat!¡± Qeturah let out a scream. ¡°Ouch!¡± Norma didn¡¯t dare utter another word either. Watching their pathetic infighting, Briar¡¯sst shred of patience vanished. ¡°Enough! None of you will get away today. You¡¯re all going to die!¡± From the moment they entered, Ashton had been closely watching Briar¡¯s reactions. Seeing her expression turn icy, he stepped forward before she could move, blocking her path. His voice dropped to a warning murmur. ¡°Briar, remember our agreement on the way here. You can end them however you want, but not with your own hands.¡± Briar shot Ashton a re as he stood in her way and said nothing. After a long moment, she let out a rather impatient ¡°Ugh,¡± but still nodded. ¡°I know. I haven¡¯t forgotten.¡± The sinister chill and the stormy bloodlust that had been swirling in her eyes vanished the moment she finished speaking, carefully concealed once more. Ashton had guessed right. If he hadn¡¯t reminded her just now, she might have ¡°forgotten.¡± Her fist was already clenched, ready to 09:55 Sun, 24 Augu strike. Someone as pathetic as Qeturah wouldn¡¯tst a second against her. She could have sent him to his grave with a single punch. ¡°That¡¯s my girl,¡± Ashton said with a relieved smile, finally stepping back and letting Briar do her thing. Briar thought, ¡®What else can I even do at this point? I can¡¯t kill them with my own hands!¡® Just then, there was a screech of brakes outside, and an excited, cheerful voice rang out, ¡°Briar! Briar, I¡¯m here!¡± Immediately after that,n came rushing in, face all red, maybe from excitement, maybe from running. ¡°Briar, I didn¡¯t miss anything, did I?¡± 12% +28 0 The fury that Briar had just concealed red back to life. She turned ton and smiled, looking all calm and unbothered. ¡°Nope, you got here just in time.¡± Geoff and the other three. It wasn¡¯t long before blood¨Ccurdling screams echoed through the living room, each one louder and more desperate than thest, with both men and women screaming together. To mercenaries like them, targets had no gender, no chivalrous ¡°don¡¯t hit women¡± nonsense. Man or woman, all they saw was walking bounty money. Whether the bounty lived or died? That was strictly the employer¡¯s call. If the employer wanted them alive, the mercenaries would capture them alive. If the employer wanted them dead, the mercenaries would kill them and deliver the corpses. Geoff never thought that after living so many years, he¡¯d end up getting beaten like a ughtered pig in his old age. No matter how much he begged, those big, bun¨Csized fists just kept pounding him without mercy. Qeturah and Norma had it even worse. As the key masterminds behind those live human experiments, they took about sixty percent ofn¡¯s punches and kicks. Worse still,n was a total pro at dishing out pain. He knew exactly how to make every hit count, keeping them teetering on the edge of consciousness despite bone¨Cdeep agony. They had to stay painfully awake through every second of this endless beating. ¡°Miss Jennings, we were wrong! We messed up! Please, have mercy on us. Please, just let us go!¡± Qeturah begged desperately. ¡°Oh, stop! Please, don¡¯t hit us anymore. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡± Norma wailed, sobbing. As one of the notorious Garzas, Manny couldn¡¯t escape a beating either. Butn mostly took out his rage on Geoff, Qeturah, and Norma. As for her, he just threw in a few half¨Chearted punches for good measure, so out of the four, Manny got off the lightest. ¡°Miss Jennings, I¡¯m sorry, I am! Please, I¡¯m begging you, let me go! I swear I had nothing to do with those human experiments. I didn¡¯t! I never meant you any harm¡­¡± Manny scrambled over to Briar¡¯s feet, clutching at her leg in desperation. 09:55 Sun, 24 Aug O But before Manny could even touch Briar¡¯s leg, Ashton kicked her aside. ¡°Get her away from Briar.¡± Brandon immediately stepped up and dragged Manny right back inton¡¯s beating zone. 4.72%¨C They watched in cold amusement asn pummeled the Garzas into submission. No one felt an ounce of pity for those vile creatures. They deserved every bit of this beating. The only reason the Garzas didn¡¯t die then and there was that this was Dasmieca¡¯s territory, and their status as Dasmiecian granted them temporary protection. Otherwise, with all the monstrous things they¡¯d done, they¡¯d deserve to die at least a thousand times over. In the end,n and Brandon dragged off the barely¨Calive Garzas like dead dogs. 0 Briar nced at the wrecked room and the dragged¨Coff Garzas, the corner of her mouth twitching. ¡°Ashton, you andn were in on this together, weren¡¯t you?¡± Ashton pulled the resisting Briar to his side. ¡°Killing them would be too merciful. Don¡¯t you think? Isn¡¯t it better to take them back and make them suffer, nice and slow?¡± Briar snorted. ¡°You¡¯d better mean that.¡± Ìï Forsaken 226 Chapter 226 With the Garzas captured, it was only natural that their own safe house was no longer secure. On the way back,n didn¡¯t dare squeeze into the same car as Briar. After all, he was indeed in cahoots with Ashton. When Ashton¡¯s people reached out to him, they said that as long as he could get the Garzas out before Briar went all out and finished them off, he¡¯d get two¨Cthirds of the bounty. He and Briar had a strong bond, sure, but Ashton¡¯s offer was just too generous. There was no way he could turn it down! The Garzas were brought back to Ashton¡¯s basement. With such a public exit and an equally showy return, anyone paying attention could easily tell it was Ashton¡¯s people who took the Garzas away. If anything happened to the Garzas after that, all the me would fall on Ashton and have nothing to do with Briar. By doing this, Ashton was indirectly protecting Briar, keeping her off the radar of other factions. After all, the 30¨Cmillion¨Cdor bounty Briar put out was just too tempting. There were plenty of people out to kill the Garzas, but the ones backing the Garzas would inevitably set their sights on Briar. Ashton thought to himself, ¡®Briar can be angry, furious, or sad. She can even take out the Garzas however she likes. But I¡¯ll never let anyone else l¨¢y a finger on her. ¡®All those chases and brushes with death before Briar turned eighteen were already in the past, nothing I can do about them. But now, no one is allowed to threaten her life.¡® Briar watched the long convoy sweep into the vi, lips twitching despite herself. She understood why Ashton was making such a big show of things, and honestly, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a little moved. ¡®With Ashton standing so firmly by my side, protecting me no matter what, what else can I say? I¡¯ll ept it,¡® Briar thought. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ve brought them back. Now, you can do what you want with them. I won¡¯t interfere,¡± Ashton said, catching the hint of a smile in Briar¡¯s eyes. He could tell she understood and appreciated what he had done for her. Briar nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± She brushed right pastn, ignoring his fawning expression, and headed straight for the basement. The door mmed shut behind her with a bang. Both Ashton andn were shocked. ¡°Didn¡¯t you retire from this life?¡± Ashton said dryly. Ashton just nodded, a faint smile in his eyes. n of the mercenary world, one of the eight instructors at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base, codename Sam. You think someone like you is easy to overlook?¡± 09:56 Sun, 24 Aug 0 71% What hadn panicking wasn¡¯t that his alternate identity got exposed. It was the fact that Briar had a DDC Vanguard instructor cover, too! ¡®Don¡¯t tell me Ashton¡¯s already figured out Briar¡¯s secret as well?¡® he thought to himself. ¡®No, no, calm down, just calm down!¡® +28) Their identities as the instructors at the DDC Vanguard were protected byyers of security as thick as a fortress, and no ordinary person could ever dig that deep. Even someone as powerful as Ashton, who ran the border, couldn¡¯t possibly infiltrate the DDC Vanguard Base. Moreover, although DDC Vanguard Base imed to have eight instructors, only insiders know that those eight consisted of five standard instructors and three elite instructors. Briar, on the other hand, was one of the three elite instructors, a master of every skill imaginable. There were only a handful of people in the entire world who knew the identities of these elite instructors. So,n thought there was no way Ashton could have learned about Briar¡¯s identity as the instructor. Ashton said, ¡°Even though you¡¯ve done a decent job hiding your identity and background, I¡¯m the boss of the Dark Net. It¡¯s not hard for me to find out who you are.¡± He obediently sat back down on the couch, feeling a bit relieved. ¡®From what Ashton just said, he probably still doesn¡¯t know about Briar¡¯s identity as the instructor, right? Damn, that was close. I almost let Briar¡¯s secret slip.¡® Honestly, uncoveringn¡¯s identity as an instructor at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base was a total fluke. When Ashton had Xavion look inton, he only wanted to see whon might have crossed during his days as an international mercenary. After all,n was going to be hanging around Briar for the long haul, and to keep her safe, Ashton couldn¡¯t afford to take any chances. But the deeper they dug, the more they realized Jan seemed to have ties to the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base. it was a powerful, shadowy special operations group that coborated with multiple nations, including Dasmieca. So, Ashton used his connections in Dasmieca to reach out to the DDC Vanguard¡¯s external liaison, Jabari Cadman, and that was how he confirmedn¡¯s identity. But Ashton wasn¡¯t going to telln all the twists and turns that led to this discovery. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Since you¡¯re Briar¡¯s friend, I¡¯m not going to make things difficult for you,¡± Ashton reassured him. ¡°Just make sure you keep her safe when I¡¯m not around. Don¡¯t let anything happen to her.¡± Oncen had calmed down, he got a little bolder. Raising an eyebrow, he said, ¡°Mr. Wade, now that you know who I am, you should also know that getting me to protect someone doesn¡¯te cheap.¡± Ashton gave him a long, meaningful look. He stared so intently thatn almost wanted to take back his bold words, but then 09:56 Sun, 24 Aug 0 Chapter 226 KD71% Ashton suddenly pulled out a checkbook from the coffee table drawer and wrote out a check for 15 million dors right there. ¡°Is this enough?¡± Ashton asked. Ashton nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Good.¡± ¡°Mr. Wade, mind if I go find Briar now?¡± he asked, grinning. ¡°Go ahead,¡± Ashton said. Briar was speechless. Briar¡¯s expression flickered slightly as she read the amount on the check. She asked, ¡°You dared to scam him? Careful, or he¡¯ll make you pay for it.¡± Briar¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°You protect me? Are you sure about that?¡± ¡°He does have more money than sense,¡± Briar muttered, shaking her head helplessly. AD Comment Send gift Forsaken 227 Chapter 227 Briar¡¯s eyes flicked to the door, where Brandon¡¯s men stood guard. She also kept her voice low as she said, ¡°Not sure yet. The intel from our base is pretty thin. Even though Geoff and his family match a lot of evidence from thebs, I don¡¯t think he¡¯s Ben,¡± Briar smiled. ¡°You noticed too?¡± Ben, a guy who single¨Chandedly set up humanbs all over the world and managed to stay out of the hands of every power for years, shouldn¡¯t panic that easily. ¡®If Ben were that easy to catch, he¡¯d never have made it onto the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base¡¯s list in the first ce. And there¡¯s no way that Briar¡¯s intel is wrong.¡® Plus, with a mercenary¡¯s instinct for danger,n could tell that Geoff was just too weak, just a scapegoat, set up to take the heat for someone else. ¡°Even if he¡¯s not Ben, the Garzas must be rted to Ben behind the scenes,¡± Briar said, her eyes icy cold like she was staring at a dead man walking. She¡¯d shown no mercy while interrogating Geoff. If he just told the truth, maybe he¡¯d suffer a little less. But if he insisted on lying, he was about to learn what it truly meant to beg for death and not be granted it. ¡®With me here, there¡¯s no way I¡¯d let our elite instructor waste her energy on something this trivial,n thought. Briar was okay with that. Honestly, she was getting bored of beating them up anyway. A break sounded good to her. Since they knew Briar wasing down to the basement for the interrogation, Brandon had his men stock the table ahead of time with all her favorite snacks and sweets. Briar speared a piece of fruit and tossed it into her mouth, watching asn tried every trick in the book to get answers. She didn¡¯t find it gruesome, just dull. Ashton finished up his work and came down to check on the basement. Standing at the door, he nced up and saw Briar sitting at the table, looking like the boss, munching on fruit while watching the interrogation unfold. Ashton walked over to Briar, nced at her soft, clean hands, and asked casually, ¡°Didn¡¯t get your hands dirty?¡± Briar instantly switched from her bossy posture to a good girl pose. ¡°Yeah, I did. But I got tired, and my hand hurts, so I¡¯m taking a break.¡± Ashton¡¯s skeptical gaze shifted back to her hand. ¡°Hurts? Is there an injury?¡± 10:21 Mon, 25 Aug @J 57% Briar immediately held out her left hand, wiggling her pinky. Sure enough, there was a tiny, thin, slightly red scratch on the inside of her finger. Luckily, Briar¡¯s skin was soft and delicate, and Ashton had asked just in time. Anyter, and that tiny wound would¡¯ve vanished without a trace. ¡°Look, it¡¯s all red. It hurts,¡± Briar insisted, soundingpletely justified and a little pouty. Ashton was speechless. But what could he do? It was his girl, so of course, he had to pamper her. Hence, Ashton crouched down beside her, gently took her injured pinky, blew on it softly, and then pressed a kiss to it. Under Ashton¡¯s meticulous care, that tiny red scratch faded to nearly nothing. He asked, ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± Briar shook her head. ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t hurt anymore.¡± Only then did Ashton stand up, and together, he and Briar turned their attention back to the Garzas, who were suffering a thorough beating fromn. Ashton frowned atn¡¯s shy interrogation methods. ¡°Got anything yet?¡± Briar chewed on a sweet piece of fruit and replied, ¡°Nope. All they¡¯ve admitted to is trafficking in human organs. Nothing else.¡± A flicker of disgust crossed Ashton¡¯s eyes. ¡°Then you¡¯re not hitting them hard enough. Ian, put some muscle into it. Did you skip breakfast or something?¡± Ashton replied indifferently, ¡°If they die, I¡¯ll take the heat. It won¡¯te back on you.¡± ¡°Alright! Mr. Wade, you can sit back and enjoy the show!¡±n immediately tossed aside the little whip in his hand and grabbed a massive iron rod, as thick as an adult¡¯s arm. With someone else taking the me, what am I waiting for? Time to cut loose and show them what I can do,¡®n thought. At this point, Geoff honestly just wanted to die. Ian had whipped him from every possible angle, leaving him in so much agony he was practically wishing for death. if Ben hadn¡¯t pumped him full of those body¨Caltering drugs, Briar andn¡¯s nonstop beatings would¡¯ve finished him long ago. Now, seeing that massive iron rod inn¡¯s hands, Geoff¡¯s blood ran cold. Rusty nails of all sizes jutted from the iron bar. Getting hit with that would be way worse than anything the little whip could do. And from the way Ashton was talking just plow, Geoff thought, ¡®was he seriouslyining thatn was going too easy on me? ¡®If I didn¡¯t know that slipping up would lead to a fate worse than torture, a death far more unjust, I would¡¯ve confessed everything right then. ¡®Now that my whole family has fallen into Ashton¡¯s hands, if Ben finds out I¡¯ve kept my lips sealed and haven¡¯t spilled a single secret, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll send someone to bust us out. 10:21 Mon, 25 Aug R ? ???, 57%¨C ¡®And once I get out, every bit of pain Ashton, Briar, and the others have put us through, I¡¯ll pay it back tenfold, a hundredfold, a thousandfold if I can.¡± +38) Noticing the murderous intent still burning in Geoff¡¯s eyes,n didn¡¯t say a word. He just grabbed the iron rod and started beating him. ¡°Oh, still got the nerve to re at me? Guess I have been too soft on you. Alright, let¡¯s see how tough you are now¡­¡± ,¡± Briar said with a yful smile, looking up at him. Ashton leaned in and took the fruit with his teeth. ¡°Okay.¡± Briar¡¯s interruption swept away the gloom in Ashton¡¯s heart, and his expression softened. He hooked a chair over with his long leg, sat down beside Briar, and together they watched as Manny,pletely unraveled, started spilling her guts. ¡°My grandpa and my parents have been working for some mysterious person for a long time¡­¡± Manny confessed. Just that first sentence was enough to give her a shot at surviving. Ian shot Briar a subtle look, and when he caught the slightest nod from her, he asked coolly, ¡°Some mysterious person? Who exactly? Spell it out!¡± ¡®As expected, Geoff isn¡¯t the mysterious Ben everyone has been whispering about,¡® Ian thought. ¡°I don¡¯t know who that mysterious person is,¡± Manny sobbed, her face streaked with tears and her makeup a total mess. ¡°All I know is he¡¯s Dasmiecian, but he¡¯s always hiding overseas¡­ I¡¯ve told you everything I know, so please, don¡¯t hit me, okay?¡± Her pitiful act was so fake that it was honestly an eyesore. Ian was never the type to show mercy to women, especially not to someone with a face like that. Without a second thought, he swung the iron rod at her. ¡°You think you can get off easily by spouting such vague nonsense? Have you no shame?¡± Still, Ian held back a little. He aimed the blow at Manny¡¯s back, the spot that could take a beating, painful, but least likely to do real harm. After all, now that Manny had started confessing, it wouldn¡¯t be long before the other three caved too. Especially Qeturah, who looked like he was itching to say something. ¡°Ouch!¡± Manny yelped as the iron rod knocked her to the floor, tears streaming down her face from the pain. But at least she didn¡¯t get the same brutal beatdown Geoff had. After a bit, the pain faded enough that she could slowly sit up again. Qeturah must¡¯ve realized what Ian wanted from them, because he gritted his teeth, crawled over without a shred of dignity, andtched onto Ian¡¯s leg. ¡°I¡¯ll talk! I¡¯ll spill everything! I know way more than my daughter does¡­¡± Geoff, barely clinging to life, forced out, ¡°You¡­ You¡­¡± He coughed violently before he could finish his sentence. 19:14 Thu, Sep 18 d. After a violent coughing fit, he gasped for air, then copsed, unconscious. E55 vouchers When Qeturah felt Geoff¡¯s intense re, guilt gnawed at him. After all, Geoff had drilled it into him a thousand times that he should never, ever spill anything about Ben, or it would bring doom down on the Garzas. But if he didn¡¯t talk now, they¡¯d all be dead in no time. Qeturah thought, ¡®Who cares if Benes for meter? I want to survive this moment. At the very least, let me live long enough for Ben to show up and kill them. Norma was desperate to confess, too. The way Ian waved that blood¨Csmeared iron rod around was just too much. Chunks of flesh still clung to it, swinging right in front of her face like a headsman¡¯s axe, just waiting toe crashing down on her neck at any moment. ¡°I¡¯ll talk! I¡¯ll talk! I even have a recording of Ben¡¯s voice on my phone¡­¡± she cried out, her voice trembling with fear. ¡°No, let me confess first!¡± Qeturah shouted, trying to cut her off. ¡°No, I¡¯ll spill everything first!¡± Norma shot back, just as frantic. True to the saying ¡°every man for himself,¡± Qeturah and Norma nearly came to blows over who¡¯d talk first. Their shameless scramble and ugly desperation leftn staring in disbelief. It had been a long time since he¡¯d seen people turn on each other like this, a real dog¨Ceat¨Cdog mess. So Ian stepped back, no longer in a hurry. He gave them space and let them tear into each other. ¡°Briar, let¡¯s enjoy the show a bit longer,¡± he said, strolling over to the table. He grabbed another fork, speared several pieces of fruit at once, and stuffed them all into his mouth. With his mouth full, he mumbled, ¡°Let¡¯s wait until they ¡®work things out¡® before we grill them again.¡± Briar¡¯s smirk had been glued to her face ever since Manny started confessing, and now her whole expression was full of swagger. ¡°Sure thing. In a bit, we¡¯ll drag them into separate rooms and grill them one by one. Whoever spills the most gets to walk free.¡± As soon as Manny heard that, she dove headfirst into the frantic scramble with Qeturah and Norma. Forsaken 229 Ashton smirked at Briar¡¯s wicked idea. ¡°These small rooms aren¡¯t soundproof. How about we move them to a soundproof one?¡± Soundproofing would effectively keep them from coordinating their stories. Briar arched an eyebrow, her gaze both cold and wicked. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s switch to a soundproof room. If anyone refuses to confess, we¡¯ll just beat them to death.¡± Ian was Briar¡¯s most loyal partner. No matter what Briar wanted to do, he would follow through without hesitation. If it weren¡¯t for the need to keep Briar¡¯s identity as an instructor hidden, he would have been even more sycophantic. ¡®Seriously, who else in the entire DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base can say they are this close to an elite instructor?¡® Ian thought smugly. If Briar weren¡¯t so low¨Ckey, he would have snapped a photo and posted it in the group chat with the five instructors to show off. ¡®Who says all three elite instructors are cold and aloof?¡® he thought. ¡®Look at Briar. She¡¯s pretty approachable!¡® Ashton called for Brandon, instructing him to unlock the holding cells on the second basement level, then send someone to get three of the rooms ready for further interrogation of the Garzas. Brandon was stunned for a moment, then nodded after a couple of seconds. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get on it right away.¡± Before he turned to leave, he shot the Garzas a look filled with a touch of pity. ¡®Man, poor souls! They¡¯re about to get tossed into those holding cells on the second basement level,¡® he thought. Though the interrogation rooms on the first basement level and the holding cells on the second were just one floor apart, there was a world of difference between them. People sent to the first basement might get roughed up, but most of them still walked out alive. Ashton never went for the kill with anyone on the first basement level. But the second basement level? That was a whole different beast. Every room down there was soundproof and st¨Cproof, and so far, no one had ever made it out of the second basement alive. Anyone sent to the second basement level never came back up. These people would vanish. No records. No traces. Soon, Brandon had the holding cells on the second basement level ready. He came back up and, along with Ian, dragged the Garzas down there. Briar, who had just finished her fruit and snacks, was about to follow them. Ashton grabbed her by the cor. ¡°We¡¯ll just wait up here.¡± The second basement level was dark, damp, and downright oppressive. It wasn¡¯t the kind of ce that was good for a girl¡¯s mental health. Not to mention, Hamish had mentioned that Briar might have bipr disorder. ¡®What if she goes down there andes back even more irritable?¡® Ashton thought. Briar was speechless. ?? 55 vouchers No matter how much Briar tried to whine or act cute, Ashton just refused. In the end, he scooped her up kitten and carried her off to the bright, cozy living room on the first floor. like a Morton was already waiting there. When he saw Ashton haul Briar in like a baby chick, he almost burst outughing. ¡°Miss Jennings, your favorite cupcakes just arrived. Do you want to have some?¡± Briar struggled but couldn¡¯t get away, so she just resigned herself. ¡°Sure.¡± Morton hurried to the kitchen, brought out the cupcakes, and set them in front of Briar, thoughtfully cing two forks beside the te. So, Briar started chowing down again, not stopping until she¡¯d demolished all three cupcakes. Only then did Brandon and Iane swaggering up from the basement, arms slung around each other like old pals. The moment Ian spotted Briar, he immediately ditched Brandon and beamed. ¡°Briar, they confessed to everything.¡± Briar nodded, wiped her hands, and took the recorder from him. She pressed y, and right away, Norma¡¯s tearful, pleading confession echoed through the room. ¡°I don¡¯t know who this Ben is, but one time, Geoff left his phone in the living room. Ben happened to call. I picked up and recorded the whole thing,¡± Norma confessed. Next, the recorder yed a mechanical, distorted voice. One couldn¡¯t even tell if it was a man or a woman. ¡°Geoff, what¡¯s taking you so long with the job I gave you? Don¡¯t forget what you promised me. And don¡¯t even think about making me angry. I want the Graham family dead, not the Jennings family¡­¡± That was a lot to take in. The recording also brought up the Graham family. Because of mechanical distortion, Briar couldn¡¯t tell if they meant the Graham family or the Grant family. But after thinking it over, Briar figured they were talking about the Grant family. ¡°Anything else? Did they say why Ben wants the Graham family dead?¡± Briar asked. Ian shook his head. ¡°Nope, nothing. Even Geoff has no idea why Ben is after the Graham family.¡± Brandon spoke up, ¡°Miss Jennings, ording to Qeturah, those special blood samples they¡¯ve been researching in the overseasbs all came from a mysterious rich family. The head of that family goes by thest name Graham.¡± ¡°A mysterious tycoon with thest name Graham? Is he Dasmiecian or of Dasmiecian descent?¡± Briar nced at Ashton. ¡°Are there any Grahams among the world¡¯s richest people?¡± 19:14 Thu, Sep 18 .. : 47 55 vouchers Wealthy Dasmiecian expatriates always kept things low¨Ckey. Security overseas was a mess, especially in certain countries that relied on Dasmiecianworks for resources but still went out of their way to suppress them, tough on the outside, but hypocritical underneath. That was why most Dasmiecian tycoons who made it internationally deliberately kept a low profile. It was to avoid unnecessary trouble. ¡°There aren¡¯t any Dasmiecian tycoons with thest name Graham. If it¡¯s a Dasmiecian expatriate, we¡¯ll have to look into it,¡± Ashton said, shaking his head. He pulled hisptop out from under the coffee table and handed it to Briar. Usually, Ashton would have Xavion check this out, but since Briar was the Legendary Hacker Bree herself, there was no need to let Xavion do it instead. Briar took theptop, entered the password with practiced ease, and started searching. The way Ashton and Briar moved together, so perfectly in sync andfortable with each other, left everyone else in the room staring in stunned silence. And when Briar took less than ten minutes to track down a wealthy Dasmiecan tycoon with thest name Graham in Qathana, Morton gave her an approving nod and a smirk. ¡°Miss Jennings, your hacking skills blow Xavion out of the water,¡± Morton gushed. Of course, there was more than a little ass¨Ckissing in that remark. Xavion was also a top¨Ctier hacker, one of the best in the world. But since he was always overseas, there was a timeg whenever they needed him for something back home. Having Briar right here was much quicker and easier. ¡°Thanks,¡± Briar said with a smile, easily seeing through Morton¡¯s ttery. ¡°If you ever need something, you can always reach out to me privately.¡± Morton¡¯s eyes immediately lit up. ¡°Really? I can ask you for help?¡± ¡°As long as the price is reasonable, I rarely turn down a job,¡± Briar said. She quickly pulled up the info she¡¯d found and shared it with Ashton. ¡°But this guy¡¯s business is totally above board. He¡¯s got no ties to any shady or underground dealings. How could he possibly be connected to the Garzas¡® human experimentationbs?¡± Ashton studied the profile of the Dasmiecian tycoon with thest name Graham carefully. ¡°Not necessarily. I¡¯ll have Xavion check his border crossing records.¡± Briar nodded, ¡°Okay, If he¡¯s ever been to the border, then his identity is suspicious.¡± Ashton shot Briar a squinty look. ¡°You catch on that quick? Looks like you¡¯ve already figured it out.¡± Briar just shrugged it off, cool as ever. ¡°I didn¡¯t say that.¡± Ashton pulled out his phone and, with a quick tap, sent all the files on Darius Graham to Xavion. 19:14 Thu, Sep 18 d. Forsaken 230 : 47 E55 vouchers Xavion was quick on the investigation. Just half an hourter, he sent over all the information about Darius, including every move he made abroad. Then,n said in shock, ¡°Briar, you know what? Darius has a younger brother named Boyden Graham, and he¡¯s a notorious arms dealer who¡¯s always drifting along the border¡­¡± Briar raised an eyebrow and leaned next ton to check out the files. ¡°An arms dealer who roams the border? Ashton, does Connor know about someone like this?¡± ¡®Logically speaking, a guy like that should be a top priority for Connor, the head of the overseas mercenaries, right?¡® Briar thought. ¡®How could Ashton have absolutely no recollection of Darius and Boyden?¡® Hearing this, even the usually unppable Ashton was surprised. ¡°An arms dealer working the border? Howe I¡¯ve never heard Connor mention him?¡± Briar handed the files over to Ashton. ¡°Yeah, and his arms business is no small operation! He just never dared to cross paths with Connor.¡± With someone as ruthless as Connor running the border mercenaries, there was no way he¡¯d let a rat like that stir up trouble and throw his weight around on his turf. Ashton looked at Brandon. ¡°Get in touch with Connor and ask him about this.¡± Brandon nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± It was strange. Brandon had never heard Connor mention these guys either. It was as if Darius and Boyden had just appeared out of thin air. Sure enough, when Brandon called Connor to ask about the arms dealer on the border, Connor was in the dark. Now, not only was Brandon getting nervous, but even Ashton was starting to lose his cool. He took Brandon¡¯s phone and told Connor on the other end, ¡°Connor, I¡¯ve already sent you the info Xavion dug up on Darius and Boyden. You have two days to get to the bottom of this. We¡¯re heading to the border the day after tomorrow.¡± Connor replied awkwardly, ¡°Understood, Mr. Wade. I¡¯ll look into it right away.¡± After hanging up, thezy air around Ashton vanishedpletely. He turned to Brandon and said, ¡°Get things ready. We¡¯re heading to the border in two days.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Brandon took his phone back respectfully and nced at Briar. ¡°Mr. Wade, when you say ¡®we, do you mean¡­¡± ¡°Briar¡¯sing with me,¡± Ashton said, easily catching the meaning behind Brandon¡¯s words. Brandon nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± 55 vouchers Ian raised his hand. ¡°Mr. Wade, can Ie along too? I¡¯m Briar¡¯s bodyguard now. If Briar¡¯s going, I should be there, right?¡± Ashton turned to Briar. ¡°You wantn toe with us?¡± Briar smiled. ¡°I paid 15 million dors for a bodyguard, so I surely want to put his talents to good use. Ian knows the border area like the back of his hand. Bringing him along mighte in handy.¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°Alright then,n cane with us.¡± Ian grinned. ¡°Thanks, Mr. Wade!¡± Briar thought for a moment before asking, ¡°Ashton, how long are we going to be gone? Should I ask for leave from school?¡± It was only now that Briar realized she hadn¡¯t asked for leave from school during the days she¡¯d been off in Qathana with Ashton. She wondered if Joshua and Marvin had noticed she¡¯d been skipping ss. Ashton pulled the suddenly guilty Briar into his arms, resting his chin on top of her head and chuckling softly. ¡°You¡¯re only thinking about asking for leave now? Isn¡¯t that a bitte?¡± Seeing this, everyone else immediately got up and tactfully left the living room, leaving the two lovebirds to go on with their own mushy business. Briar, trying to sound all tough even though she was clearly in the wrong, huffed, ¡°Hey, I just forgot, okay?¡± ¡°Rx, I already applied for leave for you,¡± Ashton said, his hand still resting on her waist as he gave it a gentle squeeze. Even with her clothes in the way, the touch was irresistible. Ashton couldn¡¯t help but knead her waist a little more. ¡°This trip to the border could take a while. I¡¯ll get you another leave. How about until the end of the semester?¡± Briar was speechless. ¡°There are still two whole months left until the end of the semester,¡® she thought. ¡®Seriously, only Ashton could pull that off Sure enough, when Briar called Joshua to say she needed leave until the end of the semester, Joshua practically hit the roof on the other end. Just as he was about to explode, Ashton snatched the phone from Briar. ¡°Mr. Swift, it¡¯s me. We have to go abroad for some business, and I don¡¯t know when we¡¯ll be back.¡± Joshua¡¯s anger, which had shot straight to his head, got stuck in his throat. Still fuming, he grumbled, ¡°Briar is still a student, and a gifted medical student at that. Don¡¯t you go leading her astray.¡± But Ashton just said, ¡°Hanging up.¡± Briar wasughing so hard she nearly doubled over. ¡°Got chewed out by Joshua? Serves you right! Seriously, who else would ask for a leave the way you do?¡± 19:14 Thu, Sep 18 d. 47 55 vouchers Ashton took his time closing in, using his height to press her into the couch. ¡°Baby, you get that much joy out of seeing your professor scold me?¡± Briar¡¯s smile froze on her face. ¡°Well¡­ Not that much.¡± ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± Ashton lowered his head, the space between them shrinking until his lips imed hers. He kissed her deeply as a little ¡°punishment¡± of his own¡­ Two dayster, a private jet bearing Ashton¡¯s exclusive logo took off from the rooftop of the Wade Group. Jalen and Frank, their hair tousled by the wind, watched the ne fade into the distance in silence. It wasn¡¯t until the ne had shrunk to a tiny ck dot that Frank finally spoke up, sounding all dejected. ¡°Jalen. I get it if Ashton left you behind, but why wouldn¡¯t he take me either? Why can¡¯t I go to Connor¡¯s turf?¡± Jalen remained silent. ¡°Connor said I coulde!¡± Frank almost burst into tears. He¡¯d shown up all happy today, only to get left behind again. Jalen patted Frank on the shoulder. ¡°Ashton didn¡¯t want to take you because this trip might be dangerous. Just be good, and I¡¯ll ask him again in a few days.¡± Frank had no clue what Ashton and the others were up to at the border, but Jalen knew all too well that there might even be a shootout this time. ¡°With Frank¡¯s insatiable curiosity, if he and Miss Jennings hit it off and start stirring up trouble just for the fun of it, Ashton might not be able to resist losing his temper and smacking Frank, Jalen thought. ¡®But with Connor there, Frank will be safe from a beating. In the end, the only one who¡¯d suffer will be Connor Hearing this, Frank immediately brightened up. ¡°Alright, Jalen, just don¡¯t forget to ask for me! I miss Connor.¡± ¡°Got it. Now, hurry back to school and wrap up the experiments you¡¯ve got going. If Ashton lets you go to the border but you¡¯re stuck withb work, you¡¯ll be kicking yourself,¡± Jalen said, trying to shoo Frank away. That makes sense!¡± Frank happily trotted off to school. On the ne, Briar was just as curious. ¡°Ashton, why did you suddenly change your mind and not bring Frank? Didn¡¯t you see how close he was to crying when you left him behind?¡± Ashton was holding a tablet. Hearing this, he handed it over to Briar and said, ¡°Take a look at this first¡­¡± 19:14 Thu, Sep 18 d Forsaken 231 Chapter 231 47 E55 vouchers On the tablet was thetest message from Connor. The message was brief, just a few words. [There¡¯s trouble at the border. Come quickly.] Along the border, order or chaos had always been dictated by Connor¡¯s mercenary group. After years of dominating the region, their sheer presence alonemanded obedience from all factions. But if even Connor said there was trouble, then things must be serious. ¡®I wonder who¡¯s behind all this chaos at the border. Now I¡¯m so curious,¡¯ Briar thought. She lowered her head, mulling over the words for a moment before handing the tablet back to Ashton. ¡°The border¡¯s in chaos. Is it a good idea for me to go?¡± Ashton kept his expression neutral, but inside, he was secretly amused. ¡°Of course it is. You¡¯re just going to have some fun.¡± ¡®She is tantly testing me,¡® Ashton thought. ¡®She¡¯s testing my limits, to see just how much trouble I¡¯ll let her stir up before I step in.¡¯ But now they were heading to the mostwless stretch of border in the world, where even a random passerby could have ties to factions too dangerous to cross. With Briar¡¯s ability to stir up trouble, there was no way Ashton would dare let her do whatever she wanted. Hearing Ashton¡¯s words, Briar just smiled and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m just going to have some fun. As long as no one messes with me, I¡¯ll behave myself.¡± She meant it. If nobody messed with her, she could promise to be good. But if someone started something, all bets were off. ¡®Also, judging from Connor¡¯s message, if my guess is right, the ones behind the sudden chaos at the border are probably the mysterious Darius and Boyden,¡® Briar thought. With Briar¡¯s promise, Ashton looked pleased as he picked up the documents on the table and lowered his head to get back to work. Briar unbuttoned her coat and lounged backzily, pulling out a game to kill time. With no inte on the ne, she could only y offline ssics, like that old Snake Game everyone used to y on their phones. Ian scooted over to join her, and the two yed side by side, betting a hundred push¨Cups on whose snake would crash first. After more than ten hours in the air, Ian racked up nearly two thousand push¨Cups. By the time they got off the ne, his arms were trembling nonstop, barely able to stay still. The border in November was even colder than Shoneport. 19:14 Thu, Sep 18 : ET 55 vouchers Fortunately, before they set out, Ashton had already prepared a full¨Clength ck down jacket for Briar. With her hands tucked in and the hood up, it blocked almost all the cold wind. As for Ashton, even facing the biting wind, he just changed his thin jacket to a ck wool coat, looking like the cold didn¡¯t bother him at all. ¡°Mr. Wade!¡± Connor and his men had been waiting at the tarmac for ages. The moment they saw Ashton and Briar step off the ne, all his guys shouted out in perfect unison. Couldn¡¯t me them. Compared to the Victoria Hotel in Qathana, which Ashton never even bothered to visit, these guys stationed at the border were practically poor souls exiled by him. After turning the mercenary group into a powerhouse, Ashton walked away and left it all behind. He left everything to others. Even the budget allocations for the border went through Jalen, not him. Connor stepped forward with two of his most trusted men and introduced them to Briar. ¡°Miss Jennings, they¡¯re Riley and Artemus. I want them to be your temporary guides. Things might be chaotic here, but the scenery¡¯s great, mountains, rivers, plenty of ces to explore. Let them show you around and act as your bodyguards. Around here, anyone with half a brain will know to stay out of your way.¡± Connor knew what Ian could do, but even the best couldn¡¯t handle everything alone. Out here on the border, flying solo usually meant asking for trouble. Riley and Artemus bowed again and greeted in unison, ¡°Hello, Miss Jennings.¡± These two were Connor¡¯s top men, and they knew all about Briar. Far from the delicate young woman people assumed her to be, she was a true force, brutally skilled inbat and ruthlessly efficient in her methods. And on this border, strength was the only thing that mattered. Ashton looked over the two hulking, bear¨Csized Riley and Artemus, nodded in approval at their fighting skills, then turned to Briar and said, ¡°They¡¯re not much to look at, but their skills are solid. Each of them could take on ten men at once. If you wander off and run into trouble, they¡¯ll be able to hold the fort for a bit.¡± Riley and Artemus were speechless, thinking, ¡®Sure, Mr. Wade was praising us, but why did it sound so off? That hurt a little.¡¯ Since Ashton thought these two were good, Briar could only nod, albeit a bit reluctantly. ¡°Alright, you two cane along.¡± ¡®Actually, these two are Ashton¡¯s eyes and ears, right?¡® Briar thought. ¡°They¡¯re probably here to keep me from running off. As soon as Briar gave the nod, Riley and Artemus swiftly moved behind her, exchanging looks with Ian, who was all skin and bones. ¡®Wait, is this twig Miss Jennings¡® bodyguard? With that build, if things go south, is he protecting her, or is she going to have to save his skin?¡® Riley and Artemus couldn¡¯t help but wonder. Ian bristled with hostility as he thought, ¡°The auraing off these two is intense. Just how many people have 19:15 Thu, Sep 18 d 47 E55 vouchers they taken down to get that kind of vibe? Why did they send two heavy hitters to stick to Briar? Does that mean this border trip is going to be even more dangerous than we thought?¡¯ Riley and Artemus stared hard at Ian. ¡®Wait, this guy looks familiar. Have we tangled with him somewhere before?¡® they wondered. Anyone who¡¯d ever gone up against Riley and Artemus was never some harmless type. They were all ruthless, dangerous people. They assumed Ian must have some real skills. The moment the three of them sized each other up, the air was thick with mutual hostility and wariness. They were all hardened veterans who¡¯d seen their share of bloodshed, able to spot danger in an instant. ¡°Hey, you look kinda familiar. Wanna find some time to go a few rounds?¡± Riley forced a grin, still unsettled by the way Ian was staring him down. Ian never backed down from a fight. He casually swung his still¨Ctrembling arms behind his back and said, ¡°Sure, bring it on.¡± Briar was speechless when she saw that. The car drove back for an hour before pulling into a sprawling estate nestled halfway up a mountainside. There were five mansions in total, built on the hillside with the unique architectural style of Dasmieca. These magnificent estates radiated grandeur while retaining timeless elegance. More importantly, the five manors stood in perfect synergy, each capable of transforming into an independent stronghold when danger arose. The grounds were perfect, the facilities top¨Cnotch, and it could amodate arge number of people. Briar quickly did the math and figured it could probably house around two thousand people. But such an impregnable stronghold came at a steep price. The annual maintenance costs alone were astronomical. She figured only someone as loaded as Ashton could afford to keep it up. Their car pulled up onto thewn of the central mansion, and a man in his sixties, with perfectlybed hair and dressed in a crisp ck tailcoat, immediately stepped forward to open the door for Ashton. ¡°Wee, Mr. Wade. Wee, Miss Jennings,¡± he said with a respectful nod. Ashton turned to Briar and introduced him, ¡°This is Mr. Vince. He used to serve my grandfather back in the day. Forsaken 232 Chapter 232 ??4) 65 vouchers ¡®Once served under Griffin? That means he must all be battle¨Chardened soldiers who¡¯ve survived blood and fire, Briar thought. Briar¡¯s casual look faded as she nodded politely to Magnus Vince. ¡°Hello, Mr. Vince,¡± she greeted. Magnus beamed. ¡°Hello, Miss Jennings. Please,e inside. Ashton told me you¡¯d be visiting, so I specially hired a chef who can make Dasmiecan¨Cstyle desserts. You¡¯ll have to try themter and see if they¡¯re any good.¡± Connor, following behind them, was left speechless. ¡®Hired?¡® Connor thought. ¡®Magnus, aren¡¯t you even a little bit guilty saying that? You know exactly how that chef who can make Dasmiecan¨Cstyle desserts ended up here, don¡¯t you?¡® That chef was from the Serpent Syndicate across the mountain. Today, Magnus went to their boss to borrow the guy, but the boss refused. Then, Magnus went in alone, took down the Serpent Syndicate¡¯s boss, and hauled that chef back trussed up like a turkey. When the chef got hauled in over Magnus¡¯s shoulder, his eyes were all puffy from crying. He thought Magnus was some ruthless, unreasonable brute, and that his boss from the Serpent Syndicate must¡¯ve pissed Magnus off, so now he, a lowly underling, was about to get tortured as payback. But to his surprise, Magnus just threatened and coaxed him, then shoved him straight into the kitchen and ordered him to whip up all sorts of tasty desserts. Briar had been busy ying games with Ian on the ne and barely ate anything, so she was feeling pretty hungry now. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give them a try,¡± she said. Magnus¡¯s smile grew even brighter as he led Briar and Ashton to the living room. Brandon and Connor exchanged nces. ¡°Have you been ignoring Connortely? Why does he seem like a lonely old man desperate for someone to pay attention to him?¡± Brandon asked. Connor was speechless, thinking, ¡®Man, you do have a way with words.¡® ¡°I can¡¯t afford to snub Magnus, unless I want Griffin riding from Dasmieca to the border to kick my ass,¡± Connor replied. ¡®If I didn¡¯t have to spar and train with Magnus every day, I¡¯d probably think the same thing,¡® he added in his mind. Brandon nodded. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯ve got a point.¡± ¡®So Magnus¡¯s just being dramatic on purpose, Brandon thought to himself. Riley and Artemus stood behind Briar¡¯s sofa, watching Magnus acting all pitiful and eager to please. Honestly, 19:15 Thu, Sep 18 J ¡­ ¡é4D 47 EZ 55 vouchers they could hardly bear to watch. If they didn¡¯t know Magnus wasn¡¯t as tough as he used to be and couldn¡¯t take them down anymore, they¡¯d probably think he was showing off in front of Ashton to snatch their gig as Briar¡¯s temporary bodyguards. Ashton, meanwhile, stayed perfectly cool. He watched Briar chatting with Magnus, all while keeping his head down and focused on his work. He came to the border on short notice. He still had some work to sort out, and a few documents and decisions still required his sign¨Coff as CEO. By the time Briar was full, Ashton had nearly wrapped up his work. Since they still had to deal with jetg, they went upstairs to get some rest. When Ashton established his mercenary group, he had this five¨Clevel mountain lodge constructed. The ground and first floors served as his office space, with the third floor dedicated to his gym. The fourth and fifth floors were Ashton¡¯s quarters. Other than the regr cleaning staff, no one else was allowed in. After Ashton shifted his focus back to Dasmieca, he rarely came here anymore. But even so, his private floors were stillpletely off¨Climits. No one dared to set foot there. ¡°Mr. Wade, I¡¯ve already had the staff thoroughly clean all the rooms on the fourth and fifth floors. We also reced the curtains, using the same warm, cozy style as your bedroom back at Moonspring Estate in Dasmieca,¡± Connor said as he led the way. ¡°And Miss Jennings¡® room is set up right next to yours, on the right.¡± Briar followed Connor¡¯s directions, turned, and headed for the room on the right. She pushed open the door and took a quick look inside. The room was quite simr in style to her bedroom at Moonspring Estate. For them to have managed to set it up in just a dozen hours, especially in a ce as chaotic as the border, was honestly pretty impressive. Ian, Riley, and Artemus followed behind her, but when Briar went into her room, all three respectfully kept their eyes averted, not daring to peek inside. ¡°It¡¯s pretty nice,¡± Briar said as she walked around the room, set her backpack down, and then stepped back out. She smiled and nodded at Connor. Getting Briar¡¯s approval, Connor looked genuinely pleased. ¡°I¡¯m d you like it, Miss Jennings. Oh, and the window on the left side of your room faces the plum grove on the back hill. The plum blossoms are blooming right now. The scent is incredible.¡± Briar nodded, saying she¡¯d take a look when she went back to her roomter. Then she followed Ashton to his bedroom, which was right next to hers. But unlike the warm, cozy vibe of Briar¡¯s room, Ashton¡¯s bedroom was minimalist and austere, giving off an imposing, distant atmosphere that made it hard for anyone to feel at ease. Likewise, Ian, Riley, and Artemus didn¡¯t follow them in. They obediently waited outside with Brandon and Connor. E55 vouchers Briar shrugged off her down jacket as soon as she entered, now left in just a thin shirt. Her slender frame contrasted yet harmonized with Ashton¡¯s tall, imposing figure in the room, creating an unexpectedly strikingposition. ¡°Your room only has one bathroom, and the changing area is a bit cramped. If it ever gets inconvenient, you can always use mine,¡± Ashton offered. Briar gave him a half¨Csmile. ¡°Ashton, your reasons for requesting a sleepover are getting more and more mature.¡± She realized he¡¯d mastered the art of dodging the question with these almost¨Cconvincing excuses. Ashton used his tall frame to shield Briar from any prying eyes at the door, then wrapped her up in his arms. ¡°So, does my application for tonight¡¯s cuddle service get approved?¡± he asked, his voice low and teasing. ¡°Payment up front. Service after,¡± Briar replied with a sly grin, holding out her hand to Ashton. Without hesitation, Ashton whipped out his phone and sent 30 thousand dors straight to Briar¡¯s ount. Briar¡¯s face lit up with a bright smile. ¡°Mr. Wade, I¡¯m so happy to serve you tonight. Now, go take a nice shower and lie in bed waiting for me, okay?¡± Ashton chuckled and let her push him toward the bathroom. ¡°No problem. I¡¯ll be waiting for you in bed after my shower.¡± Of course, the five people waiting outside could hear every bit of their flirty banter. Ian, Connor, Brandon, Riley, and Artemus were all speechless. ¡®Damn, are we supposed to be hearing this kind of thing?¡® they all thought. Then, as soon as Briar stepped out of the room, she saw the five people waiting outside scatter like startled birds. Briar was amused. ¡®Seriously? They¡¯re all bordend badasses, and yet a little flirting sends them running like embarrassed kids?¡® It was gettingte, so Briar went back to her room, washed up, slipped into her cartoon¨Cprint pajamas, and then headed over to Ashton¡¯s room. Ashton was already out of the shower, lying in bed, and waiting for her. He patted the big space beside him and beckoned to Briar. ¡°Come here, honey. I¡¯m all set.¡± Seeing that, Briar¡¯s eye twitched a couple of times. But in the end, she still walked over. The moment she got close, Ashton pulled her into his arms like an octopus, wrapping her up tight. Soon enough, the two of them fell fast asleep together. 19:15 Thu, Sep 18 Forsaken 233 Chapter 233 : 47 55 youchers When Briar woke up, it was already 6:30 the next morning. Whatever had been holding her tightly was long gone. Ashton was already up. After a quick wash and change into a casual sweatshirt set, she tied her hair up in a high ponytail and strolled out of the bedroom. At the top of the stairs, she found Ian staring at Riley and Artemus, who were looking back at him with wide eyes. They all turned to look at her when they heard her footsteps. Ian was the first to speak. ¡°Briar, you¡¯re up! Want to go out and have some fun today?¡± Briar¡¯s phone started buzzing nonstop the moment she turned it on. As she scrolled through her messages, her eyesnded on one from Memphis. It was a set of unfamiliar coordinates for Darius¡¯s hideout, not far from their estate. She looked up from her phone and caught excitement in Ian¡¯s eyes. She smiled knowingly, but didn¡¯t let it show on her face. Instead, she turned to Riley and Artemus and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Ashton?¡± Riley replied, ¡°He¡¯s in the study, talking with Connor and the others. Miss Jennings, would you like me to take you there?¡± Briar had only asked out of curiosity, but seeing Riley trying to one¨Cup Ian, she nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± Meanwhile, Artemus headed downstairs instead of following them. Ashton¡¯s study was the most heavily guarded spot in the whole estate. Even getting close was off¨Climits unless they had his permission. But Briar wasn¡¯t just anyone. When she strolled up to the study door with Riley, the ck¨Cd bodyguard at the entrance didn¡¯t even hesitate before opening the door right away and respectfully inviting her in. Artemus, who hadn¡¯t followed them earlier, now stood at the doorway holding Briar¡¯s breakfast. ¡°Miss Jennings, here¡¯s your breakfast.¡± After Briar nodded, Artemus entered the study, set breakfast down on Ashton¡¯s desk, and pulled out a chair for her with extra care. He waited until she sat down before quietly stepping back outside to stand guard. Inside the study, Brandon and Connor were both present. When Briar walked in, Ashton was lounging in his chair, supposedly listening to their reports, but he looked pretty absent¨Cminded, and his attention seemed to be elsewhere. As soon as Briar entered, Brandon and Connor paused their report and greeted her. ¡°Miss Jennings.¡± Briar nodded and sat down in the chair Artemus had brought over, getting ready to eat her breakfast. Without missing a beat, Ashton reached out and, chair and all, pulled Briar right up next to him. Then he motioned for Brandon and Connor to continue. Brandon nced at Briar, who was busy eating her breakfast, and nodded. ¡°Yes, our people searched the areas 19:15 Thu, Sep 18 d. 65 vouchers outside the main power circles along the border against night. We found three possible locations where Darius might be hiding¡­¡± Then Connor rattled off the three locations and coordinates. No one noticed, but when Briar heard thest set of coordinates, her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, and her hand paused for a split second as she held her bread. Ashton caught the subtle change in Briar¡¯s expression. He leaned over, grabbed a pair of disposable gloves from beside her te, and took the bread from her hand. While spreading jam on it, he continued talking to Brandon and Connor. ¡°Send people to check all three coordinates. If you find anyone, detain them. If they resist, shoot on sight. Just make sure they¡¯re still breathing when you bring them back.¡± The bread was loaded with jam, super sweet and sticky, just the way Briar liked it. She devoured it in big bites, then shot her hand up. ¡°Ashton, I¡¯ming too!¡± Ashton¡¯s brow twitched. ¡°Honey, I have to meet with the other branch leaders here at the estate today. Stay with me until we wrap up, then I¡¯ll take you out, alright?¡± ¡°No, I just want to tag along and check things out. Promise I won¡¯t run off.¡± When Briar realized Ashton wasn¡¯t going with them, she got even more excited. She grinned, wrapped her arm around Ashton¡¯s, and gave it a yful shake. ¡°I want to go. You know I¡¯ll be good.¡± Brandon and Connor exchanged a knowing look. They knew Ashton couldn¡¯t say no to Briar when she turned on the charm. Sure enough, Ashton caved in less than a minute. ¡°Alright, you can go have some fun, but you cannot wander off. This is the border. Mercenary gangs are everywhere. If you run into them, you¡¯ll be in real trouble.¡± It wasn¡¯t that Ashton was afraid of those mercenaries. It was just that they had zero bottom line. Killing and robbing were business as usual for them, and looting was their idea of fun. Briar¡¯s sweet face was totally at odds with her explosive temper. If she ever ran into those mercenaries, they¡¯d end up in a fight. Briar nodded eagerly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I promise I won¡¯t start any trouble.¡± ¡®But if otherse looking for it, that¡¯s on them, not me,¡® Briar added in her mind cheekily. Ashton fell into silence. Briar ignored Ashton¡¯s worries. After finishing her breakfast, she grabbed her three bodyguards and set off. Connor¡¯s people had found three possible hiding spots, so each of them took responsibility for one. Briar picked thest one, saying it was the closest to their estate. Brandon and Connor thought to themselves, ¡°There¡¯s only a one¨Cin¨Cthree chance, so there¡¯s no way Miss Jennings would just happen to pick the right one, right?¡® Ian gave Brandon a friendly pat on the shoulder and shed a smile. ¡°Alright, we¡¯re off. See youter.¡± Brandon was at a loss for words. 19:15 Thu, Sep 18 d. : 47 55 vouchers Briar sat in the car, resting her chin in her hand as she watched the scenery outside with quiet amusement. Riley was behind the wheel, while Artemus sat in the passenger seat, keeping watch. Ian sat in the back with Briar, all three of them on high alert to keep her safe. Out here on the border, they always had to keep guns and ammo handy in the car because they never knew when they¡¯d run into a shootout. Their car carried double the usual firepower, all thanks to Connor¡¯s extra caution. That smilen gave earlier gave Connor a bad feeling. He couldn¡¯t help thinking, ¡®With Miss Jennings rolling out three heavily armed bodyguards, it isn¡¯t just a joyride. They look like they¡¯re going to war. The car cruised along smoothly, and Riley was in a great mood. ¡°Miss Jennings, we¡¯re about to pass the Maysay River. The scenery there is pretty nice. I had someone pack fishing rods and some barbecue supplies. in the trunk. We can stop by the river, do some fishing, and have a barbecue right there.¡± Briar and the others all loved the idea. With their n set, they decided to head to the river first, enjoy some food and fun, then get back to business. Before they set out, Ashton had privately reminded Riley to make sure Briar didn¡¯t get anywhere near danger. Riley figured that if he could keep her entertained, trouble would stay far away. But in the end, it backfired. The Maysay River marked the border between three countries. Downstream, there was endless warfare. But upriver, the scenery was gorgeous, people came and went, and everything looked perfectly peaceful. So when they pulled up by the river, set up their barbecue spot, and got ready for a chill camping trip, Riley and Artemus never imagined that some clueless fool would walk right into Briar¡¯s line of fire. Briar sat by the campfire, legs propped up in aid¨Cback pose, watching Ian grill the fish like it was the most fascinating thing ever. The sound of screeching tires suddenly broke that peace. ¡°Look, there¡¯s a pretty girl over here!¡± someone said aloud. Forsaken 234 19:15 Thu, Sep 18 d. Chapter 234 56 vouchers A few SUVs with cked¨Cout windows sped past their car, but the lead SUV suddenly mmed on the brakes and screeched to a halt. The other vehicles screeched to a halt behind them. The passenger door of the lead car swung open, and out stepped a burly man, built like a tank, gripping an AK¨C47. That stupid remark earlier came right from him. One after another, the doors of the other SUVS flew open, and more men stepped out, each one clutching rifles and pistols. Their eyes were cold and vicious. These were the kind of guys who¡¯d killed people before. Ian and the other two didn¡¯t hesitate for a second. The moment the burly guy finished talking, they already had their guns up and aimed right back at them. Muzzles stared down muzzles. The tension exploded in a heartbeat. Riley and Artemus had a reputation around here, so even if they were worried deep down, others couldn¡¯t see it on their faces. Riley took a step forward, without a hint of emotion, shielding Briar, who was still sitting there unmoved, behind him. ¡°Who are you people? We¡¯re from the mercenary group. If you know what¡¯s good for you, don¡¯t ask for trouble.¡± Artemus stepped up right after him. ¡°Back off, or don¡¯t me us for what happens next.¡± But no matter how tough they looked, there were only three of them. As for Briar sitting on the stool, the mercenaries didn¡¯t take her seriously. To them, she was just some scrawny woman, so how much trouble could she possibly cause? ¡®She¡¯s been too scared to look up since we stepped out of the car. We all saw it, they thought. These mercenaries just assumed Briar, who kept calmly grilling her fish, was some ordinary girl scared out of her wits. After all, this was the border, a man¡¯s world through and through. In their eyes, women showing up here were good for nothing except being men¡¯s essories or outlets for their urges. These mercenaries had just finished a job, and after two weeks of running on high alert, they were desperate to unwind, maybe find a brothel or some other den of pleasure. Then, they spotted Briar by the river, sitting with three men. Even from a distance, they could tell she was gorgeous. Just seeing her face was enough to draw every one of their eyes. So, the convoy came to a halt. ¡°There are only three men on that side,¡® they thought. ¡®No matter how tough they are, with over a dozen of us here, we can easily overwhelm them in a brawl. As for that woman, we¡¯ve already set our sights on her, and there is no way we¡¯re letting her get away! Ian had been standing right next to Briar the whole time. He nced at the group of idiots who were 19:15 Thu, Sep 18 d 47 55 vouchers practically begging for trouble, then looked back at Briar, who had taken over grilling the fish with total focus. In his mind, he might as well have said a prayer for those doomed bastards. ¡®Of all the people to mess with, they just had to run into the real boss herself?¡® Ian thought. Riley and Artemus knew there were only four of them on their side. If things went south, their odds weren¡¯t great. So when the leader of the mercenaries started striding over, they didn¡¯t fire first. Of course, they also knew the mercenaries wouldn¡¯t dare shoot so easily. After all, they were with a mercenary organization. Anyone who crossed them would be asking for trouble. The leader of the mercenaries stared at Briar with lecherous eyes, and the closer he got, the more he could appreciate her alluring curves. His mind conjured up all sorts of filthy scenarios and positions. ¡®No wonder she could handle three men at once¡­ he thought. Seeing that she still didn¡¯t dare look up, pretending to focus on grilling fish, the leader¡¯s eyes shed with cruel amusement. He figured she was just some helpless, spineless woman. ¡®A quick scare is all it¡¯d take to get her,¡® he thought. So, without a second thought, he raised his foot and kicked over the grill. With a loud crash, the sizzling, oil- dripping fish tumbled to the ground along with it. They were right by the riverbank, and the ground was all dirt. Even though it wasn¡¯t a muddy mess, anything that hit the ground was not going to be edible anymore. Briar was still mid¨Cturn of the grill when it slipped from her grip, her eyes tracking the rack as it crashed down. She stared at the fish, still sizzling and smoking in the dirt, and suddenly, a chilling light shed in her gaze. It felt like the temperature around her just plummeted. Ian, who¡¯d witnessed Briar¡¯s terrifyingbat skills before, started to stammer, his voice shaky with fear and respect, ¡°Uh¡­ Briar, are you alright?¡± Riley and Artemus were stunned, too. They thought, ¡®Miss Jennings was radiating such a terrifying presence¡­ Briar slowly, painfully slowly, lifted her head. Her eyes locked onto the smug grin of the lead man. When she spoke, each word dripped like ice. ¡°You knocked over my grill.¡± The lead manughed, totally dismissive. ¡°Yeah, so what? Your men don¡¯t even have the guts to go head¨Cto- head with us. What, you want to fight me yourself?¡± Briar turned to Jan. ¡°Ashton said we can¡¯t go around starting trouble, but he never said we can¡¯t hit back if someone picks on us, right?¡± Ian nodded hard. ¡°Exactly! Mr. Wade never said we can¡¯t fight back. Briar, go teach him a lesson!¡± Riley and Artemus froze there. They both had the same uneasy thought, ¡®How did things suddenly get so out of hand?¡® Briar took a deep breath, and when she looked back at the leader, there was already a cold, deadly glint in her eyes, yet she rolled up her sleeveszily. The contrast was almost elegant, her delicate features softening the ¡­ 19:15 Thu, Sep 18 .. violence coiled beneath. 55 vouchers The leader still hadn¡¯t realized he was about to walk straight into the biggest crisis of his life. He stood there with his arms crossed, watching with a pleased grin, clueless about what wasing. Riley and Artemus couldn¡¯t stand the way the leader was eyeing Briar with that filthy look. Their expressions darkened, and just as they were about to step forward to stop him, Ian grabbed them both, pulling them back a few steps and quietly blocking the other mercenaries¡® path. ¡°Briar¡¯s making a move! Everyone else, clear out, unless you want to get caught up in the mess,¡± Ian warned. Riley and Artemus were confused. They both looked at Ian like he¡¯d lost his mind. They thought, ¡®We¡¯re Miss Jennings¡® bodyguards. She¡¯s getting harassed right in front of us, and instead of stepping in, we back off to watch like it¡¯s entertainment? What kind of bodyguards are we?¡® But in the very next second, they witnessed a scene that would shock them for centuries. Briar suddenly darted forward with agile speed, grabbed the leader¡¯s arm, and twisted it back hard before he could even react. There was a crisp crack, and a bone snapped. His scream tore through the air, raw and animalistic. ¡°Ouch!¡± Before that man could even think about fighting back, Briar let go of his arm and mmed a kick right into his chest. He sailed through the air in a perfect arc before crashing into the Maysay River with a huge ssh. It was a hulking brute, at least six feet three and 170 pounds, and yet he got sent flying by a petite girl whose legs didn¡¯t even reach his waist, just like that! AD Forsaken 235 : 55 vouchers ¡°How is that even possible?¡± The other mercenaries were dumbfounded, some even rubbing their eyes, thinking they must be seeing things. Riley and Artemus were just as shocked. Riley nced at Briar, then at the man iling in the river. ¡°Did Miss Jennings just kick that guy into the water?¡± Artemus nodded nkly. ¡°Yeah, Miss Jennings sent him flying with just one kick.¡± Among everyone present, only Ian stayed calm. He thought, ¡®You guys have no clue what Briar is capable of. That kick was her going easy. I¡¯ve seen her straight¨Cup kick someone to death before.¡® The leader, coughing up river water, finally came to his senses, only to be consumed by rage. He bellowed at his still¨Cstunned crew, ¡°What the hell are you idiots waiting for? Go take that woman down!¡± His words finally snapped the other mercenaries out of it. ¡®Yeah, this woman just made our boss look like a total fool. No way we¡¯re letting her walk away from this!¡® Over a dozen mercenaries surged forward at once. They were close to the mercenary organization¡¯s turf, so they didn¡¯t dare start shooting, but with so many of them against just four people, they believed they wouldn¡¯t lose. Riley and Artemus rushed in without a second thought. They were outnumbered and fighting in the open, so the odds weren¡¯t in their favor, but there was no way they were going to let anyone mess with Briar. Ian jumped into the fight with a big grin, thinking, ¡®It had been ages since I¡¯d thrown down, and my fists are practically itching for action. Moreover, we¡¯re here, thewless bordends. Here, murder, theft, arson, anything goes. Nows, no consequences. But no matter how fast they moved, Briar was even faster. The others didn¡¯t even get a chance to jump in. She was already weaving through those mercenaries like a phantom, zigzagging between them at lightning speed. With every punch and every kick, she knocked out at least one guy, sometimes even ttening two at once. In just two minutes, all those battle¨Chardened mercenaries were sprawled out on the ground, rolling around, battered and bruised, faces swollen and covered in cuts, looking miserable, The leader wed his way out of the river, dripping wet and shaking with rage, but the shout died in his throat. ¡®Damn, is this woman even human?¡® he thought in disbelief. After all, they were all battle¨Chardened mercenaries. And yet, they got taken down so easily, every single one sporting bruises and cuts. If it weren¡¯t for the pain still throbbing in his chest, he¡¯d honestly think he was seeing things. Riley and Artemus stood there,pletely dumbfounded. They were finally starting to understand what Ian 19:15 Thu, Sep 18 d. ¡­ 47 65 vouchers meant when he said, ¡°When Briar makes a move, everyone else better clear out, or you might get identally hurt.¡± ¡®Man,¡® they both sighed, ¡®Miss Jennings was so fast just now. If we couldn¡¯t dodge in time, we could¡¯ve identally gotten caught up in it!¡® The silence was deafening. The only sounds were the gentle rustling of the wind and the pitiful moans of the mercenaries on the ground. Meanwhile, Briar came out of the whole brawl without so much as a wrinkle on her clothes, not a hair out of ce. She looked so unfazed, and honestly, she seemed more bothered by her overturned fish rack than the fight itself. Most of the fish were now rolling in the dirt, totally ruined. She couldn¡¯t eat them now. The campfire was out too. The whole scene was downright surreal, tension, adrenaline, and violence pounding in their chests. But what was even crazier was that, somehow, all their eyes ended up glued to that wrecked, chaotic fish rack. Another gust of wind swept by, and the leader shivered involuntarily. Sensing his panic, Briar¡¯s big, bright eyes fixed on him, her voice still sweet as ever, but with a chilling calm as she said, ¡°You knocked over my fish rack.¡± The leader met Briar¡¯s utterly emotionless stare. Somehow, the threat he was about to spit out twisted in his throat, and what came out instead was, ¡°We¡¯ll grill it for you.¡± Ten minutester, the dead coals glowed red again. Fresh fish, still dripping river water, reced the dirt- caked ones kicked into the dust. Under the leader¡¯smand, his men worked efficiently, catching fish, gutting them, skewering the fresh fillets over the fire, and seasoning them with practiced hands. Their wilderness expertise even led them to gather wild berries, sweet as candy, and tender greens to serve as sides. If not for the AK¨C47s at their feet, the ck tactical gear, and their faces swollen with bruises, Riley and Artemus might have thought this whole scene was a hallucination. Briar lounged back on her little stool, one leg casually propped over the other, head down as she yed a game on her phone. The crisp sound of headshots kept ringing out, each shotnding as if it were sting right through the mercenaries¡® skulls. As the fish was almost ready, the leader nced at the discarded grilled fish on the ground and asked Briar with utmost respect, ¡°Do you like it spicy, ma¡¯am?¡± ¡°Yeah, add extra chili,¡± Briar replied, not even looking up, her attention still glued to her game. The leader nodded. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡®This is pure fantasy. Seriously, it¡¯s next¨Clevel unreal, Riley and Artemus thought. They weren¡¯t just respecting Briar anymore. They were full¨Con worshipping her now. 19:15 Thu, Sep 18 d. ¡­ 47 55 vouchers Who would believe she could subdue a whole gang of mercenaries in just a few minutes? Just then, a fully armed SUV screeched to a halt about three steps away. Ashton hopped out and strode over to Briar, his eyes quickly scanning her from head to toe to make sure she was okay. Only then did he turn his gaze to the dozen or so mercenaries crouched by the fire, calmly grilling fish. There wasn¡¯t a soul along the border here who hadn¡¯t heard of Ashton. Even though Ashton hadn¡¯t shown up much these past few years, anyone operating near the border knew exactly who he was. ¡°M¨CMr. Wade!¡± The leader shot to his feet, one hand twisted at a weird angle, the other still smeared with charcoal. He looked like he was dying to beg for mercy, but couldn¡¯t bring himself to say a word. Earlier, when they heard the three bodyguards say they were from the mercenary organization, drunk on lust and arrogance, they still dared to provoke them, because they knew the current leader of the mercenary group was Connor. Ruthless, yes, but not exactly the kind of name that struck fear into hearts. But Ashton? These old mercenaries remembered his methods all too well. They knew he was a ruthless man. If someone crossed him, he¡¯d make sure to wipe that person outpletely, leaving no loose ends behind. When the leader was crouched down, it wasn¡¯t obvious, but as he stood up straight, Ashton finally noticed the deep dent in his chest. And it wasn¡¯t just him. Every single one of the other mercenaries was either sporting broken ribs or had a limb snapped. They looked quite pathetic. Finally, Ashton turned his gaze back to Briar. ¡°Babe, didn¡¯t you promise me you wouldn¡¯t start any fights before you left?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t nning to throw hands, okay? They surrounded me with AK¨C47S, and I didn¡¯t even fight back. But¡­¡± Briar finished her game, slipped her phone into her pocket, and said with total confidence, ¡°They kicked over my grilled fish rack.¡± Çú Forsaken 236 Chapter 236 Seeing that Briar was unharmed, Ashton finally rxed enough for some small talk. God only knew how panicked he had been when he received Riley¡¯s distress call from the vi. No matter how capable she was, Briar was still unarmed while the others had weapons. In a fight of four against a squad of over a dozen mercenaries, Briar and her group were bound to suffer a major loss. If he had received more than one distress call from Riley, Ashton wouldn¡¯t have just brought a few bodyguards; he would have mobilized a squad from the mercenary organization. He had rushed over in a panic, only to find the mercenaries bruised and battered, obediently squatting to help grill fish. Meanwhile, the young woman he had been worried about the whole way was casually sitting nearby, ying a game and waiting for her food. Although the scene was bizarre, Ashton quickly epted it. What truly reassured Ashton was seeing the stunned reactions of Riley and Artemus. He figured it wasn¡¯t the mercenaries who had bullied Briar, but rather that she had given them a one¨Csided beating. Ashton patted her head. ¡°They dared to kick over your fish grill,¡± he said. ¡°They definitely deserved a beating.¡± The pain in the leader¡¯s chest intensified. ¡°Mr. Wade, please spare us this time. We will stay far away whenever we see this youngdy¡¯s car from now on.¡± What is a mercenary¡¯s code? The mercenary¡¯s creed was simple: if they could fight, they fought; if they couldn¡¯t, they ran. Making money always came second to staying alive. After all, without their life, how could they make money? This was the golden rule that had allowed their small mercenary squad to operate and remain active on the border for over a decade. He never took those so¨Ccalled big¨Cmoney jobs, the kind that promised a fortune. They were far too dangerous. Sure, he might earn it, but he wouldn¡¯t live long enough to spend it. He only went for the ones paying a few million ¨C easy to collect the final payment, and the jobs weren¡¯t too demanding. Even if they lost a man or two during a mission, it wouldn¡¯t impact the squad¡¯s overall strength. When facing a major power like the top mercenary organization on the border, the leader knew exactly what to do to escape with his life. 19:15 Thu, Sep 18 55 vouchers The leader respectfully offered the grilled fish, now cooked and covered in chili powder, to Briar with both hands. ¡°Your grilled fish is ready.¡± Briar raised an eyebrow. She had seen cowards before, but never mercenaries this spineless. Still, Briar took the grilled fish and had a bite. ¡°Good, this tastes pretty good. Go ahead and grill the rest.¡± The leader looked so grateful that he was practically ready to get on his knees and thank Briar. Ashton gave Briar a questioning look; this wasn¡¯t the ruthless boss who had taken them down, but a sweet, understanding girl. However, the leader understood the rules of the street: respect the strong. Briar had softened her tone, but until Ashton gave his approval, they were not out of danger. So, the leader stared expectantly at Ashton, waiting for him to speak. Ashton looked at Briar. ¡°You¡¯re letting it go?¡± Briar shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal. We can let it go. Besides, their grilled fish is pretty good.¡± Thatst part was the real point. Ashton waved his hand, sending the leader off to grill the fish. The leader beamed with joy. The crisis was averted, and their lives were spared. The other mercenaries were also ecstatic. While Ashton was undeniably ruthless, he was a man of his word and would never resort to underhanded tricks. Briar pulled Ashton aside to wait. The ever¨Cobservant Ian brought over a folding chair for Ashton to sit on. ¡°Mr. Wade, have a seat.¡± Ashton nced at Ian. ¡°You must be well aware of how powerful Briar is, aren¡¯t you?¡± Ian nced at Briar. ¡°Whether or not I¡¯m clear on Briar¡¯s strength depends entirely on her.¡± In other words, instead of trying to get Briar¡¯s secrets out of him, he should just ask her directly. It looked like Briar¡¯s disy of skill today had really caught Ashton¡¯s attention. Jan just wondered when Briar would reveal her other identity as an elite instructor for the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base. Given Briar¡¯s open and casual approach, it was only a matter of time before her identity was revealed. Ashton was at a loss for words. Briar lowered her head to eat her fish, pretending not to hear the conversation between Ashton and Ian. As long as she denied it, Ashton couldn¡¯t force her to confess. 19:16 Thu, Sep 18 ¡­ 47 ) EL 55 vouchers Besides, she wouldn¡¯t voluntarily reveal her identity again before the Graham brothers were caught. Otherwise, her identity as an elite instructor at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base must never be exposed. And she wouldn¡¯t be able to personally take the Graham brothers away after capturing them. Ashton shook his head and lifted Briar¡¯s head, which was almost buried in the grilled fish. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t ask. Just eat and be careful of the bones.¡± Briar picked out a boneless piece of fish and held it to Ashton¡¯s lips. ¡°Ashton, you have some too.¡± Ashton ate the piece of fish from between Briar¡¯s fingers. ¡°Okay.¡± The leader of the men, who was quick on the uptake, hurried over with grilled wild vegetables and fruits for the two big shots to cleanse their ptes. Riley and Artemus watched Ashton and Briar sit down to eat the grilled fish, their minds reeling. If the timing had been better, they would have cornered Ian and demanded answers. They thought, ¡®How on earth did Ian manage to get in with someone as powerful as Miss Jennings? They wanted to get in with her, too! A full forty minutester, the leader and his men had finished grilling all the fish they had caught, along with the wild vegetables and fruits they had gathered. They even carefully extinguished the charcoal fire to prevent ash from falling on the cooked food. They also neatly put away the unused seasonings. The leader clutched his chest with one hand and asked respectfully, ¡°Mr. Wade, Miss Jennings, can my men and I leave now?¡± Briar nced up at the leader, her expression impassive, but he still did not dare to show the slightest disrespect. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± she asked. The leader of the group said, ¡°My name is Ismael Patel, and our mercenary team is the Invincible Tiger Squad. If you ever need us in the future, just let us know.¡± As he spoke, he fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a crumpled business card with the contact information for the Invincible Tiger Squad. Briar took the crumpled business card, nced at it, and nodded. ¡°Alright, you can go now.¡± Hearing this, Ismael and his men felt as if they had been granted amnesty, immediately scrambling toward their car. 19:16 Thu, Sep 18 d.. ¡é?) 47 EX 55 vouchers Those with broken legs were carried by theirrades as they all rushed to get out of Briar¡¯s sight as quickly as possible. Briar was speechless, thinking, ¡®I haven¡¯t even done anything to them. Why were they so afraid of me?¡® 19:16 Thu, Sep 18 d Forsaken 237 : Now that the men had left and the fish was finished, Ashton wanted to coax Briar back to the vi. But Briar clearly hadn¡¯t had enough fun. ¡°We haven¡¯t gone to that stronghold to catch them yet! Ashton, you can go back first!¡± Ashton said, ¡°Brandon and Connor already searched the first two hideouts and didn¡¯t find anyone. They should be arriving at the third one soon. Let them handle the capture.¡± Briar shook her head. ¡°I want to go and catch them myself.¡± Ashton said helplessly, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go with you.¡± They had been stopped by thugs before even reaching their destination. Although it turned out well, Ashton couldn¡¯t feel at ease letting Briar run around alone. Briar had wanted to say he didn¡¯t need toe. With her and her three bodyguards¡®bat strength, if they ran into bad guys again, it was hard to say who would be bullied. But Ashton was firm, so Briar had no choice but to obediently get into his car. And so, the group drove toward the third stronghold. With Ashton joining them, Riley and Artemus were even more vignt along the way. It was simple. On the border, Briar was a nobody. Apart from her beauty, she didn¡¯t attract much attention wherever she went. Of course, encountering Ismael and his clueless men at the Maysay River was an ident. But Ashton was different. Although Ashton hadn¡¯t been seen on the border for many years, his face was so recognizable. Everyone would be thrilled to see him. Ashton¡¯s face was a walking fortune, a ticket to fame and glory. Those who were wary of their mercenary organization might see him and just feel a pang of envy. But if their rivals or anyone with ulterior motives found out Ashton was traveling alone, the consequences would be unimaginable. Fortunately, their journey to the third outpost was uneventful. Riley and Artemus hadn¡¯t even had a chance to rx when the car stopped. They saw Briar, who had been sitting quietly the whole time, be the first to open her door and run towards a small vi in the distance. ¡°Briar.¡± Ashton also got out of the car and quickly followed her. Riley and Artemus exchanged a look, grabbed their weapons in unison, and followed. Ian, who had nned to sit back and watch, silently picked up his gun and followed as well. . He actually wanted to say that they were just catching one person, so sending Briar alone was overkill. There was no need to be so tense. But forget it. They hadn¡¯t seen what Briar was truly capable of, so he couldn¡¯t me them. The small vi stood alone in a forest. From the outside, it lookedpletely harmless. But if Darius was really hiding here, the forest would definitely have hidden security cameras, and bodyguards would be watching the path to the house. So, although Briar moved quickly, she still took a cautious, winding path to avoid being spotted by cameras or hidden snipers. Ashton followed behind Briar, his eyebrows rising higher as he watched her perfectly evade danger from all angles while moving at high speed. He grew increasingly surprised by Briar. He thought, ¡®How many more secrets did this young woman have that I don¡¯t know about?¡® When she was only 60 feet from the house, Briar stopped. Ashton calmly moved to shield Briar behind him. ¡°How do you n to get in? Force your way through the front door?¡± Briar shook her head. ¡°Forcing our way in is definitely faster and more convenient, but we first need to confirm how many people are inside.¡± As she spoke, she took out her phone, quickly modified it into a microputer, and began to capture the vi¡¯s electronic signals. Ashton could barely hide his amusement. He raised a hand behind him, signaling Riley and the other two men not to make any sudden moves. As the one most familiar with Briar¡¯s methods, Ian had already found cover and was quietly awaiting her next instruction. Since this was the first time Riley and Artemus had worked with Briar, they were shocked that she was so familiar with mercenarybat tactics. After all, they were the real mercenaries here, the ones who thrived on danger. But Briar seemed even more professional than they were. In fact, she alone could do the work of several of thembined. Riley and Artemus¡¯s gazes on Briar grew even more fervent. If Ashton hadn¡¯t been standing in her way, they would have been dying to ask if Briar was interested in joining their mercenary organization. What a waste not to bring such great talent to the battlefield to face the hail of bullets with them. ¡°Found them. Darius is definitely hiding here.¡± While everyone was lost in their own thoughts, Briar quickly locked onto several signal sources, pointing to a few small, shing red dots on her phone screen. Ashton leaned in for a closer look. ¡°There are sixteen people in total. Two in the master bedroom are stationary, while the other fourteen are constantly on the move. Those fourteen must be the bodyguards hired by Darius and his brother.¡± Briar nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s only fourteen of them. We have more than enough people to take them on. Let¡¯s go¡­¡± With that, she started to rush toward the entrance of the vi. Ashton stopped her. ¡°It¡¯s only fourteen people. Riley and the other two are enough to handle them. You just wait here.¡± Briar was speechless. Ashton¡¯s expression was firm, and his grip on Briar¡¯s hand was too tight for her to break free. Left with no choice, she could only nod. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll wait.¡± Briar looked at Ian and the other two and sent the location of the sixteen moving red dots to their phones. ¡°It¡¯s all yours now. Be safe.¡± Ian gave an ¡°OK¡± sign. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Briar. A simple task like this? We¡¯ll get it done in minutes.¡± Riley and Artemus both nodded, promising to deal with all the bodyguards in the vi as quickly as possible. Although it was their first time working together, the three moved in perfect sync. They quickly stormed the small vi in a triangr formation, and less than a minuteter, gunshots rang out from inside. Ashton, keeping a close eye on Briar, noticed her eyes light up the moment the shots rang out. ¡°Briar, you seem unusually excited by the sound of gunfire,¡± he observed. Briar awkwardly grabbed Ashton¡¯s arm, shaking it back and forth. ¡°Ashton, stop trying to test me. I have secrets, and so do you.¡± Ashton raised an eyebrow. ¡°What secrets could I have? As the Legendary Hacker Bree, haven¡¯t you already investigated all of my shady dealings?¡± He didn¡¯t believe Briar would ept him as a boyfriend without looking into him first. ¡°I did,¡± she said. ¡°But I also found something else. For example, why you suddenly shifted all your business operations from overseas to here five years ago.¡± Briar smiled as Ashton¡¯s expression changed. ¡°See? We¡¯re even,¡± she cooed. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Forsaken 238 Chapter 238 66 E 20 vouchers Outmaneuvered by Briar, Ashton resignedly pulled her into his arms and tousled her hair roughly. ¡°Are you provoking me on purpose?¡± Briar struggled out of his embrace and freed her head. ¡°Yes, I am. Are you taking the bait?¡± Ashton replied, ¡°Do I have a choice?¡± While the two were bantering outside, Ian and his team had already breached the vi. Two minutester, after all the bodyguards in the vi were confirmed neutralized, Ian called. ¡°Briar, it¡¯s done. We have both Darius and Boyden in custody.¡± Briar said, ¡°Alright, we¡¯re on our way.¡± After hanging up, Briar eagerly pulled Ashton toward the vi. ¡°Ashton, they¡¯ve caught Darius. Should we go interrogate him now?¡± Ashton kept up with Briar. When he heard her talk about another interrogation, his brow twitched. ¡°Honey, Darius is still useful. Remember to go easy on him.¡± Ashton knew perfectly well how much Briar hated Darius. He was genuinely afraid she would lose control and kill them outright. Briar smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Keeping them alive will be a far more satisfying revenge for me than letting them die.¡± She wouldn¡¯t let them die so easily. She would make them suffer everything her mother had endured. That was what her privateboratory was for. When they entered the vi, Ian and his men had already dragged Darius and Boyden into the ground¨Cfloor living room. Both men¡¯s faces were severely swollen, likely from putting up a fight during their capture. Ian pointed to the man with the swollen left cheek. ¡°Briar, this is Darius.¡± Riley then pointed to the man with the swollen right cheek. ¡°Miss Jennings, this is Boyden.¡± Briar walked up and looked down at them. She saw fear in their eyes, but also caught a fleeting, mocking sneer. With two sharp ps, Briar struck both men, drawing blood from their mouths. ¡°Do you think physical torture is the worst we can do to you?¡± As if she could read their depraved thoughts, Briar smiled just as wickedly. ¡°How can physical torture evenpare to this?¡± A small vial with an ¡°X¡± on itsbel had somehow appeared in Briar¡¯s hand. Most people would not have given such an ordinary¨Clooking bottle a second nce. 12:53 Sat, Sep 20 But for Darius, the small medicine bottle in her hand was the deadliest poison. 66 20 vouchers Darius said, ¡°No¡­ no, you can¡¯t do this to me. I only harmed your mother; I never did anything to you. You can¡¯t do this to me.¡± Darius desperately shrank back, trying in vain to escape Briar as she approached him. But as he struggled, he was kicked hard from behind. Ian¡¯s angry curse followed immediately, ¡°Damn it, what are you dodging for? Kneel!¡± Darius fell at Briar¡¯s feet, and she poured the entire bottle of medicine into his screaming, open mouth. A small white pill fell from the corner of Darius¡¯s mouth. Briar grabbed Darius¡¯s jaw, preventing him from spitting out the medicine. After forcing him to swallow, she smiled and asked, ¡°How does it taste? Is it much sweeter than the medicine you gave my mother all those years ago?¡± Boyden cowered to the side in fear, not daring to make a sound. This woman was terrifying. Back then, the experimental drug they gave Rosalia was almost indistinguishable from ordinary pills on the market. But the pill he saw fall out was iparablyrger than the small pills they had made back then. He wasn¡¯t naive enough to believe she had made the pill sorge without altering its potency. He feared this one pill was several, ten¡­ even dozens of times more potent than the tablet they had given Rosalia years ago. Darius was forced to swallow the pill that filled his mouth. It felt as if it would tear his throat apart, and tears of pain streamed down his face. However, his chin was still in Briar¡¯s grip, rendering him unable to move. All he could do was make muffled sounds. ¡°Briar, we never hurt you!¡± Boyden tried to say more to stall for time, but Ashton, who had been standing silently nearby, sent him flying with a kick. Ashton gestured to Riley and said coldly, ¡°Make him shut up.¡± Riley responded, ¡°Yes.¡± Then, he punched Boyden in the temple, knocking him unconscious on the spot. Watching from the side,n clicked his tongue in admiration. ¡°Impressive!¡± It was obvious he practiced a lot. His control was perfect¨Cstrong enough to knock the man out instantly, but not hard enough to kill him. It could also inflict excruciating pain. 12:53 Sat, Sep 20 66 20 vouchers That was impressive. As expected, Ashton¡¯s border mercenary group was strong, ruthless, and cruel. That was a perfect match for their equally ruthless leader, Briar. Seeing his brother¡¯s miserable state, Darius was too terrified to scream anymore. In a hoarse voice, he said, ¡°Briar, don¡¯t kill us¡­ We weren¡¯t the masterminds behind your mother¡¯s death¡­¡± After dry¨Cswallowing so many pills, it was impressive that he could make any sound at all. Briar didn¡¯t say a word, quietly watching Darius and waiting for the drug to take effect. Ashton watched as Darius¡¯s face grew pale and his eyes became bloodshot. He lowered his voice and asked Briar, ¡°Honey, what did you give him?¡± Briar said, ¡°It¡¯s a new drug I developed that causes acute hallucinations and disability. After ingestion, the internal organs will rot, leading to death. To make the experience morefortable for the subject, I also added an anesthetic.¡± Briar¡¯s words struck Darius like a thunderp. ¡°Hallucinations? Disability?¡± Darius thought, ¡®Aren¡¯t those the effects of the first¨Cgeneration experimental drug we have developed? We have sealed the forms for those medicines in a bank¡¯s safe long ago. How could Briar possibly have developed them?¡± Darius¡¯s terrified and helpless reaction pleased Briar. She leaned over and patted his face. ¡°Scared? You should be. When you captured my mother to use as ab rat and locked her in a mental hospital, she must have reacted just like you. She didn¡¯t even cry. What the hell are you crying for?¡± Briar¡¯s voice was terrifyingly cold as she uttered herst words. Darius closed his eyes. He truly regretted not hiring more mercenaries for protection after fleeing to the border. With enough money, he could have had Briar killed. He should have made Edgar kill Briar when she was just a child. Then she wouldn¡¯t have spent years hunting him across the globe. When the roots were left, trouble would return. Not only was Briar resilient, but she had now grown into a big shot. It would be much harder to kill her now. Forsaken 239 Chapter 239 EX 20 vouchers Briar exuded a terrifyingly cold aura. If Ashton had not been standing beside her, she might have skinned Darius alive on the spot. But every pitiful person had a detestable side. People like Darius would never understand the true evil of their actions unless they were brutally tortured and made to experience the same vile methods they used to harm others. Boyden was jolted awake by Briar¡¯s chilling aura. The moment he opened his eyes, he met her murderous gaze. He wished he could faint again, but Riley and Artemus, who were watching his every move, were not about to give him the chance. Seeing him try to feign unconsciousness again, Artemus threw a punch. Itnded on Darius¡¯s chest, causing immense pain but failing to knock him out. Briar had many interrogation techniques. Most were merely vicious, not cruel. But for perverts like Darius, her methods were exceptionally twisted. If Ian had not witnessed these twisted methods before, he would have been terrified. That was too cruel. In contrast, Ashton watched with great relish. Riley and Artemus looked at Ashton, whose expression clearly read, ¡°My wife is so amazing,¡± and found the sight utterly surreal. It figured. Any woman Ashton approved of had to have the same twisted ¡°virtues¡± as him, no matter how sweet she looked. Wave after wave of screams echoed from the vi, unsettling everyone who heard them. Finally, after a full hour of torturing Darius and Boyden, Briar stopped. ¡°Give me your hand.¡± Ashton pulled out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the blood from each of Briar¡¯s fingers. Briar let Ashton hold her hand and wipe it repeatedly. After a moment, she asked, ¡°Ashton, don¡¯t you think I¡¯m terrifying? That my methods are cruel?¡± Ashton¡¯s gaze was lowered, his deep eyes showing no particr expression. ¡°Sweetheart, no matter how terrifying or cruel your methods are, you are still my wife.¡± Briar was stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected that answer from Ashton. Staring intently into his eyes, she searched for any sign of a different emotion. But there was nothing, Ashton¡¯s gaze remained perfectly calm from start to finish, as if granting her a special privilege no matter what outrageous thing she did. 12:53 Sat, Sep 20 Briar tucked her now¨Cclean hand into Ashton¡¯s and said, ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± 66 E20 vouchers Unable to stand the couple¡¯s clingy disy, fan, along with Riley and Artemus, quickly carried out the unconscious Darius and Boyden. The interrogation wasn¡¯t over yet. They had to be taken back for more questioning. As for the dozen bodies and the blood¨Ccovered floor in the house¡­ At the border, there were cleaners who specialized in taking out the trash. Ashton checked the time. ¡°Brandon and Connor should be on their way back. Let¡¯s go, too. I¡¯ll let them handle the rest of the interrogation. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll get you a satisfactory answer.¡± Briar nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Several SUVs quickly drove out of the house¡¯s surveince range. No one noticed that shortly after Ashton¡¯s convoy left, a container truck disguised as a cleaning vehicle drove up to the house. They cleaned up all the bodies and bloodstains in the house before the real cleaners arrived. When the hired cleaners drove over, they discovered the house was already empty, with not a single piece of trash left. Clearly, someone had entered and handled the scene after Ashton and his group departed. However, none of the cleaners were surprised, and no one dared to say a word. After all, in this chaotic environment, everyone had a few secrets they couldn¡¯t talk about. Just like that, Ashton narrowly missed a direct confrontation with the shadowy forces. When they returned to the manor, Ashton didn¡¯t let Briar re¨Center the interrogation room. He took her straight upstairs, telling her to go to her room to wash up and change while he headed to the study. Ashton still needed a detailed report from Brandon and Connor on the day¡¯s events. Briar sat on the toilet lid, fingers flying across the keyboard. The screen showed surveince footage of a section of the vi, recorded after they had left. ¡°It seems my guess was correct. Someone is definitely helping Darius behind the scenes,¡± she said. She saved a screenshot of the video and sent it to the DDC Vanguard Base. After thinking it over, Briar sent a copy of the video to Ashton as well. If possible, she didn¡¯t want Ashton and the DDC Vanguard to have a direct confrontation. The two organizations were not on the same side, and a sh would be inevitable if they met. This was especially true since both Ashton and the DDC Vanguard Base were investigating the secret research facility and its mastermind. The DDC Vanguard had been investigating the research facility for five or six years. If Ashton¡¯s people beat them to it, she worried some of them woulde straight to the border to fight him to the death. 12:53 Sat, Sep 20 : A a 60 66 35 vouchers After sending the surveince video, Briar shut down her device and went to take a shower,pletely unaware of the shockwave her video sent through to Ashton and the DDC Vanguard Base. If Ashton hadn¡¯t known Briar was in the shower, he would have rushed over to demand an exnation. Half an hourter, Briar walked out of the bathroom drying her hair, only to find Ashton sitting on the edge of the bed waiting for her. Briar blinked her eyes and asked innocently, ¡°Ashton, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Ashton got up and approached Briar. ¡°Sweetheart, am I so easygoing that you always forget I have a bad temper?¡± Briar yed dumb. ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand a thing.¡± Ashton let out an exasperatedugh. ¡°You don¡¯t understand? Fine. Then let¡¯s talk about something you can understand¡­¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Ashton lunged toward Briar, trapping her between his chest and the wall before she could escape. ¡°Sweetheart, it seems teasing your man gives you a great sense of aplishment, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Ashton asked in a deliberately low voice while pinching Briar¡¯s smiling face. With her chin pinched, Briar¡¯s words came out muffled, ¡°No¡­ I wudn¡¯t dare¡­¡± ¡°Still denying it? How do you exin the surveince video you sent me half an hour ago? You held something back, didn¡¯t tell me at the time, and sent a video afterward just to pique my curiosity?¡± Ashton wasn¡¯t about to let Briar get away with it so easily. Briar put on a pitiful look. ¡°I only discovered it afterward and sent it to you right away. You could say I was pretty quick, right?¡± Ashton snorted. ¡°Then promise me you only sent that video to me and didn¡¯t share it with anyone else?¡± Briarughed awkwardly. ¡°I can¡¯t promise that.¡± I Forsaken 240 Ashton¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What do you mean? The video is already out?¡± 35 vouchers Briar nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. You must have guessed that if I could hire a top¨Ctier mercenary like Ian to help, there must be someone else backing me¡­¡± Ashton gritted his mrs, slung Briar over his shoulder, and they both fell into the nkets. ¡°Babe, I think we need to talk about your other incredible identities.¡± Briar was pinned under Ashton, unable to move. He had already grabbed her hands and held them above her head, making it impossible for her to break free. Briar asked, ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand. What incredible identity could I possibly have? Her string of three questions was a perfect performance of pure innocence, with her main strategy being to deny everything. Briar couldn¡¯t possibly admit it. This was her ultimate trump card among all her secret identities. It couldn¡¯t be revealed so easily; otherwise, how could she continue to run around the world causing trouble? Ashton looked down at the guilty¨Cfaced girl beneath him. ¡°Babe, you¡¯d bettere clean right now, or else¡­¡± Instantly, a mix of shame, shock, and panic exploded in Briar¡¯s mind. Startled by his threat, she cried, ¡°Ashton, let me go¡­¡± ¡°Are you going to talk or not? Hmm?¡± Ashton wasn¡¯t about to let her go so easily. His grip on her waist didn¡¯t loosen, and with Briarpletely under his control, her face instantly flushed red. She stammered, ¡°Ashton¡­ D¡­ don¡¯t do anything reckless¡­¡± Ashton¡¯s gaze deepened. Noticing her hesitation, he lowered his head until their foreheads touched and coaxed her softly, ¡°My love, who am I to you?¡± Briar stammered, ¡°M¡­ my boyfriend!¡± Ashton frowned, clearly dissatisfied with her half¨Chearted answer. ¡°Just boyfriend? Briar¡¯s eyes widened slightly as she let out a mortified whimper. ¡°Oh¡­ Don¡¯t¡­¡± Ashton looked down at the girl beneath him with satisfaction, his eyes soft and shimmering. ¡°Babe, I¡¯ll give you one more chance. Think it over, and then tell me who am I to you?¡± From getting to know each other to falling in love, their rtionship had progressed from holding hands and hugging to kissing and exploring each other¡­ They had done it all, both what was proper and what was not, stopping just short of going all the way. 12:54 Sat, Sep 20 : In his heart, Ashton had long considered Briar his future wife. He thought angrily, ¡®So, what was her answer? Boyfriend? Just a boyfriend¡­ is that all?¡® 66 35 vouchers If he wasn¡¯t afraid of scaring Briar by aggressively demanding a title, Ashton would have had a serious talk with her about this important issue right then and there. ¡°Then what answer are you looking for?¡± For some reason, the seriousness and anticipation in Ashton¡¯s eyes took Briar by surprise. She suddenly didn¡¯t dare to give him the answer. ¡®So, am I already that important in Ashton¡¯s heart?¡® she thought. Ashton sighed and kissed Briar¡¯s lips with a mix of helplessness and affection, not letting her go until she was breathless. ¡°Darling, haven¡¯t I made my intentions clear enough?¡± Ashton knew the young woman was insecure. That¡¯s why, once he was sure that Briar was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, he started calling her ¡°darling¡± in addition to other terms of endearment. She was Ashton¡¯s future wife! But all this time, Briar had never called him anything more intimate than ¡°Ashton.¡± Even in their most intimate and unguarded moments, Briar only called him Ashton, never ¡°honey or husband.¡± He had been wrong. To give his wife the ultimate sense of security, he had to do more than just unt his immense wealth. He had to y his trump card: a priceless, legal certificate that lets her live without a care in the world¡ªa marriage certificate. Although getting married at 18 was a bit early, and while it wa not allowed in this country, that didn¡¯t mean it couldn¡¯t be done abroad. As it happened, the border region where they were now was not too far from Qathana. Darling thought, ¡®Should I first gather all my assets and go with her to meet her two uncles? ¡®Or, should I first have all my assets inventoried, get a prenuptial agreement, and transfer everything to Briar? ¡®Or, what if I tricked her into marrying me first, and then went to see her two uncles with the utmost sincerity? No, that won¡¯t work. Maybe¡­ She had no idea that in the few short seconds of her hesitation, Ashton had alreadye up with hundreds, if not thousands, of schemes to trick her into marriage. Seeing Ashton¡¯s expression grow improper, even lecherous, Briar tilted her head back and bit his chin, forcing him to snap out of it. ¡°Ashton, what are you plotting?¡± she asked, both wary and nervous. 12:54 Sat, Sep 20 She was helpless. Pinned beneath him, she had no choice but to yield. She couldn¡¯t win in a fight. If she argued, she would just be kissed by force again. 66 E35 vouchers At this moment, Briar felt a mix of love and hate for Ashton, terrified that on a whim, he would devour herpletely. Feeling guilty toward Ashton, she thought that if he truly wanted to devour her, she had no choice but to let him. ¡°Sweetheart, can¡¯t you tell what wicked things I¡¯m thinking?¡± Ashton shamelessly pressed his advantage. Briar blushed and cursed inwardly, ¡°Shameless! You only know how to bully me. If you have any guts, let me go and we¡¯ll fight one¨Con¨Cone!¡± Ashton smirked. ¡°A one¨Con¨Cone fight? Where? In bed, or out of it?¡± ¡°Ashton, have some shame! I¡¯m warning you, don¡¯t think you can just seduce me with your looks and get away with anything. I¡¯m telling you, I have my¡­¡± Before Briar could finish speaking, Ashton lowered his head and kissed her fiercely. C [ Forsaken 241 : (66) 35 vouchers. Ashton knew exactly what Briar was going to say next. Ignoring her struggles, he once again kissed her senseless. As their kisses deepened, the temperature in the bedroom began to rise. The pajama on one of Briar¡¯s shoulders slipped off in their embrace, revealing a patch of alluring pale skin. After a long moment, Ashton finally released her. Sunlight streamed through the half¨Copen window. In the light, Briar¡¯s eyes were misty. Panting, she met Ashton¡¯s dark eyes, which were brimming with desire. The insistent pressure against her lower abdomen was a testament to Ashton¡¯s incredible self¨Crestraint. Ashton¡¯s hair was a mess, and his usually imposing, handsome face looked exceptionally soft. He said, ¡°Honey, let¡¯s go to Qathana and get married tomorrow.¡± Briar¡¯s mind went nk for a second. It took her a long moment to process what Ashton had just said. She lifted her eyes and stared directly at him. Ashton met Briar¡¯s gaze without flinching. Finally, Briar gave in. ¡°Why the sudden idea of getting a marriage certificate?¡± she asked. Ashton rolled off Briar and beside her, smoothly pulling her into his embrace. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about it for a while, but I never had a chance to bring it up. Back home, there was no point, as you weren¡¯t of legal age to get married.¡± Briar was speechless. Briar stiffened in his arms, and Ashton chuckled softly. ¡°Seeing you so free and happy here, I realized I need to secure my position. Otherwise, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll lose you.¡± Briar¡¯s mind reeled. She knew Ashton was incredibly perceptive. All she did was show a little of her true strength, and he was already secretly thinking so far ahead. He was deliberately using an insecure tone to voice his concerns, secretly trying to charm her again. At first, Briar remained silent and yed dumb in his arms, but Ashton¡¯s pitiful sigh made her wave the white g. She sat up from Ashton¡¯s embrace, raising a fine eyebrow. Her eyes held a mischievous, cold smile, but her tone was pleasant. ¡°Stop ying the victim. You know very well I¡¯m a sucker for it.¡± ¡°So, darling, will you marry me?¡± Ashton pressed his advantage. Briar cupped Ashton¡¯s face and kissed his forehead, eyes, nose, and lips. ¡°Not yet,¡± she said, shaking her head. ¡°If you want to marry me, you¡¯ll have to get my two uncles¡® approval first.¡± Briar could make her own decisions about anything, but when it came to something as monumental as getting married, she wouldn¡¯t dare act without her family¡¯s approval, even if she had ten times the courage. 12:54 Sat, Sep 20 35 vouchers After what happened to her mother, any man she chose to marry would have to endure endless tests and scrutiny. Her mother had been too naive, innocent, and clueless about the world, which was why she fell for a man¡¯s sweet talk and ended up losing her life. If she dared to run off and marry a man without a word, she was certain that she¡¯d have her marriage certificate one day and her legs broken the next. She¡¯d be locked up for the rest of her life and never get out. ¡°Then let¡¯s fly to Qathana tomorrow. I¡¯ve wanted to visit your uncles for a long time but never had the chance. Briar, call them now and ask if they¡¯re free tomorrow.¡± Briar was speechless. ¡®Damn it! I fell for it again!¡® she thought. That bastard Ashton didn¡¯t dare to just elope with her. Instead, he was deliberately setting a trap, waiting for her to fall into it. Briar stared at Ashton in disbelief and confusion. She pointed at his nose, and after a long moment, sputtered angrily, ¡°Ashton, you¡¯re so¡­ shameless!¡± Ashton gave a devilishly charming smile. He caught the finger she was pointing at him, brought it to his lips for a kiss, and even lightly licked her fingertip as she watched in mortified anger. He said, ¡°Darling, how can I win a wife if I¡¯m worried about saving face?¡± Briar was so flustered by Ashton¡¯s roguish behavior that she felt like she was about to explode. ¡°I never realized you had such a shameless side.¡°¡± ¡°What can I say? I have many sides to me, and I have to reveal them one by one,¡± Ashton said with a smile. ¡°Darling, don¡¯t you like this side of me?¡± Briar smiled and pushed away the arm that held her so tightly she couldn¡¯t move. ¡°Let me go. Do you still want me to call my uncle?¡± Ashton immediately let go. Eager to please, he even fetched Briar¡¯s phone and ced it in her hand. ¡°Darling, please say hello to both of your uncles for me.¡± Briar called her younger uncle, Larry. Both of her uncles had always doted on her and would indulge her in everything. However, her older uncle, Ruben, was the head of the family and much more stern. Whenever she made a mistake or needed a favor, she always approached Larry first, because Larry was easier to talk to. As soon as the call connected, Briar said in a sweet, obedient voice, ¡°Uncle Larry.¡± On the other end of the line, Larry¡¯s eyelid twitched when he heard Briar¡¯s familiar tone. ¡°Wait a minute. Briar, something is off with your tone. Be honest with me. You haven¡¯t gotten into trouble behind our backs again, have you?¡± 12:54 Sat, Sep 20 : 66 35 vouchers Thest time Briar had used that tone with him, she had secretly booked a flight home to find Edgar and reunite with her family. The time before that, she had single¨Chandedly challenged every racing club, and was then hunted for 24 hours straight. And the time before that, she had kept it from them, epting an invitation from the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base to be an elite instructor and carry out life¨Cor¨Cdeath missions. Too many bad memories shed through Larry¡¯s mind, and his face instantly fell. He was terrified that Briar had gotten into some kind of irreversible trouble again. But that didn¡¯t make any sense. She was an elite instructor at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base; with a powerful new boyfriend like Ashton, she shouldn¡¯t have run into any problem she couldn¡¯t solve. Larry checked her location from the caller ID. ¡°Why does your phone show you¡¯re at the border? Did Ashton sell you off to have your organs harvested?¡± Although Briar¡¯s phone wasn¡¯t on speaker, Ashton was sitting right next to her and could still overhear parts of the conversation. Briar bit back augh. Ashton¡¯s expression was incredibly strange. Ashton was known internationally as a serious and practical businessman. ¡®Why did the Grant family have such a low opinion of me?¡® he thought. AD Forsaken 242 Chapter 242 35 vouchers Briar couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer and burst outughing. Seeing Ashton¡¯s resentful and hurt expression, she coughed twice topose herself. ¡°Uncle, Ashton wouldn¡¯t do that. He has plenty of money.¡± Larry thought about it and realized it was true. Although Ashton was only 26, his worth had already soared into the billions, and he had even topped the list of the world¡¯s youngest billionaires. Ever since he and Ruben learned that Briar was dating an older man, they immediately had someone run a background check on Ashton overnight. Only after thoroughly investigating Ashton several times and confirming he had no other undesirable qualities did they reluctantly agree to his rtionship with Briar. It wasn¡¯t that they were overreacting. The pain from their sister¡¯s cautionary tale was immense and had not yet healed. Moreover, Briar was their sister¡¯s only child. As her family, they could let her be willful in other matters. Although the Grant family had withdrawn from Dasmieca¡¯s circle of the wealthy elite, they were still rich enough to afford her a life of freedom. However, when it came to Briar¡¯s choice of a partner, they were extremely strict and wouldn¡¯t allow her to be reckless. This was why Briar, a sucker for good looks, had never had any dating experience in her eighteen years in Qathana, a country known for its attractive men and women. Her family kept a close watch on her. ¡°Then why did you run off to the border? It¡¯s so dangerous there. What if you run into bad people?¡± Larry nagged. Larry was overjoyed to finally receive a casual call from his niece,pletely forgetting that whenever Briar bypassed Ruben to call him first, it always meant she had some ulterior motive. Briar said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Ashton is with me. He has business interests here, so we¡¯re very safe.¡± Briar looked at Ashton, whose brows were tightly knitted, and put in a good word for him with a smile. ¡°And Ashton said he wants to fly to Qathana tomorrow ande home with me to visit you and Ruben¡­¡± On the other end of the line, Larry immediately caught the hidden meaning in Briar¡¯s words. He interrupted her, ¡°Wait, you two? Tomorrow? Flying to Qathana? To see us?¡± Briar said, ¡°Uh, yeah.¡± Ashton sat up straight, his expression tense. No matter how powerful a magnate he was, he was still nervous about meeting his girlfriend¡¯s family. ¡°Ashton ising to meet us? Is he nning to propose to you?¡± Larry was not as naive as Briar. When a man made such a request, it was a clear sign that he was ready to make amitment and propose. He understood that, as he had been through it. 12:54 Sat, Sep 20 A 66. Briar nced at Ashton, her jaw tightening. ¡°Yeah¡­ He seems to be nning on it.¡± B35 vouchers He wasn¡¯t just nning to propose. He was already thinking about tricking her into secretly getting a marriage license. Of course, she couldn¡¯t say that. Otherwise, Larry would surely chew Ashton out over the phone. Larry was silent for a few seconds on the other end of the line. Then, in a serious tone, he said, ¡°Alright. Bring Ashton home for dinner tomorrow. Ruben will also be home and free.¡± Briar said, ¡°Okay. See you tomorrow night.¡± ¡°See you tomorrow night.¡± After the call ended, Briar looked at Ashton, who was rxed and leaning against the nightstand. ¡°Happy now?¡± Ashton smiled, pulling Briar down to sit beside him. ¡°Yes! You¡¯re the best.¡± Briar nudged Ashton¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Then you¡¯d better hurry and prepare a gift. Larry is easygoing, but Ruben is hard to fool. You¡¯re walking into the lion¡¯s den tomorrow night, so it won¡¯t be easy!¡± Of course, Ashton knew. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve already prepared gifts for your two uncles. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll go to the party with the utmost sincerity and make sure they feel confident entrusting you to me.¡± ¡°You have?¡± Briar asked curiously. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen anything.¡± They had been together constantly for the past few days. Besides when they were apart for work, Ashton was very clingy, yet she hadn¡¯t seen him prepare any gifts. Seeing the curiosity in Briar¡¯s eyes, Ashton simply smiled without a word, pulling her into his arms and whispering to her softly. ***** Ashton was taking Briar to Qathana for the Grant family party, but the most nervous person was neither of them¨Cit was Brandon. He urgently arranged for a private jet and contacted his people in Qathana to prepare for their arrival. He also hastily selected a dozen bodyguards to apany them and had someone buy many local specialties from the border region to bring along. Unfortunately, the border region¡¯s main specialties were weapons and mercenaries. Of course, they couldn¡¯t bring those kinds of gifts, or they would surely scare Briar¡¯s uncles. Looking at the living room, which had been piled high with gift boxes in less than an hour, Ashton said, ¡°We can take all of these, but we don¡¯t need so many bodyguards. Just a few to ensure things go smoothly will be fine.¡± Connor disagreed. ¡°Mr. Wade, we should take all the bodyguards. Although we can mobilize our people in 12:54 Sat, Sep 20 : Qathana, we still need someone to watch over us on the way there.¡± 66 35 vouchers Brandon also tried to persuade him. ¡°He¡¯s right. Neither of us is going with you and Miss Jennings. If anything happens on the way, you¡¯ll have people to protect you. Once you arrive in Qathana, you can just send them away.¡± Ashton looked at Briar. ¡°Should we bring Ian?¡± Briar nodded. ¡°A bodyguard hired for 16 million dors should be with us at all times. I can¡¯t let you waste your money.¡± Ian was speechless. Ashton nodded. ¡°Ian is enough. Riley and Artemus can bring a few of their men. With them, our safety is guaranteed.¡± Brandon and Connor exchanged a look. They knew they couldn¡¯t change Ashton¡¯s mind once he had made a decision, so they simply nodded. Connor said to Riley, ¡°Fine. Then Ian, Artemus, and you should bring our new shipment of weapons. You must ensure the safety of Miss Jennings and Mr. Wade.¡± Ian was dumbfounded. ¡°Are you guys really treating this family dinner like a trap? The Grant family is just an ordinary business family. If we show up armed, we¡¯ll be thrown out, won¡¯t we?¡± Brandon and Connor were speechless. Briar looked at Ashton. ¡°See? You¡¯re so tense that you¡¯re making them tense too. Rx. My uncles might give you a hard time, but they won¡¯t actually hit you.¡± Ashton chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re right. I am a bit too nervous. This is my first time meeting your family, so I¡¯m not very experienced!¡± He waved Brandon and the others away. ¡°Alright, you can all go back to your duties.¡± Just then, Briar¡¯s phone rang on the coffee table. Since it was closest to Ashton, he smoothly picked it up and handed it to her. When he saw the caller ID, Uncle Ruben, his eyes flickered. Briar nced at Ashton before answering the call. Her tone was even more well¨Cbehaved than when she spoke with Larry. ¡°Uncle Ruben¡­¡± Forsaken 243 Ruben¡¯s voice was steady, but his tone was cold. ¡°Briar, I heard from Larry that you¡¯re bringing Ashton home tomorrow?¡± Briar nced at Ashton and nodded. ¡°Yes. We¡¯re flying out tonight and will arrive around three or four tomorrow afternoon.¡± On the other end of the line, Ruben paused for a few seconds before replying, ¡°Got it. Travel safely.¡± After Ruben hung up, Ashton asked Briar, ¡°Why do I feel like your uncles have already torn me to shreds several times, and I haven¡¯t even arrived yet?¡± Briar chuckled. ¡°What? Scared? Are you still going to dare propose in front of my uncles?¡± Ashton pinched Briar¡¯s smug cheek. ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of? A little challenge like this won¡¯t stop me.¡± Briar just smiled and said nothing. ¡®A little challenge?¡± Whaty before Ashton was no small challenge, but two formidable forces. Before she turned 18, her uncles wouldn¡¯t even let her date. Now, not only had Ashton whisked her away, but he also wanted to marry her. Her uncles were probably at home sharpening their knives. Everything was ready. They were just waiting for their direct flight to Qathana that night. Just before they were about to leave, Briar was tagged in her private group chat. She opened the WhatsApp group and saw it was a message from Louie Gagher, the admin of their exclusive three¨Cperson chat. Louie: [Briar, I heard you¡¯reing back to Qathana?] Louie Gagher was the most powerful fighter at the DDC Vanguard Base and the leader of the elite instructors at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base. His whereabouts were always a mystery, and he rarely appeared in the group chat. For him to break his usual silence and message first meant something big was about to happen. Briar answered honestly: [Yeah, I¡¯m taking my boyfriend to meet my family.] After she sent the message, Louie hadn¡¯t replied yet, but it drew out another lurker from the group. [Boyfriend? You mean Ashton, the youngest billionaire in Dasmieca? Briar, aren¡¯t you afraid your two uncles will tear him apart if you take him home now?] Briar: [It¡¯s not that serious, is it? He seems well¨Cprepared.] Louie: [When you get back to Qathana, find a chance to return to the base. I have something to tell you.] Briar: [Got it.] 12:54 Sat, Sep 20 The group Ian. : 66 35 vouchers chat quickly fell silent. Briar put her phone away and, when Ashton wasn¡¯t looking, shot a look at Ian hurried over. ¡°Briar, what¡¯s up?¡± Briar crossed her arms and looked at Ian. ¡°Did you leak the news to the base that we¡¯re returning to Qathana?¡± Ian¡¯s cheerful expression faltered, and he asked guiltily, ¡°Yeah, wh¡­ what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Who did you tell?¡± Briar asked. Ian said, ¡°I didn¡¯t tell anyone. I just¡­ I just mentioned in our instructors¡® group chat that you were returning to Qathana¡­¡± Briar was speechless. Ian was one of the five main instructors at the DDC Vanguard Base. Their instructors¡® group chat included the only female instructor, Este Farley. Este was best friends with Mollie Campbell, the wife of the head elite instructor, Louie, and they told each other everything. In other words, if Mollie knew she was returning to Qathana, that meant Louie knew as well. No wonder Louie had specifically tagged her in the group chat. Considering the uing annual mercenary training at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base, Briar thought with resignation, ¡®Louie is using this as an opportunity to drag me back for some grunt work!¡® Briar nced at Ashton walking ahead of her. ¡®What excuse could Ie up with for disappearing for half a month without arousing his suspicion?¡® she thought. Sensing her gaze, Ashton turned around. With one hand in his pocket, he reached out to her. Once she put her hand in his, he took it and tucked it into his coat pocket. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked. ¡°Nervous?¡± Briar chuckled, tracing his palm with her index finger. ¡°How could I be? I¡¯m not the one who¡¯ll be in trouble, so why would I be nervous?¡± Ashton tightened his grip on the fingers that were unknowingly teasing him in his palm. ¡°Let¡¯s make a bet. 1 bet your two uncles won¡¯t give me a hard time tomorrow; they¡¯ll even see me off with a smile.¡± Briar scoffed. ¡°Ashton, it¡¯s good to be confident, but overconfidence often backfires.¡± Ashton had just stolen their precious niece, and he expected her two uncles to see him off with a smile. ¡°So, let¡¯s make a bet. If you win, you can name any condition.¡± Ashton¡¯s eyes held a captivating glint. Briar agreed without hesitation. ¡°Deal! If I lose, you can name a condition too, and I won¡¯t back out.¡± They boarded the ne, and by the time theynded at a private airstrip in Qathana, both were still convinced the other would lose. ***** 12:55 Sat, Sep 20 : (66 E35 vouchers More than a decade of wealth umtion had ced the Grant family on the list of global billionaires. Theymanded a vast business empire in northern Qathana. While the Grant family¡¯s industries were not as all¨Cepassing as the Wade family¡¯s, they had almostpletely monopolized the entertainment industry, one of theirter ventures. So, the Grant family had settled in a viplex in the most prosperousmercial center in the north. Briar owned a vi worth 30 million dors, which the Grant family patriarch, Zeke, had personally purchased for her. However, when Briar brought Ashton home today, it was to the house where Ruben and Larry lived. The house staff had been busy since early that morning, preparing all of Briar¡¯s favorite dishes. As for Ashton¡¯s preferences, her two uncles considered them unimportant. The family driver was already waiting at the airport. After picking up Briar and Ashton, he drove them straight home. Laughing, Briar pulled Ashton out of the car and called out cheerfully to Ruben and Larry, who were standing at the main entrance, ¡°Uncles, we¡¯re back!¡± Ashton smoothly followed suit. ¡°Hello, Uncles. I¡¯m Ashton.¡± Larry was polite enough to nod at Ashton. Ruben, however,pletely ignored him. He took Briar¡¯s hand, just as he always had, and led her into the house. Ashton stared at his empty palm. That confirmed it. Ruben really did not like him. Larry patted Ashton on the shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t take it to heart. What do you expect when you¡¯re the one trying to steal the Grant family¡¯s most cherished treasure!¡± Ashton shook off his surprise and nodded. ¡°I understand. If someone stole away my future daughter, I would look even more upset than her uncle.¡± Larry narrowed his eyes. ¡®What did he mean by that? He hasn¡¯t even officially won the girl over, and he is already thinking about whether they would have a son or a daughter?¡® What Larry didn¡¯t know was that Ashton hadn¡¯t just decided on having a son or a daughter; he had even picked out their names. The trunk was filled with gifts Ashton had brought. Since Ruben didn¡¯t wee him, he painstakingly helped the staff carry the gifts into the house, acting with great diligence. 12:55 Sat, Sep 20 Forsaken 244 : 66 E35 vouchers After carrying the gifts inside, Ashton walked into the living room uninvited, sat down beside Briar, and came face¨Cto¨Cface with Ruben, who had a look of disgust. ¡°You must be Ashton?¡± Ruben¡¯s brow twitched. He thought, ¡®It¡¯s said that the current head of the Wade family has always been arrogant and insufferable, and it seems the rumors are true. Is he deliberately going against me?¡® Ashton looked sincere. ¡°Mr. Grant, you can just call me Ashton.¡± While Ruben wanted to create distance, Ashton insisted on making their rtionship more intimate. Everyone knew that those not close to Ashton could only call him Mr. Wade. The name ¡°Ashton¡± was typically reserved for close family or friends. Ruben was speechless. He decided to stop beating around the bush. ¡°I heard from Larry that you n to propose to Briar?¡± Ashton sat up straight with a serious expression and nodded. ¡°Yes, the feeling between Briar and me is mutual. When I first decided to pursue her, I did so with the intention of marrying her. If she weren¡¯t so young, I would want to marry her right away¡­¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s far too early for marriage,¡± Ruben interrupted, his tone t. ¡°Briar is only 18. I¡¯d prefer she not even think about marriage until she¡¯s at least 28. Before that, we just want her to live a happy life.¡± Ruben thought, ¡®This kid is cunning. He hasn¡¯t even been in the house for ten minutes, and he¡¯s already set several traps in our conversation. Is he really that eager to whisk our Briar away?¡® What Ruben left unsaid was that even if Briar only dated and never married, they could support her for the rest of her life. Ashton, even if Ashton was incredibly wealthy, the Grant family was well¨Coff too. They had no need to use a young woman to secure their family¡¯s future. Ashton understood Ruben¡¯s implication. He nced at Briar, who was smirking smugly, then suddenly pulled out his phone and changed the subject. ¡°Ruben, forgive me for being forward, but I¡¯d like to send you some information to review.¡± Although Ruben was surprised, he saw the seriousness in Ashton¡¯s eyes and nced at a baffled Briar. He then nodded. ¡°Alright, send it over.¡± Ruben didn¡¯t ask how Ashton got his contact information. As the head of the Wade family and founder of the Dark Net, he wouldn¡¯t be respectfully known as Ashton Wade if hecked such a basic skill. A secondter, Ruben¡¯s phone chimed with a text notification. He opened it, his expression shifting from suspicion to shock in an instant. After carefully reviewing the message, he looked up, and his gaze toward Ashton sharpened. ¡°Ashton, this information¡­¡± 55 vouchers But when he met Briar¡¯s curious gaze, Ruben stopped the words on the tip of his tongue. He said to Larry, ¡°Larry, keep Briarpany downstairs for a while.¡± Then, Ruben turned to Ashton. ¡°Ashton, follow me to the study.¡± Ashton stood up. ¡°Alright.¡± Briar was speechless. She thought, ¡®What¡¯s going on? What message did Ashton send my uncle? Why is he reacting so strongly?¡® Larry watched the two of them go upstairs, equally puzzled. ¡°Briar, what did that kid send to Ruben? Why is he reacting so strongly?¡± Briar shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know! Ashton never mentioned it to me.¡± Larry and Briar exchanged a look, then tiptoed upstairs together. Finally, they both pressed their ears against the closed study door to eavesdrop. Unfortunately, the study door was soundproof, and the people inside were speaking quietly. They listened at the door for a long time but couldn¡¯t hear a single word. Ovee with curiosity and unable to hear the conversation inside, Larry urged, ¡°Briar, aren¡¯t you a great hacker? Hurry and hack Ruben¡¯s phone!¡± The corner of Briar¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Larry, did you forget? Your phones have a super firewall that I personally installed. Even for me, it would take at least an hour to hack them.¡± Larryughed awkwardly. ¡°Uh¡­ sorry, I forgot. If I had known this firewall would one day be used against us, I wouldn¡¯t have rushed you to reinforce this super firewall.¡± After Briar became an expert hacker, they discovered that many of the Grant family¡¯sworks were being monitored by unknown hackers. So, Briar created a super firewall herself. Just how super was this super firewall? It was so secure that even its founder, Briar, would need at least an hour to breach the imprably thick firewall. Since they could not hear anything, Larry and Briar could only return to the living room downstairs to wait. An hourter, dinner was ready. Larry urged Briar to go upstairs to call them for dinner, but just then, Ruben and Ashton came downstairsughing and talking. ¡®Wait!? Laughing and talking?¡® Briar and Larry were speechless. To top it off, Ruben personally poured Ashton a ss of wine he had won at auction for several million dors. ¡°Here, Ashton,¡± he said. ¡°This is a fine vintage I was nning to cer. Tonight, we drink until we drop.¡± Ashton took the ss with both hands. ¡°Thank you, Ruben.¡± The sight of the two men being so friendly and familiar with each other left Briar and Larrypletely stunned. 12:55 Sat, Sep 20 66 55 vouchers Larry nudged Briar with his elbow. ¡°Briar, do you think Ruben waspletely charmed by Ashton? He was only in the study for an hour, and now his attitude has changed.¡± Briar was also puzzled. ¡°Ashton has no medical talent. He can¡¯t make something like a love potion.¡± The dinner left Briar and Larrypletely confused. Meanwhile, Ruben and Ashton drank ss after ss, the alcohol bringing them even closer. In the end, Ruben even had Ashton stay the night. However, he had Briar take Ashton to her vi for the night. Just as Ashton had bet with Briar, Ruben sent him off politely and with a smile. ¡°Briar, Ashton drank a little too much tonight. That restorative of yours is really something, isn¡¯t it? Make him a bowl before he goes to bed,¡± Ruben reminded Briar before closing the door. And just like that, Briar was bundled out the door by Ruben. With a bang, the vi¡¯s main door mmed shut right in front of Briar. The moment the door shut, the supposedly drunk Ashton straightened up, lifting his head from Briar¡¯s shoulder. His voice wasced with a smile as he said, ¡°Honey, looks like I won our bet!¡± Briar looked up at the starry sky, pretending she hadn¡¯t heard Ashton¡¯s smug tone. ¡°Wow, the stars are so beautiful tonight!¡± Ashton reached out and turned her head to face him, his gaze fixed on her eyes. ¡°Babe, a true gentleman honors their bets.¡± AD Forsaken 245 Chapter 245 Briar retorted, ¡°But I¡¯m just a woman!¡± 66)? 55 vouchers Ashtonughed and pulled Briar into his arms. ¡°Thinking of backing out? Babe, you know the ways I can make people suffer. You¡¯d better just behave.¡± The couple yfully bickered as they headed toward Briar¡¯s vi. The curtains in the second¨Cfloor study only closed after they werepletely out of sight. Larry asked impatiently, ¡°Ruben, what did Ashton show you? Why did you change your mind so fast? ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to give him a hard time to make him back down? How did one hour alone with him in the study make you so eager to hand Briar over?¡± Ruben looked at Larry¡¯s anxious face, sighed, then opened a file on his phone that Ashton had sent him. ¡°See for yourself.¡± Larry grabbed the phone and read through it carefully. His anxious expression changed, and he stammered, ¡°This¡­ this is¡­¡± Ruben nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. Five years ago, during that massive operation to purge and assassinate mercenaries, many of the men we trained were killed by an unknown party. Briar almost died in that attack, and Ashton was the mysterious person who saved her.¡± Shocked, Larry didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry. ¡°Fate is a damn magical thing sometimes!¡± ¡°It is,¡± Ruben agreed. ¡°So, should we tell Briar? She¡¯s spent thest five years searching for this mysterious savior!¡± Ruben shook his head. ¡°Ashton said not to tell her for now. He wants Briar to figure it out on her own.¡± ¡°Kids and their games,¡± Larry mused. ¡°Isn¡¯t he afraid of taking it too far? If he really angers Briar, she might just paralyze him with a single needle.¡± Ruben was speechless. Meanwhile, at another vi, Briar brought Ashton home. The moment the door closed, before she even had a chance to turn on the lights, he pinned her against it. ¡°Darling¡­¡± ¡°You stink. Go take a shower.¡± Her confidence crumbled as she felt something hard pressing against her. ¡®Are all men this worked up after drinking?¡® she thought. Ashton chuckled. ¡°Why don¡¯t you join me?¡± ¡°Ashton, have some shame,¡± Briar said irritably. ¡°Go take a shower, and I¡¯ll make you soup to sober you up.¡± Although he wasn¡¯t drunk, the smell of alcohol on Ashton was overpowering. He pressed his body closer against hers. Knowing Briar couldn¡¯t resist his voice, he deliberately lowered it, coaxing her deeply, ¡°I¡¯ll keep youpany while you make the soup, and then you can keep mepany in the shower, okay?¡± 12:55 Sat, Sep 20 : ? ?66) E55 vouchers ¡°No.¡± Briar pushed the man pressing against her away and shoved him toward the stairs. ¡°The third room upstairs is the guest room you¡¯ll be sleeping in tonight. There¡¯s a clean bathrobe in the closet. Now, go shower.¡± Ashton could only head upstairs disappointedly to take a shower. take a Briar waited until she heard a door open and close upstairs before she turned and went into the kitchen. Larry arranged for housekeepers to clean the vi every three days, so the kitchen was fully stocked. She opened the refrigerator, washed the ingredients needed for the restorative, and ced them in a pot. While waiting, she leaned against the counter, took out her phone, and sent a few messages. The replies came quickly. Just as Briar was about to check them, she heard footsteps on the stairs. She quickly shoved her phone back into her pocket, turned around, and grabbed a spoon, pretending to nonchntly stir the simmering y pot. She felt a weight on her shoulder as Ashton rested his chin there, his arms wrapping around her waist from behind. He looked down at Briar¡¯s face, flushed from the steam, his lips brushing against her earlobe. ¡°Honey, thank you for going to all this trouble.¡± Briar didn¡¯t say a word and kept her head down, focusing on what she was doing. Ashton watched her earlobes turn bright red, then gently bit and nibbled on one. His hands grew bolder, slipping under the hem of her shirt to trace circles on her stomach, threatening to move higher. Startled, Briar quickly grabbed his wandering hand through her clothes. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Ashton obediently stopped and asked slowly, ¡°When will it be ready?¡± ¡°Almost. About ten more minutes.¡± Briar¡¯s breath hitched as she felt his familiar hardness pressing against her lower back again. They stood like that for over ten minutes until Briar turned off the stove and reached for a bowl to serve the restorative. Only then did Ashton finally let her go. As shedled out the hangover soup, Ashton took the bowl from her hands. ¡°It¡¯s hot. I¡¯ll get it.¡± He carried the bowl to the dining table, sat down, and pulled her onto hisp. Briar struggled immediately. The feeling against her back was too aggressive. A blush spread from her ears to her neck as she said ufortably, ¡°Let me go¡­¡± Her struggles awakened the beast within him. He tightened his grip on her slim waist, his voice low and strained, ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Briar instantly froze, sitting stiffly on hisp. Perhaps not wanting to truly scare her, Ashton stirred the restorative and asked calmly, ¡°Honey, do something?¡± you feel Briar took a deep breath and turned expressionlessly to re at this jerk who was acting innocent after getting 12:55 Sat, Sep 20 his way. ¡°Feel what? That you¡¯ve got a big stick?¡± 66 H55 vouchers Ashton froze. He had only meant to tease her, but her blunteback shut him down. He cleared his throat. ¡°Babe, I¡¯ve been drinking tonight. If you keep provoking me like this, I might just lose control¡­¡± He thought, ¡®Lose control and do what? Do some indescribable things, of course¡­ Briar reached out and hooked his chin with her finger, lifting it. She smiled confidently. ¡°You won¡¯t.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± Ashton¡¯s eyes darkened with a dangerous warning. ¡°Babe, never test a man¡¯s self¨Ccontrol. You¡¯ll be the one to regret it.¡± Briar¡¯s expression faltered, but she still met his gaze and grinned. ¡°No, you wouldn¡¯t, because you couldn¡¯t bear to hurt me.¡± Hearing this, Ashton raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh, really? That confident in me?¡± But his hand, which was wrapped around Briar¡¯s waist, slowly loosened. Briar let out a huge sigh of relief. That scoundrel was ying mind games with her. Good thing she was resilient, or she would have sumbed to his devastatingly handsome face. But Briar had rxed too soon. Just as Ashton finished his soup and she thought she was safe for the night, he pulled her back into his arms and pinned her down on the dining table¡­ Ìï Forsaken 246 The atmosphere in the dining room grew heated. The lights overhead were swaying, but no, it wasn¡¯t the lights. It was her body shaking. Briar wrapped her arms around Ashton¡¯s neck, her legs mped around his lean, powerful waist. Her clothes were a wrinkled mess, but thankfully, they were still on, and nothing was exposed. But even though she was fully clothed, it did nothing to lessen the provocative intimacy of their embrace. Panting, she looked at Ashton, his eyes bloodshot. She pressed her swollen, kiss¨Cbruised lips together, then turned her head and bit down on his bobbing Adam¡¯s apple to vent her frustration. A deep, sexy groan from Ashton rumbled in her ear. ¡°Ugh¡­ Honey, if you keep teasing me like this, I really won¡¯t be able to hold back.¡± Briar ground her teeth, satisfied to hear Ashton¡¯s strained groans. ¡°Do you really think it looks like nothing happened, with us like this?¡± Except for the final step, that scoundrel had done everything¨Cboth what he should and shouldn¡¯t have. He hadn¡¯t missed a single beat. Her clothes were still on, but his hands were too nimble. The thin fabric was no match for his wandering fingers, which moved up and down, front and back,pletely unstoppable. With his handsome face so close, if Ashton hadn¡¯t maintained hisst shred of sanity during their hour¨Clong intimacy, he would have devoured herpletely, leaving nothing behind. ¡°I wanted to go all the way, too, but you know that if I took you tonight, your uncles would never let me hear the end of it tomorrow.¡± Ashton kissed the girl in his arms, not daring to look for too long at her misty eyes. He really hoped that his proposal tomorrow would win the approval of Briar¡¯s uncles. If he had to keep looking but not touching, he was afraid he would eventually burst from the frustration. Briar giggled. ¡°To think the great Mr. Wade would be afraid of someone settling a score with him!¡± With a helpless sigh, Ashton stood up straight. He carried Briar to the living room sofa with one hand supporting her bottom and gently set her down. ¡°They¡¯re not just anyone,¡± he said. ¡°They¡¯re your family.¡± Briar was speechless. Briar reached out, pulled his head closer, and leaned in to kiss his lips. ¡°Ashton, you¡¯re so good to me.¡± Ashton wasn¡¯t about to miss the kiss she offered. He caught her shy, retreating tongue with his own and kissed her passionately. ¡°You¡¯re my girl. Who else would I be good to, if not you?¡± ¡°So, what¡¯s your n to persuade my uncles tomorrow? I¡¯m telling you now, if they don¡¯t agree, I won¡¯t ept your proposal, and we¡¯ll have to put off getting married.¡± Briar was deliberately making things difficult for him. Ashton rested his hands behind his head and rxed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll persuade them tomorrow. You just get 12:55 Sat, Sep 20 ready to be my fianc¨¦e.¡± Briar was nomittal; they would find out tomorrow. 55 vouchers ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Let¡¯s go upstairs to bed,¡± she said, reaching for Ashton. ¡°My legs are weak. Carry me upstairs.¡± Ashton pulled her into his arms and effortlessly carried her upstairs. Without any direction from Briar, he pushed open a door and carried her directly into the bathroom. Briar asked curiously, ¡°How did you know this was my bedroom?¡± Ashton said nonchntly, ¡°When I was upstairs earlier, I surveyed theyout out of habit¡­¡± Briar sat on the edge of the bathtub, her hands braced on both sides and one foot already in. Hearing his words, she turned her head. Under the bright bathroom lights, the casual look in her eyes turned into a yful smile. ¡°Alright. What else did you find?¡± Ashton bent down to run a bath for Briar, expertly adding a few drops of her favorite essential oil. ¡°I didn¡¯t notice much, just the spots in your room where you¡¯ve stashed guns and ammunition.¡± Briar narrowed her eyes. Ashton ruffled Briar¡¯s hair. ¡°Don¡¯t be so tense. You¡¯re friends with a mercenary like Ian, so what¡¯s the big deal about owning a few guns?¡± What was more, he had seen Briar¡¯s legal gun permit. Given her years of being hunted, it would be strange if she didn¡¯t have a gun hidden in her home. Briar snorted, looking down to unbutton her clothes while shooing him away. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower. Aren¡¯t you leaving?¡± Ashton smiled as he walked out of the bathroom. ¡°I¡¯ll be right outside. Call me if you need anything.¡± Briar was speechless. Even if something happened while she was showering, she couldn¡¯t possibly call for him. Half an hourter, Briar emerged from the bathroom with her hair still wet and saw Ashton sitting on the bay window, reading a book in its originalnguage. The bedroom was warm and cozy, and Ashton had also lit some calming incense. Hearing the bathroom door open, Ashton turned to look. Seeing that Briar hade out without even drying her hair, he got up, found a hairdryer in the bathroom, pulled her to the edge of the bed, and began to dry her hair. He stood looking down while she sat looking up. The atmosphere was warm and lovely. Ashton gently and carefully dried Briar¡¯s hair, then lifted her to the middle of the bed. ¡°Honey, why are you staring at me like that?¡± 12:55 Sat, Sep 20 66 55 vouchers Seeing Ashton¡¯s attitude, Briar knew he was going to make her lull him to sleep again tonight. She flopped onto the bed. ¡°Seeing how attentive you are, I can only imagine how happy I¡¯ll be in the future.¡± Ashton chuckled. ¡°Why wait for the future? I can make you happy right now¡­¡± ¡°No, I refuse.¡± Briar cut him off, pulling the nket over her head. ¡°I¡¯m sleepy. For now, I don¡¯t want to experience happiness.¡± Ashton had no choice but to wrap his arms around her, nket and all, and lie down as well. The air conditioner was set a little high, and both of them were exhausted from the day. Soon, the bedroom was filled with the soft rhythm of their breathing. Ashton no longer found it as difficult to fall asleep as he used to, but his internal clock woke him at the same time every day. When he opened his eyes, Briar was still asleep, her head pillowed on his arm. From his angle, he could only see half of her face, but he could clearly make out her long, curled eyshes, fair skin, and slightly parted red lips. Her hair was fanned out across his arm and the side of her neck. It was soft, just like the gentle, peaceful look on her sleeping face. Her thin lips, which had been red and swollen from his kisses the night before, were now soft and smooth again. Ashton lowered his head and leaned in, kissing her slightly parted lips. ¡°Mmm?¡± The morning kiss woke Briar from her sleep. She opened her drowsy, misty eyes and blinked. ¡°Ashton, is it morning already?¡± Ashton pulled her into his arms, showing no embarrassment for waking her up. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s still early. Want to sleep a little longer?¡± Briar grabbed her phone to check the time and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not going back to sleep. It¡¯s about time for me to get up anyway.¡± With that, Briar slipped out of Ashton¡¯s embrace and sat up against the headboard, hugging the nket as she tried to wake up. AD Comment Send gift No Ads 12:55 Sat, Sep 20 Forsaken 247 (66) 55 vouchers When the rm went off, Briar, who was already sitting up against the headboard, became fully alert. She threw off the covers and adjusted her pajama top, which had ridden up to expose her midriff. She shot Ashton a re, but he just gave her a pleading look back, which made herugh. ¡°Morning run?¡± Ashton nodded and followed Briar into the bathroom. They both got ready quickly, and twenty minutester, they were at the vi¡¯s entrance doing warm¨Cup exercises. Briar went for a 6¨Cmile run almost every morning. Ashton¡¯s morning workout routine was usually longer and more intense than Briar¡¯s. But since they got together, he had split his exercises into two sessions: one in the morning and one in the evening. They jogged side¨Cby¨Cside along the paths of the vimunity, the atmosphere warm and pleasant. It would have been perfect if someone thoughtless hadn¡¯te along to interrupt. After running around a corner at a fork in the road, Briar lowered her voice and whispered to Ashton, ¡°Someone¡¯s following us¡­¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°You keep running. I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Ashton had noticed the person as soon as they started following them. He didn¡¯t act immediately because the path they were on offered no cover. If he made a move and the person had a gun, Briar could get hurt. Briar nced at Ashton. His eyes were deep, showing no concern for their pursuer. It made sense. A man who could lead a band of wild mercenaries wouldn¡¯t be bothered by such a small problem. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait for you at the end of the path.¡± Instead of offering to help, Briar turned and continued running. ¡°Be careful. Stay safe.¡± Ashton smiled as he urged Briar to go on, then stopped. He stood with his hands in his pockets, waiting for the person behind them to appear. Their pursuer probably didn¡¯t expect to be discovered so quickly. Peeking around the corner, they froze upon meeting Ashton¡¯s cold gaze. Briar ran along the path at a steady pace with her eyes downcast. At the end of the path, she saw a familiar figure standing by the roadside. Seeing Briar, the woman smiled and waved at her. ¡°Hey, Briar! What a coincidence!¡± Briar narrowed her eyes and quickly ran over. ¡°Jasmin, what are you doing here¡­ Wait, was it Mr. Cadman who was following us from the beginning?¡± Jasmin¡¯s smile froze. ¡°Us? Briar, didn¡¯t youe out for a morning run by yourself?¡± 12:56 Sat, Sep 20 Briar said, ¡°Ashton stayed at my cest night¡­¡± They looked at each other speechlessly, both with a bad feeling. 66 E55 vouchers Jasmin asked in a trembling voice, ¡°If Mr. Cadman goes up against Ashton, what are his chances of winning?¡± Briar took a deep breath. ¡°Jasmin, you should be asking what Mr. Cadman¡¯s chances of survival are now that he¡¯s been targeted by Ashton.¡± Jasmin¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Then what should we do? They must have already confronted each other¡­¡± Briar sighed. She no longer wanted to ask why the two men hade to y a tracking game. Passing the distraught Jasmin, she turned and ran back. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We have to hurry back and save him. I hope we¡¯re not too .¡± Jasmin was a top tech expert at their DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base, responsible for the base¡¯s weapon R&D, and she rarely left the base. Jabari was the liaison for the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base, responsible for externalmunications. Known respectfully in the underworld as Mr. Cadman, he was Jasmin¡¯s husband and also a high¨Cranking civilian officer. As for hisbat abilities¡­ well, they were hard to put into words. It had been three minutes since Briar and Ashton separated. In that time, Ashton could have easily taken down twenty weaklings like Jabari. Although Ashton was always indulgent with Briar, he wasn¡¯t nearly as tolerant with others. Since this was Briar¡¯s vi, Ashton believed the intruder was stalking her, not him. That made Ashton even less inclined to show mercy. Briar was afraid Ashton would show no mercy and be utterly ruthless. She hoped they wouldn¡¯t witness a gruesome scene. She hoped Ashton would be less violent, considering it was broad daylight, And she hoped it wasn¡¯t toote. Before Briar could get close, Jasmin, who couldn¡¯t keep up with her pace, panicked and shouted from behind, ¡°Ashton, spare him! He¡¯s one of us.¡± Briar was speechless. It seemed her cover as a member of the DDC Vanguard Base was about to be blown. Fortunately, Jabari was still alive. Briar ran over to find Ashton holding Jabari against a tree with one hand. The gun Jabari had been holding was now in Ashton¡¯s hand. Jabari, still conscious, struggled as his feet dangled in the air. ¡°Ashton, let him down. They¡¯re my¡­ friends.¡± Briar met Ashton¡¯s searching gaze and gave him an awkward yet 12:56 Sat, Sep 20 A 66 55 vouchers polite smile. ¡°I¡¯ll exinter.¡± Ashton nodded, let him down as requested, and returned the gun he had been toying with. ¡°Jabari, remember to work on your tracking skills when you get back to DDC Vanguard.¡± Jasmin rushed over at that moment, pulling Jabari aside to check him from head to toe. Seeing no injuries. other than a few footprints and messy hair, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Thank goodness you¡¯re alive,¡± Jasmin said. Jabari¡¯s face paled, then flushed, and paled again. In the end, he could only remark, ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m alive.¡± Heaven knows, when he came face¨Cto¨Cface with Ashton and saw that murderous look in his eyes, he had already picked out his own burial spot. If he had known there was a man with Briar, he would have left much sooner. Fortunately, however, he and Ashton recognized each other. After all, his face was highly recognizable internationally. He was the sole public representative of the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base, and everyone who worked with DDC Vanguard knew him. Ashton¡¯s 121 Overseas Mercenary Organization sometimes cooperated with their DDC Vanguard Base. Although he and Ashton had never officially met, they were still familiar with each other. However, Ashton was indeed as sinister and ruthless as rumored. Even after recognizing him, he still beat him until he ached all over and left several muddy footprints on his clothes. It was utterly humiliating. But looking at Ashton¡¯s unfazed expression, the anger he was about to voice turned into: ¡°Thank you for the reminder. I will.¡± He was a top¨Ctier administrator; he wouldn¡¯t need tracking skills. If he had note looking for Briar today and had left his bodyguards behind, he could not have been hung from a tree by Ashton. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside and talk.¡± Briar was amused to see Jabari gritting his teeth, helpless against Ashton. To avoid escting the tension between them, she pulled Ashton to walk ahead. Forsaken 248 The four of them sat on the sofa in the living. Briar and Ashton sat on the left, while Jabari and Jasmin sat on the right, creating an atmosphere of confrontation. Ashton sat there with his arms crossed. He did not even have to speak; the nk stare he gave the two of them was unsettling enough. His presence was just too intense. Jabari and Jasmin did not dare to look up under Ashton¡¯s stare and kept shrinking back into the sofa. Briar gave Ashton a subtle nudge, signaling him to stop scaring them. Any more and Jasmin would start crying. Ashton finally looked away. Briar quickly asked, ¡°Jabari, is there a reason you two are sneaking around my doorstep this early to ambush me?¡± As she spoke, she frantically shot nces at Jabari, who was looking up at her, warning him not to misspeak. Although Ashton had thoroughly scared him, Jabari still knew what to say and what not to. Seeing Briar¡¯s nervous expression, he gave her a reassuring smile. ¡°Oh, it is like this. We have not had much to do these few days and just wanted to travel around. My wife heard you were back in Qathana, so we came to hang out with you¡­¡± ¡°Come up with another excuse. This one isn¡¯t convincing.¡± Before Jabari could finish, Ashton cut him off coldly. The others were speechless. Indeed, such a meaningless excuse might fool an ordinary person, but it was hard to convince Ashton. Jasmin looked to Briar for help. ¡°Briar, we really came to find you¡­¡± It was true they were looking for her, but they could not reveal their intentions in front of Ashton. Briar shook Ashton¡¯s arm. ¡°Ashton, stop scaring them. They won¡¯t hurt me.¡± Ashton said, ¡°I know they won¡¯t hurt you. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t be conscious enough to be talking to us right now. But I¡¯m still very angry.¡± Briar felt a little guilty, as she could tell who Ashton was angry with. Jabari¡¯s expression suddenly turned serious, as if he was done pretending. ¡°Briar,¡± he said, ¡°the intel you sold our basest time was extremely helpful. We came to buy more information from Hacker Alliance.¡± Ashton nced at Jabari, his expression unreadable. 55 vouchers Hearing Jabari¡¯s sudden, all¨Cbusiness tone, Briar raised an eyebrow. ¡°Alright, you want to buy intel? As it happens, I have exactly what you¡¯re looking for, concerning that secretboratory and its human experiments¡­ Briar wasn¡¯t the only one investigating the secretboratory and Ben, who was backing it; the DDC Vanguard was also on the case. In recent years, several of the base¡¯s mercenaries had vanished mysteriously. The investigation eventually revealed they had been taken to a secretboratory to be used as guinea pigs. Ashton frowned. ¡°You¡¯re investigating the secretboratory, too?¡± Relieved that Ashton¡¯s attention was sessfully diverted, Jabari breathed a silent sigh. ¡°The man¡¯s persistence was even harder to handle than his terrifyingbat skills, he thought. ¡°Yes, several mercenaries from our DDC Vanguard Base have gone missing. So far, our investigation only indicates they were likely taken to the secretboratory. And, as you know, Briar has been investigating this for the past few years¡­ That¡¯s why we¡¯re coborating.¡± Jabari desperately tried to redirect Ashton¡¯s suspicions. He couldn¡¯t let Briar¡¯s secret identity as the elite instructor for the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base be exposed on his watch. Otherwise, the unreasonable and overprotective Louie would beat him to death. Briar chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s right. I did work with DDC Vanguard, but we lost touch after I returned to Dasmieca. I¡¯m guessing they came to my house because they heard something from Ian.¡± Jasmin nodded quickly. ¡°Exactly. Our people spotted fan in Qathana, so the base sent the two of us to contact Briar secretly. Who knew she¡¯d be hiding a man at home¡­¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re here to discuss a coboration with Briar, go ahead. I¡¯ll leave you to it.¡± With that, Ashton actually stood up and went upstairs. Jabari watched in astonishment as Ashton left without a fuss. After a moment, he asked, ¡°Briar, is your man really that gullible?¡± Briar retorted, ¡°What do you think? He didn¡¯t believe a word of our nonsense. He¡¯s only ying along for my sake.¡± ¡®How could Ashton possibly be that gullible?¡® she thought. Worried, Jasmin got up and sat next to Briar. ¡°When we leave, is he going to brutally interrogate you? I¡¯ve heard the methods used by his 121 Overseas Mercenary Organization are even more terrifying than our base¡¯s interrogation techniques.¡± Briar smiled and shook her head. ¡°He won¡¯t go as far as brutally interrogating me. He¡¯ll just be harder to coax.¡± ¡°Alright then,¡± Jasmin said apologetically. ¡°We were careless this time and didn¡¯t think it through. We¡¯re sorry!¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s get down to business. You two are treasures at the base, so what brings you to me this time?¡± Briar didn¡¯t dwell on the topic and cut to the chase. 12:56 Sat, Sep 20 66 55 vouchers Speaking of business, Jabari and Jasmin became serious. ¡°Briar,¡± Jabari said in a grave tone, ¡°just a week ago, another five mercenaries from our base disappeared for no reason.¡± ¡°A week ago? Isn¡¯t that exactly when Ashton and his people captured Hayden?¡± A dark glint shed in Briar¡¯s eyes. Jabari nodded. ¡°Yes. Louie is already investigating it himself, but he didn¡¯t tell you, likely because he didn¡¯t want to burden you. But the men have been missing for a week, and as the head of the base¡¯s externalmunications, I have the right to ask you, as an involved party, for rification.¡± Briar opened her phone and showed Jabari the information she and Ashton had uncovered about the Garzas and the locations of several secretbs. ¡°Although I suspect things may not be what they seem, I¡¯m still willing to share this information with the base,¡± she said. She was investigating the Garzas to find the truth behind her mother¡¯s death, which shouldn¡¯t be directly rted to the missing mercenaries from the base. However, just as Jabari said, the recent disappearances of the base¡¯s mercenaries coincided with the time she took action against the Garzas. This was more than just a coincidence. ¡°I¡¯ll notify the base immediately and have them follow up on the information you provided. Hopefully, we can find some other clues.¡± Jabari immediately took out his phone and started calling people at the base. After some thought, Briar sent the information to their small WhatsApp group and tagged Louie. Jasmin said, ¡°Ian must have told Kameron the news. I just hope they¡¯re fast enough.¡± AD Forsaken 249 Chapter 249 55 vouchers Kameron Beard was the leader of the five instructors, includingn. His power was on par with the elite instructor Louie. With both top instructors personally involved, it seemed the ongoing disappearance of mercenaries had severelypromised the internal security of the DDC Vanguard Base. ¡°Now that even they¡¯re involved, we should have some leads soon. Besides, as an elite instructor at the DDC Vanguard Base¡­¡± Briar¡¯s voice trailed off. Her eyes met those of Ashton, who had appeared on the stairnding at some point. He held a phone and seemed to be on a call, likely havinge downstairs for something urgent. However, he paused at herst words. Briar swallowed hard. She waved for Jabari and Jasmin to hurry away before asking in a soft voice, ¡°Ashton, why did youe down?¡± Ashton ignored Jabari and Jasmin, who were fleeing as if for their lives, and said into the phone, ¡°Reece, I¡¯ll call you back. I need to handle a family matter first.¡± On the other end of the line, Reece had also heard Briar¡¯sst words. Afraid that Ashton mightsh out at Briar in anger, he added a well¨Cmeaning reminder before hanging up, ¡°Alright, you get to it. And¡­ uh, domestic violence isn¡¯t a good look for a real man. Watch yourself.¡± As the phone screen went dark, Briar¡¯s heart was in her mouth. She sank deeper into the sofa, offering him a strained, sweet smile, hoping it would be enough to make him listen to her exnation. Ashton slowly approached the sofa. Seeing the girl trying to disappear into the cushions, he gripped her shoulder to stop her from struggling. He then ced his other hand on the back of the sofa, trapping Briar between it and his body. He said, ¡°Babe, since you¡¯re a world¨Cfamous master hacker, you should be able to look up who I shed with during my years abroad. Five years ago, I had a run¨Cin with an elite female instructor from the DDC. Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base. She even managed to ambush me, leaving me unconscious for three days and nights.¡± With every word Ashton spoke, Briar¡¯s head sank lower, until she wished the ground would swallow her whole. The incident Ashton mentioned was one of Briar¡¯s many great aplishments before she became an elite instructor at the DDC Vanguard Base. She had actually forgotten about it before she joined Ashton¡¯s 121 Border Mercenary Organization. After all, she wouldn¡¯t dwell on a defeated opponent. But she was terrified of Ashton finding out¨Cnot because she feared he would take revenge for that past gunshot, but because the person she was five years ago was a ruthless figure who hated evil and was consumed by killing, a far cry from who she was now. If Ashton found out about her past, as meticulous and cautious as he was, he would surely unearth her other 55 vouchers secret identities as well. With nowhere left to retreat, Briar stopped backing away. She threw her arms around his neck and said. ¡°Ashton, if I told you that I¡­ I forgot about the incident you just mentioned, would you believe me?¡± Ashton was speechless. Ashton¡¯s hands itched, but he took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to pin the girl down and spank her hard. He desperately reminded himself that domestic violence was never the answer and wouldn¡¯t solve anything. Ashton said, ¡°Honey, you promised mest time that you weren¡¯t hiding any secret identities from me. Do you remember that?¡± He couldn¡¯t get physical with her, so he¡¯d just have to reason with her. Briar felt incredibly guilty. ¡°I remember! So, are you mad at me now?¡± Seeing that he¡¯d scared her enough, Ashton sat down. However, he didn¡¯t release his grip on Briar¡¯s shoulder, preventing her from making a sneaky escape. ¡°I¡¯m not exactly mad,¡± he said, ¡°but I can¡¯t keep finding out about your other identities from other people, can I?¡± Briar stared up at the ceiling light, avoiding Ashton¡¯s intense gaze. She couldn¡¯t look at him, knowing she would soften if she did. The truth was, she still had many secret identities. But revealing one meant uncovering anotheryer of her past. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to talk about her past. Some things were just too embarrassing to bring up. No youth wasplete without a touch of recklessness¨Cand Briar wore hers like a banner. All the trouble she had caused just a few years ago could fill a book. Ashton let out augh, exasperated by her tant refusal to confess. ¡°Honey, you know my interrogation techniques¡­ Most people can¡¯t handle them. Do you want to give them a try?¡± Resting her chin on her hand, Briar shook her head without a second thought. ¡°No thanks. Besides, would you have the heart to leave me all weak and bruised¡­ hmm?¡± Ashton captured her lips in a fierce, punishing kiss, pressing Briar hard into the sofa. As if to punish her for her disobedience, he didn¡¯t hold back, his full weight pinning her down. Unable to move, her eyes widened in shock, and her heart pounded. ¡°Well¡­ Ashton, you¡­ stop¡­ my pants¡­¡± Briar tried to plead with him, realizing Ashton was serious this time. He tore her clothes open and pulled down her pants in one swift motion. A chill ran through her as the cool air hit her skin, starting from her chest and spreading across her body. Her hands were pinned above her head, held fast in his single¨Chanded grip, making it impossible to escape. Briar had been ready to be with Ashton, but not like this¨Cnot when he was taking her in a fit of rage. 12:56 Sat, Sep 20 66 EZ 55 vouchers But Briar couldn¡¯t escape or resist his increasingly forceful kisses. Finally, she gave in, lying still as his lips moved from hers, down to her chin, along her neck, and lingered on her corbone¡­ In the end, it was Ashton who restrained himself. He let out a helpless sigh. ¡°Babe, you¡¯re just taking advantage of the fact that I can¡¯t bring myself to hurt you.¡± Briar let out a soft sigh of relief. Then she heard Ashton continue, ¡°But this time, you have to tell me the truth. How did you be an elite instructor at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base?¡± There was no avoiding what was toe. Briar sat up from Ashton¡¯s embrace and straightened her disheveled clothes. ¡°Ashton, you know the standards for bing an elite instructor at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base better than I do, don¡¯t you? I got in based on my skills, of course!¡± Her casual remark made Ashton¡¯s brow furrow tightly. After a moment, he pulled her into his arms and tenderly kissed her temple. ¡°You must have suffered a lot.¡± The selection process for instructors at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base was the most difficult and rigorous in the world. Not even the world¡¯s top ten mercenaries were guaranteed a position as a standard instructor, let alone the even more prestigious role of an elite instructor. 12:56 Sat, Sep 20 Chapter 250 Forsaken 250 Chapter 250 55 vouchers Ashton¡¯s words warmed Briar¡¯s heart, though she tried to appear calm. ¡°Actually, it wasn¡¯t that hard. You just learn to be more reckless than anyone else.¡± Those who feared death often died the fastest. His heart aching for her, Ashton pressed Briar¡¯s head into his chest. ¡°Alright. We won¡¯t talk about it anymore.¡± She was only 18. Of all the things she could have learned, she chose to risk her life. ¡®Is she saying all this just to make me ache for her?¡® he thought. Briar nestled in Ashton¡¯s arms, a triumphant smile on her lips. ¡°So, are you still angry?¡± Ashton sighed. ¡°After you¡¯ve made yourself sound so pitiful, how could I still be angry?¡± Although Ashton knew Briar was just being difficult on purpose, he couldn¡¯t help himself. He cared more about the hardships she had endured than hearing her exnation. As for the fact that Briar was an elite instructor at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base, there was no rush. If she wouldn¡¯t borate, he could always ask Jabari for the details. Jabari, who had snuck away from the vi, suddenly sneezed. ¡°Who¡¯s scolding me behind my back?¡± Jasmin gazed at Briar¡¯s vi in the distance. ¡°Could it be Ashton?¡± Jabari rubbed his nose. ¡°No way, right? We weren¡¯t the ones who exposed Briar¡¯s cover. If Ashton is looking for trouble, he should be going after Briar!¡± Jasmin got into the car and leaned against the open window, looking at Jabari standing by the door. ¡°Do you think Ashton will give Briar a hard time? Besides, with her skills, winning him over should be a piece of cake, right?¡± Jabari also got into the car and said smugly, ¡°Then that has even less to do with me¡­¡± ¡°But making him happy doesn¡¯t mean his anger is gone!¡± Jasmin¡¯s words instantly put Jabari on edge. Jabari immediately started the car. ¡°Honey, you¡¯re right. A cunning man like Ashton might actually use this as an excuse toe after me. We can¡¯t stay. Let¡¯s go now!¡± The car sped away as if a demon were chasing it from behind. After that short interlude, it was already 7:30 a.m. and almost breakfast time. They skipped their morning run, changed clothes, and went to the Grant family. When they entered the courtyard, Larry was humming a tune while watering his nts. It was clear he was in a great mood. ¡°Morning, Uncle Larry,¡± Briar said. 12:56 Sat, Sep ¡°Morning, Briar,¡± Larry replied. Ashton also greeted him politely, ¡°Morning, Uncle Larry.¡± 55 vouchers Seeing how polite Ashton was, Larry¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Morning, Ashton. Did you sleep wellst night?¡± Ashton nodded, walked over to Larry¡¯s side, and took the hose from him to help water the flowers. ¡°Briar¡¯s restorative worked wonders. I slept very well.¡± Ashton certainly knew how to interact with elders. He had steered the conversation perfectly with just one sentence. Larry immediately began telling Ashton amusing stories about Briar¡¯s childhood,pletely unaware that Ashton was skillfully getting information out of him. Briar tried to warn Larry, but Ashton skillfully deflected all her attempts. Briar covered her face, forced to warn him directly. ¡°Uncle Larry, can¡¯t you tell Ashton is trying to pump you for information? You¡¯ve nearly spilled all my embarrassing childhood secrets.¡± It was more than just her embarrassing childhood stories. If she let the two of them keep talking, Briar was certain that Ashton would manage to learn even more from her uncle about her reckless, death¨Cdefying antics from five years ago. Larry froze, then turned to the innocently smiling Ashton. ¡°You little rascal, you almost tricked me. Now, get inside.¡± Ashton smiled nonchntly. ¡°What are you saying? We¡¯re all family. No one is tricking anyone; we¡¯re just having a friendly chat.¡± Larryughed as well. ¡°Don¡¯t push it. If you keep asking, someone will get upset. And then, I¡¯d like to see how you manage to cate her.¡± Ashton nced at the fiercely ring Briar and shrugged. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll head inside first.¡± Briar turned and entered the house first. She needed to warn Ruben that Ashton was full of tricks andpletely unpredictable. Ruben was on the living room sofa watching the business news. When he heard a noise at the entrance, he turned and asked, ¡°Did someonee to your door to cause trouble today?¡± Briar shook her head. ¡°No, it was just a misunderstanding. A friend was ying a prank on me and happened to run into Ashton.¡± Briar was not surprised that Ruben knew what had happened at her front door this morning. The Grant family¡¯s influence was not as vast as the intelligenceworks ofrge organizations like DDC Vanguard and 121, but it far surpassed the means of ordinary businessmen. Besides, they were in the same neighborhood. She couldn¡¯t hide anything from Ruben. 12:56 Sat, Sep 20 55 vouchers Ruben nodded, his eyesnding on Ashton as he walked in behind her. He greeted him first, ¡°Morning, Ashton.¡± Ashton replied with a smile, ¡°Morning, Ruben.¡± Seeing Ruben¡¯s attitude toward Ashton, Briar knew she couldn¡¯t stop them. Ruben liked Ashton more than Larry. If Ashton wanted to learn about her past from Ruben, he would not even need to pry; Ruben would tell him everything. She watched the two men chatting casually while watching the financial news, then silently turned and sat at the dining table. ¡®Forget it. Let him pry if he wants. After all, I have some secret identities that not even my uncles knew about,¡¯ she thought. Taking out her phone, Briar sent a message to Memphis, asking for an update on the investigation into Ben. Memphis: [Briar, no news yet. Also, Louie and Kameron found me during the investigation.] Briar: [Let them. They¡¯re also tracking Ben. If you have any new leads, you can share them, since they¡¯re investigating on behalf of the base.] Memphis: [Understood.] Briar: [Alright, then. Stay safe, and keep sharing your location with me.] Memphis sent an ¡°OK¡± and went offline. ¡°Who are you chatting with?¡± Ashton¡¯s voice came from above Briar. She looked up and saw that he was standing behind her. Briar gestured with her phone and told him the truth, ¡°I was asking my operative about the progress in tracking Hayden.¡± Ashton sat down in the chair next to Briar. ¡°Any new leads?¡± Briar shook her head and said glumly, ¡°No.¡± Ashton ruffled the top of Briar¡¯s head, pressing down a stubbornly upright cowlick. ¡°You know, since you haven¡¯t been able to track him down, have you considered that you might be looking in the wrong direction?¡± Briar¡¯s expression sharpened as she looked at Ashton. ¡°Ashton, have you found a new clue?¡± Forsaken 251 Chapter 251 4¡¢(66) 55 vouchers Seeing that he had her attention, Ashton smiled and took out his phone, showing Briar thetest message on his WhatsApp. ¡°Connor sent me this this morning.¡± Briar had sharp eyes. When she saw the message on WhatsApp, she was surprised, then overjoyed. ¡°Ashton, Connor says his team found Ben¡¯s real hiding ce. Is that true?¡± A smile touched Ashton¡¯s eyes as he hummed softly. ¡°It must be true. Connor wouldn¡¯t have reported it if he wasn¡¯t certain.¡± I¡¯ll contact Louie and Kameron. Briar grabbed Ashton¡¯s hand and started to stand. ¡°Let¡¯s go get him now. I refuse to believe we can¡¯t catch that old bastard when we have both DDC Vanguard and 121 on it.¡± Ashton remained seated, gently pushing Briar back into her chair. ¡°Don¡¯t rush. We¡¯ll catch him sooner orter, but our business is more important.¡± Briar paused. ¡°What important business do we have?¡± Ashton tucked a stray strand of Briar¡¯s hair behind her ear and said gently, ¡°Honey, you promised me that if your two uncles could ept me, you would agree to my proposal¡­¡± Briar blinked, first looking at Ashton¡¯s alluring, half¨Csmiling eyes. Then she turned to Larry, who had just returned from watering the flowers, and Ruben, who was pretending to watch the financial news while secretly listening to their conversation. ¡°So, does this mean neither of you objects anymore?¡± At her words, Ruben calmly turned away, pretending to be engrossed in the news. Larry sat down beside him, staring even more intently at the TV screen. Their actions made it clear to Briar that they had no objections whatsoever. Briar was speechless. ¡°Were you two bought off that easily?¡± Briar asked in disbelief. Ruben nced at Larry, who immediately understood the signal. He stood up, went upstairs, and returned a momentter carrying a thick stack of documents. He walked to the dining table and ced the stack of documents in front of Briar. ¡°Briar, it¡¯s not that we are easily bought off. It¡¯s just¡­ well, just read these documents first.¡± Suspiciously, Briar opened the first document on top of the pile. A line of bold text met her eyes. ¡°Map of Mining Industry Distribution in the Western Middle East.¡± The second document: Legal Operator of the Diamond Mines in the Northern Middle East. The third document: Revenue details for thest quarter from Nyx Armaments, the world¡¯s thirdrgest 12:57 Sat, Sep 20 arms dealer. Then there were fourth and fifth documents, 55 vouchers The thick stack contained at least twenty documents, each detailing the distribution and revenue of a gray- market industry. In other words, these twenty¨Codd documents represented all of Ashton¡¯s side businesses. It was hard to imagine how much profit these industries would generate for him in a year. After reading through all the documents, Briar¡¯s jaw dropped. She had always known Ashton was wealthy and that, besides being the president of the Wade Group, he also had many private ventures. However, she had never imagined that Ashton had so many private businesses. Moreover, the information in these documents suggested this was only a fraction of his private ventures¡­ What shocked Briar even more was that, at the end of the stack, there was a business transfer agreement. The final beneficiary listed was¡ªBriar Jennings. This meant that from now on, the legal owner of these incredibly profitable gray¨Cmarket industries was no longer Ashton, but Briar. From this moment on, she would earn countless sums of money with every breath. She went from being a multi¨Cmillionaire to a hundred¨Cbillionaire. Briar stared at her two uncles with a nk expression. ¡°Uncle Ruben, Uncle Larry, so you just sold me out?¡± Ruben gave a slight cough, a flicker of difort on his face, but he still nodded seriously. ¡°Briar, don¡¯t me us for being heartless¡­¡± Larry added, ¡°It¡¯s just that Ashton offered too much. We simply couldn¡¯t refuse.¡± Ashton proposed by putting a hundred billion in assets on the table as his token of sincerity. When they received the stack of documents from Ashton¡¯s legal team this morning, they were even more stunned than Briar. Everyone knew Ashton was rich, but they could never have guessed that the extent of his wealth was so outrageous. Seeing him casually offer a bride price of hundreds of billions, Ruben and Larry couldn¡¯t possibly refuse. Even if Briar and Ashton were to break up, the revenue from the shady businesses she now owned would be enough to set her up for life. Briar clutched her wildly pounding chest. ¡°Ashton, isn¡¯t it cheating to use your wealth as a superpower?¡± Ashton spread his hands. ¡°But it works, doesn¡¯t it?¡± That was way too effective. 12:57 Sat, Sep 20 .(66) 55 vouchers This move didn¡¯t just leave her two uncles stunned; itpletely threw her for a loop. For the first time, she understood what it felt like when something amazing just fell into herp. ¡°So, babe, will you ept my proposal? Will you marry me?¡± As he spoke, Ashton magically produced a ring box from his pocket and opened it to reveal two diamond rings. The diamond rings featured a simple, minimalist design perfect for everyday wear, without anyrge, gaudy stones. Their surname initials were also engraved on the rings. Ashton didn¡¯t get down on one knee or whisper any sweet nothings, but the proposal still moved Briar so much that her eyes welled up with tears. Briar nced at her two uncles, who had already moved to the side of the table when Ashton presented the rings and were watching the couple with smiles. Honestly, it was a very direct and unceremonious proposal. It happened right there at the dinner table, so casually. But as Briar met Ashton¡¯s sincere and gentle gaze, she slowly extended her hand. Smiling, she replied, ¡°I do.¡± Then, Ashton slipped a diamond ring engraved with the letter ¡°B¡± onto Briar¡¯s finger. She, in turn, ced the other ring, engraved with an ¡°A¡°, on his. Apuse erupted around them as Ruben and Larry, along with their household staff and bodyguards, pped and cheered for them. The proposal was incredibly simple, yet Briar was deeply touched. Ashton also assured Ruben and Larry that after returning to the country, he would throw a grand, formal engagement party for Briar. He would invite them to represent the Grant family, attending as Briar¡¯s family. Ruben patted Ashton¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Of course. We¡¯ll be there.¡± Ruben and Larry were overjoyed that Ashton ignored the Jennings family and treated them as Briar¡¯s family instead. Ìï AD Comment Forsaken 252 They had long considered Edgar as good as dead. If Briar hadn¡¯t returned to investigate her sister¡¯s death, they would never have let him see Briar. In the end, that scumbag begged Briar to return, only to treat her poorly and even let his mistress and her two children bully her. If Briar hadn¡¯t insisted that they stay out of it, they would have made Edgar pay. Ashton¡¯s disregard for Edgar and the Jennings family won over Ruben and Larry. After breakfast, when Ashton and Briar were leaving to run errands, the two men happily saw them to the door. Even when Ashton suggested they stop by a church and get married, her two uncles had no objections. Briar was speechless. ¡°Uncles, I know Ashton is giving you a lot, but could you at least pretend to be a little reserved? This is too obvious!¡± Larry waved at Briar. ¡°Go on, you and Ashton go take care of business. We won¡¯t keep you for lunch.¡± With that, the two of them turned and went back inside. Briar was speechless. Ashton pulled the stunned young woman into the car andforted her. ¡°Darling, maybe your uncles haven¡¯t recovered from the shock yet. Once they¡¯ve had a moment, they¡¯ll probably ask us to stay.¡± That may be what he said, but the car had already sped away. Even if her uncles came to their senses now, it would be toote to stop them. Resting an arm on the car window, Briar shook her head in resignation. ¡°Ashton, you¡¯ve really mastered the art of being insincere.¡± Ashton wasn¡¯t annoyed by Briar¡¯s sarcastic tone. He reached out, took her right hand, and changed the subject. ¡°Should we meet up with Connor and the others first?¡± Briar nodded. ¡°Yes, my people have arrived as well.¡± With her identity as the elite instructor of DDC Vanguard Base exposed, Briar dropped the act and had Memphis, who was nearby, reveal himself. Ashton nced at Briar. ¡°He¡¯s one of your subordinates from the DDC Vanguard Base?¡± Briar smiled. ¡°That¡¯s right. One of my informants in the shadows.¡± Ashton raised his eyebrows in surprise. He would have thought she was joking if she hadn¡¯t looked so serious. ¡°You¡¯re one of the top five hackers in the world. Do you still need to rely on informants to gather information?¡± ¡®Wasn¡¯t that a huge humiliation to the Hacker Alliance?¡® he thought. Briar shrugged and didn¡¯t borate. ¡°It¡¯s fine. No one in the Hacker Alliance knows.¡± EL 55 vouchers A glint shed in Ashton¡¯s dark eyes. Realizing this was likely another card Briar was keeping up her sleeve, he didn¡¯t press the issue. Instead, he asked, ¡°Did Louie and Kamerone with you?¡± Briar pursed her lips. ¡°No. I was afraid you powerful figures would sh, so I had them led elsewhere¡­¡± ¡°You were afraid that if we met, I¡¯d get more information about your role at the DDC Vanguard Base from them, weren¡¯t you?¡± he said. Seeing that Ashton had seen right through her, Briar wasn¡¯t embarrassed. She retorted confidently, ¡°That¡¯s right. And wouldn¡¯t you?¡± Ashton spoke slowly, ¡°I can.¡± Briar pursed her lips. ¡°See? That solves the problem.¡± It was amusing to think about. They were already an engaged couple, yet their conversations were full of mind games. She wondered if other engaged couples were like them. Ashton chuckled, knowing he had upset her again. He took Briar¡¯s hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it gently while coaxing, ¡°I was wrong. I won¡¯t do it again. Darling, don¡¯t be angry¡­¡± A tingling sensation ran through her fingers. Briar could not resist this kind of apology from Ashton. She turned her head toward the window and reluctantly mumbled, ¡°Mhm¡­ I¡¯m not angry anymore.¡± Ashton still did not let go of Briar¡¯s hand, asionally bringing it to his lips for a kiss. Ashton had not lied to her two uncles when he said they would pass by a church. One of the hideouts they were tracking for Ben was indeed on a route that went past a church. Nittel Cathedral was one of thergest and oldest cathedrals in Qathana and a ce where many couples came to get their marriage licenses. The car slowly stopped at the cathedral entrance. Briar looked at the solemn cathedral in shock. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious. Are you really here to get a marriage license?¡± Ashton gave Briar no chance to back out. After getting out of the car, he put his arm around her and led her into the cathedral. The ce should have been a famous, bustling tourist spot, but right now, the cathedral was empty except for a kind¨Cfaced priest waiting inside, Ashton half¨Chugged and half¨Cpulled Briar to the altar. Amid the pastor¡¯s hurried yet solemn derations, she went through the ceremony in a daze, She heard the pastor¡¯s final blessing. ¡°And so, I hereby dere Mr. Ashton Wade and Ms. Briar Jennings officially husband and wife. May God bless your marriage, protect your love, and may your love be as eternal and endless as God¡¯s own love.¡± And just like that, with a stamp on the marriage certificate, Briar and Ashton went from an engaged couple to newlyweds. It all happened so fast that Briar didn¡¯t even know how she got back to the car with Ashton. ¡°My darling, from this day forward, may our lives be intertwined.¡± Ashton took the marriage certificate from Briar¡¯s hand and carefully tucked it away in the car¡¯s glovepartment. Seeing she was still in a daze, he 12:57 Sat, Sep 20 leaned in, cupped her face, and gently kissed her on the lips. 65 55 vouchers The kiss was deep and passionate. Breathless, Briar slowly came back to her senses. She gazed at the handsome face so close to hers and whispered, ¡°From this day forward, may our lives be intertwined.¡± They embraced, their foreheads touching and breaths mingling. The whole thing, from entering to leaving the church, took less than half an hour, but the whirlwind moment was filled with happiness and the hopeful anticipation of a beautiful life together. Ashton said, ¡°Darling, I know the time and ce aren¡¯t right, but can you call me ¡®Hubby¡® just once? I want to hear you say it.¡± Briar blinked her misty eyes and, in a soft, slow voice, refused, ¡°No.¡± Ashton was relentless, pestering Briar until she finally gave in. Worn down by his persistence, she whispered almost inaudibly, ¡°Hu¡­ Hubby.¡± Briar had only said ¡°Hubby¡± to make him be quiet, but her whisper¨Csoft voice had the opposite effect. It nearly turned Ashton into a ravenous wolf on the spot, ready to devour her whole. Frightened, Briar struggled, reminding him to rein in his burning desire because they were still in the car. However, Ashton replied that they were now a legally married couple, so any act of intimacy in the car was perfectly reasonable, and she could no longer refuse. His shamelessness nearly made Briar pale from shame and anger. Fortunately, Ashton hadn¡¯t been blinded by desire and still remembered they had important things to do. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Forsaken 253 In the passenger seat, Briar kept her head down, casually straightening her messy cor. But contrary to her calm movements, her face waspletely flushed. In addition to her swollen lips, several conspicuous crimson hickeys were scattered across her neck and corbone. Anyone could tell they were the marks of a passionate encounter. In contrast, Ashton, who was driving, remained as poised and elegant as ever, apart from a few more wrinkles on his rolled¨Cup sleeves. No one could tell that just ten minutes ago, Ashton had turned into a ¡®ravenous wolf¡®, pinning the ¡°weak and helpless¡± Briar beneath him and doing as he pleased. Briar gritted her teeth. If it wasn¡¯t so heartless to kill her husband right after getting married, she really wanted to give him a good beating. Seeing from the corner of his eye that Briar had straightened her clothes andposed herself, Ashton cleared his throat and asked, ¡°Honey, we¡¯ll meet up with Connor in about another 6 miles. Where is he now? Do we need to go pick him up?¡± His words were serious, but his tone was cautious and eager to please. It couldn¡¯t be helped; he had gotten carried away and been a little too wild earlier, angering his wife. If Briar got angry enough to make him kneel outside the door tonight, he would probably be the first miserable man in history to be kicked out on his own wedding night. Even a man as powerful as Ashton was still afraid of his wife when it mattered. Briar shot Ashton a re, clearly still angry. ¡°No need. We¡¯re sharing our location, so he¡¯ll follow behind us.¡± That meant her man had likely seen everything when they lingered in front of Nittel Cathedral for so long. Ashton hadpletely ruined her powerful and imposing image. Ashton rubbed his nose, not daring to linger on the dangerous topic. ¡°There are weapons in the box in the back seat. Pick one you like.¡± They were going after the real Ben, and with the uncertainty of the situation, they had to bring guns. Her uncles had prepared the car, so it was no surprise that it was stocked with weapons, given his influence. Briar turned her head to look back and, sure enough, saw a long, ck leather case under the back seat. She leaned over, swiftly opened the case, and was stunned by the neat rows of small gourd bombs inside. ¡°Did my uncles prepare these?¡± Small gourd bombs were the newest type of bomb in the world. Despite their size, they were incredibly Chapter 253 powerful, with five times the explosive force of a standard bomb. 55 vouchert- However, these micro¨Cbombs were extremely hard to get and were rumored to be controlled by only a handful of mercenary organizations. At their DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base, only instructors and higher¨Cranking members were issued these bombs. This mission with Ashton was a private operation, so the DDC Vanguard Base would not provide her with weapons. Ashton was driving and couldn¡¯t turn around. ¡°I had them prepared.¡± Briar raised an eyebrow in surprise. ¡°When did you have them prepared? How did I not know?¡± Ashton was so secretive. They had been together sincest night, yet she hadn¡¯t noticed when Ashton had arranged it. Seeing the anger fade from Briar¡¯s face, Ashton smiled. ¡°Connor sent them. They just arrived this morning.¡± Briar nodded. ¡°Alright. Connor¡¯s drive and efficiency certainly exin how he could gather so many weapons in such a short time. ¡°But I still prefer dynamite packs. They¡¯re neat and square, and they make for some spectacr fireworks.¡± Briar rummaged through the pile of small, gourd¨Cshaped bombs, selected a handgun and three of the bombs, and then closed the leather case. A muscle in Ashton¡¯s jaw twitched. He tilted his head and nced at the ecstatic young woman. ¡°Using dynamite as fireworks? Your hobbies are certainly¡­ unique.¡± Briar nodded, resting her chin on her hand propped on the car window. ¡°That¡¯s right. So don¡¯t make me angry. Otherwise, I might just carry a pack of dynamite and light up your entire 121 Overseas Mercenary Organization.¡± Ashton was speechless. ¡°Noted. But the 121 Overseas Mercenary Organization is your property now, too. It¡¯s our marital asset.¡± Briar went silent. As they spoke, Ashton nced in the rearview mirror, his eyes sharpening. ¡°We¡¯re being followed.¡± Briar looked in the rearview mirror, too. She saw two cars trailing them from a distance. They kept arge gap, as if trying not to be seen. But with tracking skills that poor, how could they possibly escape Ashton¡¯s notice? Ashton noticed they were being followed less than a minute after it started. Briar and Ashton exchanged a look, both seeing mockery and killing intent in each other¡¯s eyes. She slowly pulled out a small gourd¨Cshaped bomb and said with a wicked smile, ¡°Honey, how about I test the power of this little gourd?¡± 12:57 Sat, Sep 20 Ashton was caught off guard when Briar called him ¡°Honey.¡± He nodded, his voice raspy. ¡°Okay.¡± (65) 55 vouchers Ashton maintained his speed, leading the two cars behind them onto a deserted, remote road. At a blind corner, Ashton whispered, ¡°Honey, get ready.¡± Briar nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± As soon as she spoke, Briar opened the car door. The moment Ashton stopped the car, she slipped out, quickly hid behind tworge trees, and quietly waited for her prey to enter the trap. Then, Ashton¡¯s car continued driving forward as if nothing had happened. Because of the distance, the two cars behind didn¡¯t notice that Briar had gotten out and continued to chase Ashton¡¯s car. Just as their cars passed 300 feet beyond the trees where Briar was hiding, two small, sparking gourd¨Cshaped bombs appeared in her hands, one in each. With a smile on her lips, Briar forcefully threw the small gourd¨Cshaped bombs at the two cars. She then quickly retreated, running as fast as she could. Just as Briar reached a safe distance, two explosions erupted simultaneously. She could even feel the air around her heat up from the st. A momentter, Ashton¡¯s car returned. He picked up Briar, who was waiting by the road. She slid into the car and grinned at him. ¡°They¡¯re dead, right?¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°Completely dead.¡± The two gourd¨Cshaped bombs were powerful enough to destroy two semi¨Cbulletproof SUVs. Briar pulled out her gun and said regretfully, ¡°It¡¯s a shame. If we weren¡¯t in a hurry, I could have practiced my shooting with them.¡± ¡°Their tires are bulletproof,¡± Ashton said. ¡°I know, but their windows aren¡¯t.¡± She wondered if the men had any idea they were tracking Ashton, since they had dared toe after him in a semi¨Cbulletproof car. ? AD Comment Forsaken 254 55 vouchers Or perhaps the mastermind who sent them never intended for them to make it back alive. After dealing with the two nuisances, Ashton drove on to meet up with Connor and the others. After learning the news yesterday, Connor flew overnight to Qathana, along with Brandon and Jan. As their car pulled up safely, several people gathered around. ¡°Mr. Wade,¡± ¡°Briar.¡± ¡± ¡°We did,¡± Briar replied. ¡°We gave them two small gourds.¡± Furious,n rolled up his sleeves. ¡°The nerve of them! They actually dared to ambush us!¡± ¡°Calm down. We already blew them to pieces,¡± Briar said while patting Ian¡¯s tense arm, but Ashton grabbed her hand. Ashton said with a smile, ¡°Babe, men and women shouldn¡¯t be so familiar. Besides, you¡¯re a married woman now.¡± Briar was speechless. Ashton was not concerned about the social norms between men and women; his real point was clearly in the He said it deliberately to get Ian¡¯s and the others¡® attention. Sure enough, Ian heard him and asked curiously, ¡°Ashton, what¡¯s going on? You two¡­¡± Ashton took Briar¡¯s hand, their fingers intertwining tightly. Then, he held them up for everyone to see. ¡°We got our marriage license. We are a legally married couple. From today on, Briar is officially my wife.¡± The others were stunned. After their shock, the three of them asked in unison, ¡°When did you guys get your marriage license?¡± Their exaggerated and shocked reactions greatly delighted Ashton. ¡°Just an hour ago, on our way here, we passed by Nittel Cathedral and got our marriage license.¡± Jan was so stunned by Ashton¡¯s incredible move that he stammered, ¡°Ashton¡­ you¡­ you guys can just get a marriage license on the way?¡± He nced at Briar and saw the same ¡°Oh, this is perfectly normal¡± expression on her face. He was dumbfounded, 12:58 Sat, Sep 20 : 65 55 vouchers As expected, birds of a feather flock together. Ashton never yed by the rules, and Briar, a master in her own right, was no different. Brandon and Connor reacted quickly, bowing immediately. ¡°Mrs. Wade!¡± Briar waved a hand, telling them there was no need for such formalities. Both parties had sessfully rendezvoused. The next step was to catch their target. ording to intelligence gathered by Connor, Ben was hiding in a ce called Miluoze, an area surrounded by mountains with treacherous terrain. If they had not used a military¨Cgrade system, they might never have found a trace of him. Brandon and Connor led their men in a frontal assault from the main entrance of the winding mountain road, while Ashton, Briar, and Ian nked from the rear to prevent Ben from making a desperate escape. Briar¡¯s team was responsible for intercepting any private nes in the air. Briar was itching for action, her excitement palpable. Now that her cover as a mercenary instructor was exposed, there was no need to hide her skills from Ashton. It was time to show him what she could do. Ian sat in the back seat, listening to Briar reveal that Ashton and his men had leaked her instructor alias. He was speechless, both annoyed and amused. ¡°If I had known Ashton would be so epting of Briar¡¯s alias, I wouldn¡¯t have gone to all that troubleing back to Dasmieca,¡± Ian muttered. God knew how much effort he had put into separating his identity from Briar¡¯s just to return home and reunite with his sister. Briar nced at the frustrated Ian. ¡°Did you really think your little tricks aftering back actually fooled Ashton?¡± Ian asked nkly, ¡°Huh? He knew? Isn¡¯t Shoneport supposed to be off¨Climits to all underworld forces? If he knew, how could someone with my background get off the ne safely with Ashton¡¯s people around?¡± Briar just smiled and said nothing. Ashton was still driving. He replied without looking up, ¡°Your information was indeed well hidden, but not impossible to find.¡± ¡°Then¡­ why didn¡¯t your men ¡®take me out?¡±n asked curiously. Ashton said simply, ¡°Briar said you were friends.¡± Initially, they noticed Briar and Ellen were close. They discoveredn¡¯s existence while investigating Ellen. However, seeing how well Briar took care of Ellen, and since Ashton was pursuing her at the time, he certainly couldn¡¯t do anything to upset her at such a critical moment. 12:58 Sat, Sep 20 Ian was mortified. ¡°So, in your eyes, I¡¯m just a harmless nobody?¡± 65 E55 vouchers ¡°More or less.¡± Ashton finally nced at the dejectedn in the rearview mirror. ¡°Someone like you isn¡¯t worth my effort to guard against.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. For a powerhouse like you to feel threatened, it would have to be someone like Kameron or Louie.¡± Briar tossed a chocte to Ian. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be upset. Think about it, Ashton even hired you to be my bodyguard. Getting paid so much for doing nothing, aren¡¯t you happy?¡± ¡°Happy? Of course, I¡¯m happy!¡± Ian immediately cheered up. Fifteen million a year for such a cushy job- where else could he find such a sweet deal! ¡®Only Ashton is rich and dumb¡­ uh, I mean rich and generous, rich and generous!¡® he thought. ¡°If you take the money, you do the job right. Whether we can catch Benter is up to you.¡± Ashton was amused. His affection for Briar extended to those around her, so he was especially lenient with them. Even after learning that Ian was also from the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base, he never considered doing anything to him. Otherwise, given the rtionship between the 121 Overseas Mercenary Organization and DDC Vanguard, he would never have let him stay by Connor¡¯s side. Ian thumped his chest. ¡°Ashton, just you watch. If Ben tries to escape down this back mountain road, I¡¯ll capture him alive. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m letting him get away.¡± Briar had been obsessively searching for Ben. Even without Ashton¡¯s orders, Ian knew he could not let him escape. After all the trouble of finding Ben¡¯s hiding spot today, with so many people here to catch him, letting him escape would be a disgrace not just to Ian, but to the entire DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base. Ashton wouldn¡¯t even need to get involved; Kameron would personally beat him to a pulp. ¡®Huh?! Wait a minute. If Ben was hiding in the mountains of Miluoze, why didn¡¯t Kameron and Louiee after him?¡¯ Ian thought. ¡°Briar, Kameron and Louie didn¡¯te?¡±n asked Briar. Briar stared straight ahead, a flicker of guilt in her eyes. ¡°Huh? Oh! They got the news, but they¡¯re too far away to make it in time.¡± Jan didn¡¯t suspect a thing. ¡°Oh, that makes sense. I knew they must have heard that Ben was hiding here.¡± Briar shot a re at Ashton, whose lips were twitching into a smirk, warning him not to expose her lie in front ofn. Forsaken 255 Chapter 255 Ashton kept his eyes fixed on the road, looking as if he¡¯d been put in his ce by his wife¡¯s sharp re. But if one looked closely, his eyes were crinkling with amusement. ¡®How could she be so adorable!¡® he thought. Their cars split up seamlessly at a fork in the mountain road. Connor and his men continued up the mountain, while Ashton¡¯s car turned onto a side road leading to the back of the mountain. The road to the back of the mountain was rugged and uneven, preventing the car from picking up speed. Fortunately, Briar had already hacked all the mountain¡¯s surveince cameras before they arrived. Now, no matter how slowly they drove, they didn¡¯t have to worry about missing anything. With nothing better to do, Ian leaned over the back of the passenger seat to watch the surveince footage with Briar. On the surveince feed, Connor¡¯s car had already forced its way in. The guards at the gate couldn¡¯t even stop it. After bursting into the courtyard, Connor and Brandon split up. They pushed forward in a clean sweep, shooting down half of the ck¨Cd bodyguards along the way. The men following them were also incredible fighters, making it a thrilling sight. Seeing Connor take down two bodyguards with a single shot, Ian rubbed his hands together excitedly. ¡°Hey! Connor is an absolute beast! So awesome.¡± Ian had been on many missions since joining the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base, but they were mostly solo operations. He rarely had the chance to fight as part of a team. Seeing such a thrilling scene, he was itching to join them right away. Known for his fearless and ruthless nature, Connor was Ashton¡¯s top bodyguard, with skills second only to Ashton¡¯s. If Ashton had not deliberately kept a low profile and stopped expanding his territory in recent years, the 121 Mercenary Organization would have likely surpassed the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base as the world¡¯s top mercenary group. Watching with fascination, Briar nodded repeatedly. ¡°Connor¡¯s skills are truly wless. See? His ability to sense danger is also faster than an average person¡¯s.¡± Ian nodded in agreement. ¡°True. If it were me against that many bodyguards swarming in, I would not be able to get out unscathed. At least, I could not be as agile as he.¡± Brandon¡¯sbat prowess was equally astonishing, proving why he was Ashton¡¯s most trusted personal bodyguard, Ashton listened to them praise Connor¡¯sbat abilities without a hint of surprise. If Connor could not take on a hundred men at once, he couldn¡¯t have led the 121 Mercenary Organization for so many years. In the mercenary world, the rule had always been simple: the strongest was the boss, and the most ruthless 12:58 Sat, Sep 20 was the leader. : El 55 vouchers ¡°Brandon is incredible too¡­ Holy crap, they have grenadeunchers! Damn it, they¡¯re fighting dirty!¡±n suddenly roared in anger as he watched. Briar¡¯s breath caught in her throat. Grenadeunchers? Their firepower was a hundred times more destructive than bullets. Ashton simply nced at Briar¡¯s phone and continued to drive calmly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯ll be fine.¡± Since Connor and Brandon were sent to storm the main entrance, they were fully prepared. As long as Ben hadn¡¯t nted a self¨Cdestruct bomb in the vi, they and their men would return safely. Besides, Ashton figured that a coward like Ben wouldn¡¯t risk his own life by nting a self¨Cdestruct bomb in the vi. Sure enough, after the bodyguards in the vi fired a grenade that injured several of their own men without achieving the desired effect, they didn¡¯t dare to risk using the weapon again. The intertwining echoes of explosions, gunfire, shouts, and screams turned the vi into a living hell, finally forcing Ben, who was cowering in his room, toe out. When Briar got a clear look at the mysterious man¡¯s face on the surveince video, her expression suddenly turned cold. ¡°How could it be him?¡± Startled by the sudden cold, murderous auraing from Briar, Ian asked suspiciously, ¡°Briar, you know him? He looks like a Dasmiecian, doesn¡¯t he?¡± Ashton had already driven to a spot with low bushes behind the mountain. After parking, he nced over, but his expression changed when he got a clear look at the person on the surveince feed. There was surprise in his voice. ¡°Someone from the Lopez family?¡± Seeing their grim expressions, Ian asked anxiously, ¡°Briar, who is this guy? You all seem to know him. He looks to be in his forties or fifties, so why does he walk like he¡¯s seventy or eighty?¡± Briar¡¯s voice was icy. ¡°He might as well be. His name is Freddie Lopez, from a minor wealthy family in Shoneport. Do you remember when I was framed and almost arrested shortly after I got into Shoneport University¡­¡± ¡°How could I forget?¡± Ian replied. ¡°You said someone was deliberately giving you a hard time because of your falsified records¡­ Wait a minute.¡± Jan leaned closer to the phone for another look and asked uncertainly, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me he was the one who leaked your fake identity information.¡± Briar scoffed, ¡°I could never figure out how a small local police station could have possibly found my altered identity records.¡± Seeing the real face of Ben, the man who had been hiding in the shadows, made everything fall into ce. 12:58 Sat, Sep 20 55 vouchers Ever since she joined the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base, Briar¡¯s identity had been ssified as top secret. Anyone who could discover that her records were altered must have been watching her for years. Her identity records weren¡¯t discovered by the police back then. Someone leaked them on purpose. Back then, if Ashton hadn¡¯t arrived in time, she would have had to resort to special tactics and would have fallen right into Freddie¡¯s trap. Still, she couldn¡¯t understand why the Lopez family would target the Grant family and her mother. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. Once we catch them, finding out why will be easy,¡± Ashton said soothingly, sensing his wife¡¯s distress and fearing she might act impulsively. Briar looked up, her turbulent anger gradually calming under Ashton¡¯s gentle gaze. ¡°You¡¯re right. Once we catch them, everything wille to light.¡± The fight inside the vi continued, but Connor and Brandon had already taken control. On the security monitors, Freddie saw his men were about to copse. Escorted by four or five bodyguards, he rushed to the vi¡¯s rooftop, where a helicopter was waiting. However, his escape n was destined to fail. Before they could get close to the helicopter, they watched helplessly as a small, gourd¨Cshaped bomb urately detonated above it, destroying the rotor des and preventing it from taking off. Unable to escape by helicopter, their only remaining quick exit was the path on the mountain behind the vi. AD Forsaken 256 Chapter 256 So, once again protected by his bodyguards, Freddie hurriedly got into a car and drove off toward the mountain behind the vi. Freddie sat in the car with a grim expression, nked by two bodyguards. The atmosphere inside was quiet and oppressive. His gaze, fixed on the road ahead, held an indescribable madness and gloom. ¡°Have you found out who sent them?¡± Freddie asked. The bodyguard in the passenger seat turned around. ¡°Boss, if our information is correct, they are Ashton¡¯s men. The two at the front are Connor and Brandon.¡± ¡°I thought we sent people to intercept them! Where are they? Why haven¡¯t they reported back? Are they all dead?!¡± Freddie grew angrier as he spoke, his eyes turning red as he red at the bodyguard in the passenger seat. The bodyguard didn¡¯t dare to talk back as Freddie berated him. He tried to exin, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Boss. I haven¡¯t received any news from them, so I thought they hadn¡¯t encountered Ashton¡¯s group yet. Who knew that Ashton¡¯s men would have already found us?¡± Suddenly, the bodyguard on the left spoke with a terrified look on his face. ¡°Boss, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s just Ashton¡¯s men who¡¯ve found us¡­¡± Freddie immediately understood. ¡°You mean Briar is here too?¡± The bodyguard on the left nodded. ¡°Boss, everything was so chaotic just now that we couldn¡¯t react. No matter how stealthy and skilled Ashton¡¯s men are, they couldn¡¯t have stormed our vi so quickly without us noticing a thing.¡± ¡°Boss, our vi¡¯s security cameras must have been hacked beforehand.¡± The bodyguard on the right chimed in, his face even paler than Freddie¡¯s. ¡°Otherwise, how could we have missed everything?¡± The car fell into a brief, deathly silence again. They had escaped in a hurry and didn¡¯t have time to review the vi¡¯s security footage. After regaining hisposure, Freddie eagerly took out his phone to check the surveince system. However, the connection between his phone and the vi was lost. His phone, the main hub for the security feed, could not connect to the surveince signal. Seeing Freddie staring at the lost connection, the bodyguard to his left said dejectedly, ¡°Just as I thought. Someone tampered with our surveince. That¡¯s why our men didn¡¯t spot the intruders right away.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Our men will cover our retreat. This back¨Cmountain road is almost impossible to spot, even by satellite. We¡¯ll definitely get the boss out of here.¡± The bodyguard was also a tough character. Since it was a life¨Cor¨Cdeath situation, their top priority was to escape with their lives. However, before anyone else could agree, they saw a ck SUV parked brazenly at a bend in the rugged mountain road ahead. Sitting on its hood was a familiar figure that Freddie had been obsessing over¡ªBriar. 12:58 Sat, Sep 20 65)¡£ 55 vouchers The very person they were just discussing suddenly appeared before them, holding several small, gourd- shaped bombs. Only someone who had experienced such a visual shock firsthand could truly understand the feeling. Freddie roared, ¡°Kill them! Quick! Kill them now!¡± ¡®Impossible! This is impossible! There is not even a road on this side of the mountain. How did their car get here?¡® he thought. The car stopped, and the bodyguards immediately raised their guns, aiming at Briar on the hood. A firefight was imminent. Ashton took a step forward, shielding Briar behind him. He stood there with one hand in his pocket, not even holding a gun. He had a calm demeanor that seemed to say, ¡°I bet you won¡¯t dare to shoot.¡± Freddie didn¡¯t dare to shoot Ashton. The status and power of the Wade family,bined with the numerous covert forces under Ashton¡¯s control, forced Freddie to be wary of him. This was why, even when cornered and with Briar ready to drop a bomb on his head, he only dared to point his gun at her and not at Ashton. He couldn¡¯t afford to offend the Wade family. He certainly couldn¡¯t afford to offend Ashton. The bodyguards were more panicked than Freddie. ¡°Boss, what do we do? Do we still shoot?¡± Freddie stared intently at Ashton and Briar, who was peeking out from behind with a smile. Finally, he redirected all his frustration toward the man on the other side, pointing and ordering, ¡°Take out their aplice first.¡± Ian was speechless. Silence descended. ¡®So, you can¡¯t beat Briar and don¡¯t dare to mess with Ashton, which means you think I¡¯m an easy target, is that it?¡® Ian thought. ¡°Fine, bring it on! I¡¯ll show you just how formidablen can be.¡± Ian finally understood. After taking 15 million dors from Ashton, it was his job to step up for the dirty work. Hearing this, the bodyguards paused with their guns raised. They took another hard look at the arrogant, nonchnt man, feeling that his face seemed familiar. But no matter how familiar he looked, he couldn¡¯t be more untouchable than Ashton. So they just epted the challenge. 12:58 Sat, Sep 20 (65 EL 55 vouchers The next second, gunfire erupted. Both sides used the cars for cover as sparks flew, but they all tacitly avoided Ashton and Briar. But Freddie was not so lucky. No matter how good the bodyguards were, bullets don¡¯t discriminate, and idents were bound to happen. Ten minutes into the firefight, a scream echoed through the mountain forest as a bullet pierced Freddie¡¯s shoulder. It was not Ian. Briar fired the shot. Freddie hid in the car, watching from a tricky angle as his bodyguards exchanged fire with the men on the other side. The moment he peeked out again, a bullet shot through the half¨Copen window and struck his shoulder. He didn¡¯t even see how Briar moved from behind Ashton to a nearby tree. He thought she had been sitting on the hood the entire time, casually tossing a small, gourd¨Cshaped bomb. ¡°Boss, go! We¡¯ll hold them off!¡± The bodyguards fighting Ian heard the scream from the car and knew it was bad. They roared for Freddie and his men to drive away. They were all men trained by Freddie. If they died, their families would receive a hugepensation, enough for them to live without worry for the rest of their lives. That¡¯s why Freddie had gotten away with running a live¨Csubjectboratory andmitting crimes for so many years. Whenever there was danger, his bodyguards died for him. Freddie clutched his shoulder and copsed onto the back seat. While firing his gun, the bodyguard from the front passenger seat scrambled into the driver¡¯s seat, trying to drive Freddie away. Unfortunately, after finally finding the real Ben, there was no way Briar would let him escape so easily. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Forsaken 257 Chapter 257 Briar¡¯s marksmanship was superb, or at least, that was what Ashton thought. 55 vouchers So, as Freddie and his bodyguard tried to break out of the established safe zone, Ashton simply stepped aside to give Briar a clear shot. At the same time, he shifted to another angle to shield Briar from the line of fire of the bodyguards battling Ian. Ashton nced over at Ian, utterly speechless that he had spent two minutes and still hadn¡¯t dealt with a few bodyguards. ¡®One of the top eight instructors from the DDC Vanguard Base? Hisbat skills are pathetic,¡® he thought. After capturing Freddie, he would have to find time to talk to Jabari. If the instructors¡®bat skills were this poor, how could they dare ask for such a high price for a coboration? Ian had no idea that his desperate efforts to buy time for Briar were being thoroughly despised by Ashton. Briar knelt on the hood, aimed, and fired three shots, blowing out three tires on Freddie¡¯s car. The car swerved uncontrobly. Inside, a terrified Freddie was tossed about, losing all his usualposure. ¡°Boss, get out and run! I¡¯ll cover you,¡± the bodyguard yelled after struggling to control the swerving vehicle and crashing it into a tree. Blood oozed from the gunshot wound in Freddie¡¯s shoulder, drenching his upper body. He was in a wretched state but had no time to worry about the injury. Heeding his bodyguard, he nodded, pushed open the car door, and got out. He struggled to keep his bnce as he ran toward the woods. If he could just get out of Ashton¡¯s and Briar¡¯s sight, he might survive. He knew better than anyone just how terrifying Briar could be. After all, he had watched Briar grow from a naive child, who would only cry when in danger, into an international assassin. Her abilities and her capacity to learn were as precious as her mother¡¯s blood. This was also why, despite having numerous opportunities to kill Briar before she was fully capable, he never did. He wanted to use her brain and blood for new drug research. If sessful, theb could continue to operate in secret for decades. No one could resist a living specimen that grew stronger and brought hope right before their eyes. With two bangs, the bodyguard covering Freddie¡¯s retreat copsed. One shot to the heart and another to the 12:58 Sat, Sep 20 A 65 55 vouchers head; he couldn¡¯t be any deader. His body didn¡¯t even twitch as he copsed, and he stopped breathing instantly. Freddie clutched the gunshot wound on his shoulder, blood seeping through his fingers as he ran on, panting heavily. But he had relied on medication to maintain his health for years. While he could manage a brisk walk, such intense running was utterly exhausting for him. Before long, all Freddie could hear was his own heavy gasping. His legs seemed to be rooted to the ground. He couldn¡¯t run anymore. Freddie nced back to see if anyone was following, but horror filled his expression the moment he turned. Briar was just three steps away, following at an unhurried, leisurely pace. He didn¡¯t even know when she had gotten behind him. He hadn¡¯t heard a single sound the whole time. How terrifying! Freddie stumbled and his legs gave out. Trembling, he pitched forward and was about to hit the ground. In his peripheral vision, Freddie saw Briar reach out a hand. He hoped she would help him up, but instead of pulling him, she gave him a hard push. Thest thing Freddie felt before passing out was pain. Ashton and Ian walked over. Frowning at Freddie¡¯s stiff body on the ground, Ashton said, ¡°He¡¯s so useless. I doubt he¡¯s the mastermind behind the secret live experimentationb.¡± Ian walked over to Freddie and nudged him with his foot. When he saw Freddie wasn¡¯t faking, he nodded in agreement. ¡°Yeah, how could a pathetic old man like him kidnap and sell people for experiments? He has nobat skills, doesn¡¯t seem very smart, and his bodyguards are useless¡­¡± ¡°Seriously? Briar, this is the old guy who chased you all over town when you were a kid?¡±n asked. It wasn¡¯t that he was being nosy; the whole situation just felt strange, no matter how he looked at it. ¡°That¡¯s it? That¡¯s him?¡® he thought. Briar pouted, put away her rifle, and took out a small gourd¨Cshaped bomb, tossing it up and down. ¡°I hate to admit it, but he was the source of every danger I faced as a child.¡± ¡°He hunted you from the time you were five until you were eighteen?¡± Ashton asked. Even before Briar could answer, Ashton¡¯s voice had already turned icy. He looked at Freddie as if he were already a dead man. 12:58 Sat, Sep 20 : 65 E55 vouchers Briar gave a self¨Cmockingugh. ¡°Yeah. All the assassins who hunted me were hired by him. Pathetic, aren¡¯t I?¡± She couldn¡¯t believe she had been hunted for so many years by someone so pathetic. Other children had childhoods filled withughter and y, but hers was spent either being hunted or on the run. Every time she survived an attack, she would spend even more time learning how to stay alive in the shortest time possible. ¡°No, you¡¯re incredible¨Cstronger and braver than anyone your age.¡± Ashton pulled Briar into his arms and smoothed her windblown hair. ¡°It¡¯s because of your bravery that I was able to meet you.¡± Ian was speechless. ¡®That¡¯s Ashton for you. He even flirts at a time like this. How did he manage to make such an earnest and heartfelt confession in this tense atmosphere? But judging by Briar¡¯s reaction¡­ well, Ashton certainly knows how tofort a heartbroken Briar,¡¯ he thought. A single sentence made Briar smile through his tears. ¡°Mr. Wade, Mrs. Wade.¡± Connor and Brandon rushed over with their men. Seeing the body on the ground and the car with its tires blown out, they had expected to find a fierce battle. Instead, all they saw was Ashton with his foot on Freddie¡¯s ¡°body,¡± whispering sweet nothings to Briar. Well, they had worried for nothing. With Ashton around, nothing could go wrong. It didn¡¯t matter who this mysterious man was. Anyone who recognized Ashton would never dare toy a hand on him. ¡°Is everyone in the vi taken care of?¡± Ashton asked, casually pulling his foot back from the ¡°body.¡± As he lifted his foot, the crisp sound of a bone breaking came from Freddie¡¯s leg. Connor¡¯s eyes flickered, and he pretended not to see Ashton vent his anger with that kick. ¡°They¡¯re all taken care of. No one was left behind. I¡¯ve already arranged for our men to take inventory of everything in the vi.¡± Ashton nodded and gestured at the ¡°body¡± on the floor. ¡°Take him back and lock him up. Don¡¯t let him have it too easy,¡± Brandon and Connor exchanged a look. ¡°Understood.¡± This meant they were to break every bone in Ben¡¯s body, one by one, 12:59 Sat, Sep 20 Chapter 258 Forsaken 258 Chapter 258 : 65 55 vouchers, Now that they had sessfully captured their target, Ashton nned to take Briar back to the Grant family first. Interrogating Freddie could wait. The allure of their wedding night was far more exciting to Ashton than the prospect of interrogating Freddie. Besides, he had told her two uncles that he was taking Briar out on official business, but they ended up getting their marriage certificate along the way. They had to go back and tell Briar¡¯s uncles. Although Ruben and Larry had already verbally epted him, epting him and tricking a young woman into secretly getting married were two different things. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, darling. Should we head home?¡± Ashton had been holding Briar¡¯s hand tightly ever since Freddie copsed, afraid she might casually shoot him again. ¡®How could Freddie possibly withstand another shot? We can¡¯t let someone like him die so easily, he thought. Briar looked down at her hand, held tightly by Ashton, then at the nervous looks from Connor and Brandon. She smiled faintly and tossed the gun to Ian. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go back for now.¡± Not giving Briar a chance to change her mind, Ashton immediately led her to the car and waved at Connor and his men, signaling them to quickly get the man out of sight. Connor nced at Ian, who was enjoying the drama, and then at Briar, who was reluctantly coaxed into the car by Ashton. He sighed. ¡®Having such a capable bossdy is a lot of work sometimes.¡® Ashton stepped on the gas and drove off, ignoring Ian, who hadn¡¯t had time to get in the car. Briar was amused by Ashton¡¯s tense demeanor. ¡°Ashton, I wasn¡¯t nning on letting Freddie die so Ashton nodded. ¡°I know. It¡¯s our first day of marriage, so we shouldn¡¯t be looking at something so unpleasant. It¡¯s bad luck!¡± Briarughed. ¡°Alright, you have a point. I won¡¯t look.¡± The capture was surprisingly smooth, taking less than five hours from start to finish. If they headed back now, they could still make it in time for dinner at the Grant family. Briar called her two uncles in advance, telling them they would be home for dinner and had two pieces of good news, which certainly piqued their curiosity. Ashton didn¡¯t bother clearing out the weapons, leaving them casually on the back seat as he drove into the Grant family. The moment their car pulled into the courtyard, the vi¡¯s security rm red sharply. 12:59 Sat, Sep 20 65) 55 vouchers head; he couldn¡¯t be any deader. His body didn¡¯t even twitch as he copsed, and he stopped breathing instantly. Freddie clutched the gunshot wound on his shoulder, blood seeping through his fingers as he ran on, panting heavily. But he had relied on medication to maintain his health for years. While he could manage a brisk walk, such intense running was utterly exhausting for him. Before long, all Freddie could hear was his own heavy gasping. His legs seemed to be rooted to the ground. He couldn¡¯t run anymore. Freddie nced back to see if anyone was following, but horror filled his expression the moment he turned. Briar was just three steps away, following at an unhurried, leisurely pace. He didn¡¯t even know when she had gotten behind him. He hadn¡¯t heard a single sound the whole time. How terrifying! Freddie stumbled and his legs gave out. Trembling, he pitched forward and was about to hit the ground. In his peripheral vision, Freddie saw Briar reach out a hand. He hoped she would help him up, but instead of pulling him, she gave him a hard push. Thest thing Freddie felt before passing out was pain. Ashton and Ian walked over. Frowning at Freddie¡¯s stiff body on the ground, Ashton said, ¡°He¡¯s so useless. I doubt he¡¯s the mastermind behind the secret live experimentationb.¡± Ian walked over to Freddie and nudged him with his foot. When he saw Freddie wasn¡¯t faking, he nodded in agreement. ¡°Yeah, how could a pathetic old man like him kidnap and sell people for experiments? He has nobat skills, doesn¡¯t seem very smart, and his bodyguards are useless¡­¡± ¡°Seriously? Briar, this is the old guy who chased you all over town when you were a kid?¡±n asked. It wasn¡¯t that he was being nosy; the whole situation just felt strange, no matter how he looked at it. ¡°That¡¯s it? That¡¯s him?¡® he thought. Briar pouted, put away her rifle, and took out a small gourd¨Cshaped bomb, tossing it up and down. ¡°I hate to admit it, but he was the source of every danger I faced as a child.¡± ¡°He hunted you from the time you were five until you were eighteen?¡± Ashton asked. Even before Briar could answer, Ashton¡¯s voice had already turned icy. He looked at Freddie as if he were already a dead man. 12:59 Sat, Sep 20 C hapter 258 Now that they had sessfully captured their target, Ashton nned to take Briar back to the Grant family first. Interrogating Freddie could wait. The allure of their wedding night was far more exciting to Ashton than the prospect of interrogating Freddie. Besides, he had told her two uncles that he was taking Briar out on official business, but they ended up getting their marriage certificate along the way. They had to go back and tell Briar¡¯s uncles. Although Ruben and Larry had already verbally epted him, epting him and tricking a young woman into secretly getting married were two different things. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, darling. Should we head home?¡± Ashton had been holding Briar¡¯s hand tightly ever since Freddie copsed, afraid she might casually shoot him again. ¡®How could Freddie possibly withstand another shot? We can¡¯t let someone like him die so easily, he thought. Briar looked down at her hand, held tightly by Ashton, then at the nervous looks from Connor and Brandon. She smiled faintly and tossed the gun to Ian. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go back for now.¡± Not giving Briar a chance to change her mind, Ashton immediately led her to the car and waved at Connor and his men, signaling them to quickly get the man out of sight. Connor nced at Ian, who was enjoying the drama, and then at Briar, who was reluctantly coaxed into the car by Ashton. He sighed. ¡®Having such a capable bossdy is a lot of work sometimes. Ashton stepped on the gas and drove off, ignoring Ian, who hadn¡¯t had time to get in the car. Briar was amused by Ashton¡¯s tense demeanor. ¡°Ashton, I wasn¡¯t nning on letting Freddie die so Ashton nodded. ¡°I know. It¡¯s our first day of marriage, so we shouldn¡¯t be looking at something so unpleasant. It¡¯s bad luck!¡± Briarughed. ¡°Alright, you have a point. I won¡¯t look.¡± The capture was surprisingly smooth, taking less than five hours from start to finish. If they headed back now, they could still make it in time for dinner at the Grant family. Briar called her two uncles in advance, telling them they would be home for dinner and had two pieces of good news, which certainly piqued their curiosity. Ashton didn¡¯t bother clearing out the weapons, leaving them casually on the back seat as he drove into the Grant family. The moment their car pulled into the courtyard, the vi¡¯s security rm red sharply. 12:59 Sat, Sep 20 : 65 55 vouchers Briar calinly got out of the car. As her two uncles rushed toward them with guns raised, she opened the rear door and pointed to a ck leather case on the seat. ¡°Uncles, don¡¯t worry. This is a gift for you from Ashton.¡± Ashton, Ruben, and Larry were speechless. Knowing he couldn¡¯t exin why he had taken Briar for a ride and returned with heavy weapons and explosives, Ashton simply smiled and nodded. ¡°Yes, uncles. These are gifts for you. Please ept them.¡± Larry put away his gun, walked over, and opened the ck briefcase. He gasped, ¡°So many bombs?¡± ¡°Gourd bombs¡± were the newest type of explosive in the world. The Grant family were not arms dealers, so they had no way of acquiring such advanced new weapons. But they were always prepared for danger and paid close attention to weaponry, so they recognized the highly sought¨Cafter ¡°gourd bombs¡± and knew just how in¨Cdemand they were. ¡°Ashton¡­ where on earth did you get such advanced weapons?¡± Larry chuckled. Every man loved guns. He was thrilled to have such rare weapons delivered right to him. Since he was giving gifts, Ashton wasn¡¯t one to be stingy. He walked to the trunk, opened it, and waved to Larry, who was grinning from ear to ear while clutching the briefcase. ¡°A few bombs are nothing. I also brought thetest submachine guns, but I only have four for now. Take them and have some fun.¡± Larry and Ruben were almost drooling. ¡®Four submachine guns, the newest model in the world¡­ to ¡°have some fun¡± with?! How do we use them? Use them on flowers and nts? Or use them on the mysterious man, who¡¯s been secretly plotting against the Grant family?¡® Larry thought. Briar nudged Ashton. ¡°Uncles, Ashton meant for you to keep these for collection, not to pick fights with them.¡± Ashton continued to smile without offering any opinion. His wife probably didn¡¯t know that her uncles had been secretly investigating Ben with just as much effort as she had. They kept it from Briar only because they didn¡¯t want her to worry. Ruben said, ¡°Alright, we love these gifts. That¡¯s very thoughtful of you, Ashton.¡± He waved over a bodyguard and had them move the weapons to the basement. Then he smiled and invited Ashton inside, casually asking, ¡°Ashton, you suddenly gave us such fine weapons. Did something happen when you two went out today?¡± Ashton calmly followed Ruben inside. He detected the probing question but remainedposed. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. We just went for a drive and a short hike today. Nothing happened.¡± ¡°Then what about the two pieces of good news Briar mentioned on the phone? What are they?¡± Larry asked. No matter how well Ashton concealed his expression, it was no match for how well they knew Briar. As the old saying goes, when one raised a child, he would know exactly what mischief the kid was plotting. Briar had called specifically to show off, so she must have had some good news to share¨Cthe kind that would 12:59 Sat, Sep 20 make them happy as well. Ruben and Larry knew Briar very well. 65 55 vouchers Ashton rubbed his nose, ncing at a guilty¨Clooking Briar who was avoiding his gaze by looking at the sky, the ground, and her shoes. ¡°Maybe we can talk while we eat?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go. Dinner is ready, so we can talk while we eat.¡± A sudden sense of foreboding washed over Ruben. He wondered if Briar had gone out andmitted some major crime. Ruben and Larry exchanged a look. Larry discreetly fell back a few steps, summoned a bodyguard, and whispered in his ear. The bodyguard¡¯s mouth twitched, but he nodded seriously before turning to leave. Briar saw everything her uncles did and felt the urge to roll her eyes. She wasn¡¯t a child anymore. But they were still so overprotective of her. She didn¡¯t even have to guess what the bodyguard was up to. Larry must have sent him to investigate what they had been doing, checking if anyone had been foolish enough to bully her. Her uncles weren¡¯t thinking straight. Not only was she more than capable of handling herself now, but she had also been with Ashton. Who would be foolish enough to pick a fight with him? AD Forsaken 259 Chapter 259 However, the concern from her two uncles warmed Briar¡¯s heart. $79 55 vouchers For years, she had lived in constant danger. An ordinary person would have broken down long ago, always teetering on the edge of life and death. No matter how resilient or quick to learn she was, there would always be a day when she could not hold on anymore. The quietpanionship and unconditional protection from her grandfather and two uncles always gave her a seemingly endless reserve of strength. This strength allowed her to remain calm and rational in every life¨Cor¨Cdeath situation, enabling her to navigate one crisis after another. She did not have arge family. Her mother was gone, and her grandfather had also passed away. Now, her only remaining rtives were her two uncles. At the dining table, Briar felt inexplicably down. She sat quietly with her eyes lowered, listening to the idle chatter between Ashton and her two uncles. Suddenly, a warm hand rested on her head. Briar looked up and met Ashton¡¯s smiling eyes. ¡°Honey, I left our marriage certificate in the car. Go and get it.¡± ¡°Huh? What?¡± Briar was startled. She immediately looked at her two uncles across the table, only to see their brows twitching and a hint of murderous intent in their eyes. But their lips were curled into smiles, a clear effort to appear friendly and weing. Briar had been lost in thought and wasn¡¯t paying close attention to their conversation. ¡®So, did this mean Ashton has already won over them?¡® she thought. ¡®Getting a marriage certificate without their permission was a huge deal. How on earth did Ashton manage to calm my uncles down with just a few words? And they were even forcing smiles?¡® ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go get it.¡± Briar didn¡¯t dare ask how Ashton had won over her uncles, fearing their barely suppressed anger would be unleashed on her. She got up and strode toward the main entrance, practically fleeing the scene. But what Briar didn¡¯t know was that as she turned toward the door, out of her sight, her two uncles had already thrown their knives and forks at Ashton. Fearing Briar might hear, Ruben and Larry attacked Ashton in silence. The three of them started fighting, but considering Ruben¡¯s and Larry¡¯s age andck of professional training, Ashton handled the two¨Con¨Cone situation with ease. Ruben and Larry were furious 10:04 Sun, Sep 21 : (79) 55 vouchers Ashton dodged and weaved, only defending and never attacking. What a joke. He didn¡¯t dare fight back. If he even dared to throw one punch, the two old men would immediately fall, y dead, and then run to Briar to badmouth him. At that point, Briar would find fault with Ashton. Ashton¡¯s self¨Cawareness ¡°saved¡± his life. When Briar returned with the marriage certificate, Ruben and Larry could only re angrily at Ashton, having found no excuse to speak ill of him to her. Ruben looked at Larry, who immediately understood and was about to ¡°nder¡± Ashton. If they couldn¡¯t beat him, they could at least pin a false charge on him. But who was Ashton? This cunning fox had long seen through their intentions. Before Larry could even speak, he clutched his arm and let out a soft, pained sound. The sound was faint, but¨Cperhaps intentionally¨Cit was just loud enough for everyone in the restaurant to hear. Briar walked into the dining room and heard them as well. Briar scanned the dining table, noticing that while the tableware seemed neat, many tes were out of ce. She walked over to Ashton and asked, ¡°Ashton, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Ashton¡¯s voice held a suppressed pain. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. I must be tired from our trip today. I was sparring with your two uncles earlier, and Larry knocked my arm out of its socket. I know it was an ident, though. I don¡¯t me him.¡± After speaking, Ashton perfectly timed the release of his hand from his arm. Then, in full view of everyone, his right arm dropped, dangling and swaying as if it were genuinely dislocated. Presenting the facts as evidence, Ashton looked pale. Larry watched in astonishment as the young man used such a despicable trick, ying the victim right in front of them. His jaw dropped, and for a moment, he was too stunned to say a word in defense. The corner of Ruben¡¯s mouth twitched wildly. They had been careless! So that was why the young man was only defending and not attacking earlier. They had thought he wouldn¡¯t dare to fight back, but it turned out he was waiting to spring this trap on them. He knew they would deliberately speak ill of him in front of Briar, so he used their own tricks against them, beating them to the punch and leaving them with nothing to say. Ashton smiled. ¡°Darling, my arm hurts so much! Can you help me?¡± Sep : ¡®Heh! Who needs pride? Could pride win her sympathy?¡® Larry thought. 79 55 vouchers ¡°How could you be so careless?¡± Briar said, even though she could tell there must be some kind of misunderstanding. But, as everyone knew, Briar was powerless against Ashton¡¯s good looks. With Ashton acting so ¡°delicate,¡± so ¡°innocent,¡± and so ¡°aggrieved¡± toward Briar, she couldn¡¯t possibly resist. She shot Ashton a look, signaling him not to overdo it. ¡®Couldn¡¯t you see that they are practically grinding their teeth?¡® she said with her eyes. Ashton immediately straightened up. He sidled up to Briar with his arm dangling, letting her put his dislocated arm back in ce. Amused and resigned, Briar reached out. With two sharp cracks, Ashton¡¯s dislocated and limp arm was immediately back to normal. Ashton ignored the furious res from his two uncles across the table. ¡°Thanks. You¡¯re the best.¡± Veins throbbed at the temples of Ruben and Larry as they reined in their fury. They had miscalcted; Ashton was so shameless. They thought, ¡®Isn¡¯t the renowned crown prince of Shoneport said to be cold, cunning, and smooth? Why, then, is this man acting like a fawningpdog, shamelessly showing off his affection?¡® Briar pushed Ashton back into his chair. ¡°Sit still and behave yourself!¡± Ashton sat obediently, no longer moving or making a fuss. Briar cleared her throat and ced the marriage certificate in front of her two uncles. ¡°Uncle Ruben, Uncle Larry, this is our marriage certificate¡­¡± In truth, Briarcked confidence as she spoke, feeling like a mischievous child who had caused trouble and was too scared to confess to her parents. The reason was simple: she was a coward. Back then, Briar was so mesmerized by Ashton¡¯s handsome face that she couldn¡¯t resist, and just like that, it was a done deal. Now that she thought about it, Ashton hadn¡¯t simply gotten married on his way to arrest someone. He had clearly arrested someone on his way to get married. They thought, ¡®But what¡¯s the use of realizing it now? They are already married! Ruben and Larry were speechless. Unlike in Dasmieca, where marriage certificates are two separate booklets, Qathana¡¯s was just a single A4- sized paper with an official seal. But with that official seal, it was legally binding. Even if Ruben and Larry refused to acknowledge it, they had no choice. 10:05 Sun, Sep 21 Forsaken 260 This meant that, from this day on, this kid was one of the Grant family. They hated to admit it, but they had no choice. (79) E 55 vouchers Ashton was very perceptive. He took one look at the two men¡® expressions and knew they were unhappy. So, he took out his phone and made two calls. ¡°Ruben, Larry, we actually have some more good news to share,¡± Ashton said cheerfully. Ruben and Larry looked at Ashton suspiciously. By now, his smile made them instinctively nervous. ¡°What good news?¡± Ashton looked at Briar. ¡°Honey, do you want to tell them, or should I?¡± Briar had already recovered from her low spirits. Hearing Ashton¡¯s question, she said, ¡°You go ahead.¡± Her uncles didn¡¯t like her getting involved in dangerous things like fighting, so it was best for her to keep quiet. Ashton nodded and turned to Ruben and Larry, briefly telling them about the official business they had handled earlier that day. Of course, Ashton only shared what he could. As for Briar, who had done most of the work during the arrest, he barely mentioned her contribution. ¡°What? You¡¯re saying you went out and identally caught Ben?¡± Larry leaped to his feet in disbelief after hearing this. Although his mind was reeling, Ruben was much calmer and moreposed than Larry. He nced at Briar, who sat with her eyes lowered. He asked Ashton, ¡°What about him? Is he still alive?¡± Compared to their hatred for Ben, Briar clearly loathed him even more, Ruben did not believe that Briar would let Ben live. Ashton nodded. ¡°He is, of course, still alive¡­¡± But then he thought of Freddie¡¯s stooped figure and the order he gave to Connor, so he added for uracy, ¡°Alive for now.¡± Ruben and Larry were speechless. His rification was quite intriguing. He had a feeling that this person would be dead soon. 10:05 Sun, Sep 21 : ?(79 55 vouchers Before Ruben and Larry could give it much thought, their phones began to chime with text message notifications. At Ashton¡¯s signal, they looked down and checked their phones. The text message contained a short video of an old man who had been tortured beyond recognition. There was no need to guess. The old man had to be Ben, whom Ashton and his team had captured. Their reactions were a strange mix of shock and pleasant surprise. Seeing is believing. The video footage was far more shocking than Ashton¡¯s announcement of Ben¡¯s capture. Ben was the enemy who had haunted the Grant family for so many years¨Cthe demon who had turned Briar from a sweet, innocent girl into a cold, deste assassin. They had often imagined what Ben would look like¨Cugly and repulsive¨Cbut they never expected this. In the video, a stooped old man was held firmly against a wall, his hands and feet bound to prevent him from struggling. Then, someone held an iron rod as thick as an arm. The rod was swung and struck with force. With each blow, they could hear the sound of breaking bones and agonizing screams from the video. What followed was the man¡¯s body caving in and bulging out, a result of his bones breaking and shifting. The mere thought of such a feeling was horrifying. This was crueler than killing him outright; it was a savage beating. But it was satisfying, incredibly satisfying. There was also an unprecedented sense of exhration. Larry watched the video twice but was still not fully satisfied, He looked up, and his gaze on Ashton had gradually shifted from disgust to fervor. He even looked eager to try it himself. Larry asked, ¡°Ashton, good work. Where do your men have him locked up now?¡± Before Ashton could answer, Briar asked warily, ¡°Uncle, what are you up to?¡± Larry red at Briar. ¡°What could a delicate man like me, who can¡¯t even lift a finger, possibly do?¡± Briar was at a loss for words, thinking her uncle was as shameless as Ashton. ¡°Larry, have you forgotten the time you broke two of a man¡¯s ribs with a single kick?¡± 10:05 Sun, Sep 21 ¡®A delicate man? Can¡¯t lift a finger?¡® Briar sneered inwardly. 79 55 vouchers Unable to win the argument, Larry pulled rank. ¡°Don¡¯t interrupt when adults are talking. Run along and y.¡± Briar pouted and turned toin, ¡°Uncle Ruben, look, Uncle Larry is bullying me again.¡± Ruben smiled, enjoying his niece¡¯s yfulint. ¡°I¡¯ll have a word with Larryter. Be good.¡± While Briar and Ruben were talking, Larry sat on Ashton¡¯s other side and began pressing him with questions. Noticing the young girl¡¯s exasperation, Ashton took her hand and gave it aforting squeeze as he answered Larry¡¯s questions. ¡°Larry, this man is Freddie from the Lopez family in Shoneport. Have you heard of them?¡± he asked. Larry was taken aback. ¡°His surname is Lopez? Not Garza? Does this mean we¡¯ve been investigating the wrong Mr. Garza all these years?¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°Yes, his surname is Lopez, not Garza. Twenty or thirty years ago, the Lopez family was just a minor family in Shoneport. The only reason they established a foothold in the city was because the family produced a young medical genius¡­¡± Hearing this, Ruben frowned. ¡°This young medical genius, was his name Brody Lopez?¡± Ashton nced at Briar, confirming she had no strong reaction to the name. He then nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s him. What do you know about Brody?¡± Larry said coldly, ¡°We don¡¯t know much about him, but our hatred for that name is far greater than for some Freddie.¡± Briar¡¯s brow twitched. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± She sensed that his words held the truth she had been investigating. Overreacting in his agitation, Larry forgot Briar was still there and shot Ruben a panicked look, silently pleading for help. It was all over. He had identally let slip a secret that had been kept for so many years. Ruben sighed. ¡°At this point, Briar, there are some things we can no longer hide from you¡­¡± Briar had a bad feeling. ¡°Uncle Ruben, what do you mean? What have you been hiding from me?¡± Instead of exining right away, Ruben turned to Ashton. ¡°Ashton, I trust you¡¯ve had people look into this as well?¡± Ashton met Briar¡¯s sharp, scrutinizing gaze and held up his hands. ¡°Briar, I swear I wasn¡¯t intentionally hiding it from you. I only found outst night myself.¡± Ruben had some nerve, shifting the me to him right in front of her. 10:05 Sun, Sep 21 Forsaken 261 55 vouchers ¡°You knewst night, yet you had so many chances today and still didn¡¯t think to tell me?¡± Briar gritted her teeth, shooting daggers at Ashton. Under the gloating stares of Ruben and Larry, Ashton practically groveled for forgiveness, stopping just short of kneeling. ¡°Honey, I won¡¯t do it again. The next time I hear anything about the Lopez family, I promise I¡¯ll tell you right away, okay?¡± Briar snorted, ¡°And you think there will be a next time!¡± ¡°There won¡¯t be a next time. I promise, never again.¡± Ashton quickly seized the chance to de¨Cescte. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry.¡± Only then did Briar let the angry look on her face soften, motioning for Ashton to continue. Ashton let out a sigh of relief and turned back to Ruben and Larry to continue their analysis of the Lopez family. ¡°For years, the Lopez family has acted like a minor yer in Shoneport. They not only evaded your family¡¯s investigation but also convinced all the other powerful families that they were no threat. That alone is something no ordinary family could aplish.¡± Ruben nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. The Grant family has been chasing down leads on Ben for years. The fact that we were so easily misdirected shows just how resourceful and powerful the Lopez family is. They have the cunning to y games with anyone.¡± Briar¡¯s voice was chilling. ¡°Or maybe we relied too heavily on the evidence they left on my mother. I¡¯m starting to think their goal wasn¡¯t just to use my mother as ab rat for their experimental drugs.¡± A thought shed through Briar¡¯s mind, so quickly that she couldn¡¯t grasp it. But she was certain of one thing. Her mother¡¯s death appeared to be a case of terrible luck¨Cmeeting a scoundrel, being chosen as ab rat for an experimental drug, and ultimately dying from an overdose. Perhaps her mother¡¯s death from a drug overdose was just a cover¨Cup for a crueler, more unspeakable truth. And that truthy with Freddie¡­ no, ity with Brody, whom Freddie had hidden for so many years. Ashton wrapped his arm around Briar¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ve considered that possibility, but back when our mom died, thest people by her side were Grandpa and Edgar.¡± Briar said, ¡°Edgar might not be trustworthy, but Grandpa wouldn¡¯t have stood by and done nothing if someone tampered with Mom¡¯s body after she died, would he?¡± This was why, for all these years, they had never pursued this cruel suspicion as a solid lead. Zeke was shrewd and calcting. If Edgar had dared to pull any tricks back then, he wouldn¡¯t have escaped his notice. 56 vouchers ¡°If they couldn¡¯t tamper with my sister¡¯s body in front of your Grandpa, could it be possible that, before her body was cremated¡­¡± Larry¡¯s voice was eerie, and his unfinished sentence sent a chill down the spines of the other three. The color drained from Briar¡¯s face. ¡°Larry, are you saying someone conspired with the crematory to switch. Mom¡¯s body?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s true¡­¡± Ashton¡¯s gaze turned cold as he offered a chilling hypothesis. ¡°Honey, perhaps your mom¡¯s body has been preserved in¡­ the Lopez family¡¯sboratory.¡± Ruben¡¯s clenched fists trembled with rage. ¡°Bastard!¡± Although they had no evidence to confirm Ashton¡¯s suspicion, the thought was terrifying. The four people present could vividly imagine Rosalia¡¯s body, frozen in a dark, sunless, undergroundboratory. ¡°Ashton, where is that old bastard being held? I¡¯ll kill him with my own hands!¡± Larry shouted, leaping from his chair as veins throbbed on his temples. The sister they had cherished like a jewel in their palms hadn¡¯t suffered enough from Edgar¡¯s vile schemes- now, even in death, she was reduced to nothing more than someone else¡¯s experiment. The mere thought made Larry¡¯s heart ache. Ruben said nothing, but the dark, ruthless expression on his face showed that he, too, was struggling to contain his fury. Ashton knew better than anyone how fiercely protective the Grant family was of their own. If their suspicions were true, it wouldn¡¯t just be his wife who would lose her mind, but her two uncles as well. Ashton rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes with a headache. ¡°This is all just spection. Let¡¯s not scare ourselves before we have evidence. My men are interrogating Freddie, so let¡¯s wait for the results.¡± Seeing her uncles on the verge of losing their tempers, Briar worried they might get sick from anger. Suppressing her own hatred, she chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s right. We don¡¯t have all the facts yet. Let¡¯s not scare ourselves.¡± Ruben and Larry reluctantly suppressed their anger but warned Ashton and Briar, ¡°Fine. But when the interrogation results are out, don¡¯t you dare think about hiding them from us.¡± Briar nodded quickly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I would never hide it from you.¡± If things were really as they suspected, she would annihte the entire Lopez family, leaving no one alive. But for something like this, it was only right for her to be the one to do it. Her two uncles had already been hurt once by their sister¡¯s death. She couldn¡¯t bear to hurt them a second time with an even more brutal truth. What was supposed to be a pleasant family dinner was ruined by an unconfirmed suspicion, and none of the 10:05 Sun, Sep 21 four ate much. : 79 55 vouchers Briar returned to the vi with Ashton, her heart heavy. She extended a finger and poked his firm arm. ¡°Ashton, can I talk to you about something?¡± Before Briar could even speak, Ashton caught her fidgeting finger. ¡°You want my help hiding the results of Freddie¡¯s interrogation?¡± Briar leaned into his broad, warm embrace and nodded. ¡°Yes. If the final interrogation results are what we suspect, I want to be the one to end this. My uncles already lost their sister once; they can¡¯t be hurt a second time.¡± Even the strongest heart couldn¡¯t endure being repeatedly wounded by family. It was incredibly painful. She knew that feeling all too well. ¡°Besides, with Mom and Grandpa gone, my two uncles are the only family I have left who have been good to me. More than revenge, I just want them to live a peaceful and happy life,¡± she said. ¡°Alright. I promise.¡± Ashton pulled the crying girl tighter into his embrace. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. I¡¯m here to shield you from whateveres your way. You¡¯re not alone anymore. You¡¯ve got me to back you up!¡± Briar¡¯s eyes misted over with emotion and happiness. She stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around Ashton¡¯s neck, and kissed him. ¡°Darling, I¡¯m so lucky to have you.¡± Ashton said, ¡°You¡¯re my wife. Who else should I be good to, if not you?¡± Ashton deepened the kiss, a blend of innocence and passion. ¡°Honey, tonight is our wedding night. Every moment is precious. Let me carry you to our room¡­¡± AD Comment Send gift Forsaken 262 : An intimate atmosphere lingered in the dimly lit upstairs bedroom. On therge bed with red sheets, two bodies were tightly intertwined. The man¡¯s low, hoarse gasps mingled with broken pleas for mercy. The corners of Briar¡¯s eyes were flushed, her gaze filled with unbearable desire. ¡°Ashton, don¡¯t¡­¡± Briar tried to escape, scrambling forward on her hands and knees. 73 55 vouchers However, she had barely crawled a step before an arm wrapped around her waist and forcefully pulled her back. Ashton¡¯s voice wasced with amusement. ¡°Honey, be good. Don¡¯t move.¡± Briar arched her neck and let out a long moan. The night was long, the moon was bright, and they were exhausted. The activity on therge bed didn¡¯t cease until nearly four in the morning. Briar was so exhausted she feltpletely drained,cking even the strength to stretch her limbs. In contrast, Ashton, who had exerted the most effort, was still full of energy. It seemed as if the entire night of relentless activity had no effect on him at all. His slender fingers cupped the chin of Briar, who had almost buried her entire face in the nkets. ¡°Honey? Don¡¯t sleep yet. I¡¯ll carry you to the bath.¡± Desire flushed Briar¡¯s entire body, making her both beautiful and alluring. She struggled weakly a few times before giving up, allowing his fingertips to caress her lips. He teased in an exaggerated tone, ¡°So delicate.¡± Briar cursed at him, but her voice was so hoarse that to Ashton, it sounded like she was whimpering coquettishly. Ashton chuckled and scooped her up, heading into the bathroom. ¡°Alright, alright, I know. I¡¯ll help you bathe.¡± Briar wanted to refuse, not wanting to bepletely devoured by the hungry wolf again. But her body had shut down, leaving her powerless to resist. In the end, he held her in the bathtub, where they were intimately entangled for a long time. By the time Briar finally copsed into bed, she was already asleep. Golden morning sunlight streamed through a gap in the half¨Cdrawn curtains, casting a faint halo around Briar as shey on her side, her face buried in a pillow. The re of the sun made Briar whimper. She tried to roll over, but the slightest movement sent waves of unbearable pain through her body. It felt as if she had been taken apart and put back together again, making it difficult to even move. 10:18 Mon, Sep 22 : A shiver ran through her as she remembered her wild, unrestrained night with Ashton. He was brutal! 73 55 vouchers She thought, ¡®Is that jerk nning for that one night tost him a lifetime? With our endless marathonst night, is that bastard trying topletely wear me out?¡® Her legs, back, hands, and mouth ached¡­ Briar closed her eyes. She could clearly feel the jerk¡¯s arm around her waist and his warm chest pressed against her back. Trapped in his hold, she rolled her eyes in exasperation. She thought, ¡®Why is he holding me so tight? It¡¯s not like I could run away! But what Briar didn¡¯t know was that Ashton had secretly applied medicine to her while she slept. He felt guilty as he looked at the marks his rough handling had left on her fair skin. After applying the medicine, Ashton carefully pulled her into his arms, holding her tight. He was afraid that if Briar woke up, saw the harsh marks on her body, and became enraged, she would sneak away. Ashton was a light sleeper. The moment Briar stirred in his arms, he woke up. Before even opening his eyes, he leaned down to kiss her. ¡°Darling, are you thirsty? I¡¯ll get you some water.¡± Without waiting for Briar to answer, Ashton released her and got out of bed. In less than two minutes, Ashton returned with a ss of honey water. He gently lifted the weak Briar into a sitting position with one arm and helped her drink. Briar was really thirsty. After a night of panting and crying out, Briar¡¯s throat was parched. As Ashton held the ss to her lips, she gulped down the entire ss of honey water at once. ¡°Want more?¡± Ashton asked softly. The honey water brought Briar back to life. She shook her head. ¡°No more.¡± But when she spoke, her voice was painfully hoarse, as if scraped by gravel. Briar was speechless. Just as she was about to curse him, Ashton seemed to read her mind and silenced her with a kiss. After a long moment, Ashton let her go. ¡°Darling, you were so temptingst night. I couldn¡¯t resist.¡± Briar rolled her eyes again. It wasn¡¯t enough for him to have one feast; he wanted to feast at every meal! Last night, he had clearly promised just onest time. But that one time turned into one hour, then two, then three¡­ 10:18 Mon, Sep 22 He said it¡¯d be over soon, but he never stopped. ?? (73) 55 vouchers Ashton knew he was at fault and didn¡¯t dare provoke Briar further. He adopted a look of utter humility and innocence. With his handsome face and the fresh scratches covering his bare chest, Briar found that no matter how furious she was, she couldn¡¯t stay angry at the tempting sight before her. Ashton knew exactly how to handle Briar. In the end, Briar said through gritted teeth, ¡°Starting today, you will sleep in the study. You are not to touch me for the next half a month!¡± Ashton said, ¡°Honey, isn¡¯t that a little cruel to a man who¡¯s just had his first taste?¡± Briar scoffed, shoving her arm in front of Ashton¡¯s eyes. ¡°So it wasn¡¯t cruel when you devoured me like a hungry wolf, leaving marks all over my body?¡± Ashton immediately averted his gaze, losing his confidence. ¡°Well¡­ fine. But isn¡¯t the study a bit too cruel? It¡¯s only the second day of our marriage. What kind of newlyweds sleep in separate rooms on their second day?¡± Briar was unmoved. ¡°If we don¡¯t sleep in separate rooms, can you control yourself? What if you get hard again? Can you stop yourself then?¡± To avoid sleeping alone on the second night of their marriage, Ashton immediately nodded. ¡°Of course. I¡¯m in charge of my friends. No matter how wild he gets, he has to listen to me.¡± She should not have believed a man¡¯s words. Briar didn¡¯t believe Ashton¡¯s nonsense, especially after his outrageous behavior the night before, which made his words even less credible. Briar turned her head away, ignoring Ashton¡¯s pitiful expression. She knew that scoundrel was just putting on an act and couldn¡¯t be trusted. ¡°You¡¯re sleeping in the study, and that¡¯s final.¡± Ashton sighed. ¡°Fine. The study it is.¡± Hearing him agree so readily made Briar suspicious. She stared into his eyes. ¡°Really? You promise? You¡¯ll sleep in the study tonight!¡± Ashton smiled. ¡°Of course. I promise I¡¯ll sleep in the study tonight.¡± 10:18 Mon, Sep 22 Forsaken 263 Chapter 263 Although she was skeptical of Ashton¡¯s words, Briar still chose to trust him. If he dared to go back on his word tonight, she would just kick him out. 73 55 vouchers Ashton lowered his eyes, hiding the sharp glint that shed across them as he deftly diverted Briar¡¯s attention. ¡°It¡¯s still early. Let me hold you while we get some more sleep.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sleeping anymore. You should get up too.¡± Briar didn¡¯t dare to sleep any longer. Ashton was still watching her with a predatory gaze. ¡°Okay.¡± Ashton didn¡¯t push it and obediently got out of bed. The two of them quickly got ready and went to the Grant family¡¯s vi for breakfast with her two uncles. The breakfast was morevish and nutritious than usual, mostly featuring medicinal dishes to replenish energy and blood, which made Briar feelpletely overwhelmed. Her neck was a mess of hickeys from Ashton, so much so that even concealer couldn¡¯t hide them. In the end, she had to wear a turtleneck. Briar was certain her two uncles had figured out why she was suddenly wearing a turtleneck. At the thought, Briar¡¯s face burned, and she lifted her foot to stomp hard on Ashton¡¯s. When she saw that Ashton wince in pain without daring to cry out or pull away, the knot of frustration in her chest finally eased a little. ¡°Ashton, are the results of Freddie¡¯s interrogation in yet?¡± Ruben asked, pretending not to see the couple flirting under the table. Ashton¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°The interrogation is almostplete. However, regarding Brody, Freddie would only say that he¡¯s still conducting research in theb. He refuses to say anything else.¡± Larry snorted. ¡°Does he think you won¡¯t kill him? Is he trying to use his life as a bargaining chip?¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°That¡¯s his n.¡± But that depended on whether Freddie was even qualified to negotiate. Freddie thought that by leveraging Briar¡¯s vulnerability, he could force Ashton to submit. He was really overestimating himself. ¡°So what¡¯s your n?¡± Ruben asked, ncing at Briar¡¯s distressed look. Ashton rubbed the back of Briar¡¯s neck reassuringly. ¡°He thinks that if he stays silent, we won¡¯t be able to get the information out of him.¡± 10:18 Mon, Sep 22 Larry¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Oh? What do you have in mind?¡± ¡°Truth serum,¡± Ashton said tly. : ????? (73 ). 65 vouchers His words made the other three¡¯s expressions turn grim. Due to its severe side effects, truth serum had been listed as a globally banned drug by international organizations. The amount avable on the market was extremely scarce. However, with her background in traditional medicine, Briar knew the form for this banned drug by heart. As far as Briar knew, the number of organizations and individuals worldwide who possessed this banned drug was negligible. ¡®How could Ashton have this banned drug?¡® she thought. She had sold this banned drug inrge quantities only once, five years ago, delivering a hundred doses to the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base. She sold the remaining three doses at a high price to a mysterious billionaire. However, the mysterious billionaire¡¯s movements were too erratic, and her hacking skills were not advanced enough at the time, so she lost track of him. ¡®Could it be¡­ she thought. Briar stared at Ashton¡¯s handsome face, her mind in turmoil. ¡®Could it be that Ashton was the mysterious billionaire who bought those three doses of truth serum from her? But didn¡¯t Ashton¡¯s personal fortune rise three years ago?¡® she thought. Five years ago, Ashton was still rtively unknown on the international stage¡­ That was not right. Ashton¡¯s 121 Overseas Mercenary Organization was founded exactly five years ago. For mercenaries, truth serum and the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base were both in high demand. So, Ashton was the mysterious billionaire who bought the truth serum from her five years ago. Briar watched Ashton chatting eloquently with her two uncles, and her lip twitched. This guy really hid his true identity well! Briar recalled everything that had happened since she met Ashton¡­ She thought about their first meeting when Ashton had suddenly and enthusiastically invited her to treat Griffin. She thought, ¡®Could it be that Ashton recognized me the first time we met? He must have! Otherwise, with Ashton¡¯s sly and cunning personality, he couldn¡¯t have agreed to let a young girl with an 10:18 Mon, Sep 22 : unknown background treat Griffin based on just a few words. 73 EX 55 vouchers At the time, even the military doctors treating Griffin were helpless. She was only an 18¨Cyear¨Cold girl; no matter how skilled she was, Ashton shouldn¡¯t have trusted her so easily. Briar ground her teeth. Sensing an invisible murderous aura, Ashton turned around in surprise. ¡°Babe, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Briar forced a smile. ¡°Ashton, I¡¯ll give you one chance toe clean. Tell me honestly, who was that mysterious super¨Crich man from five years ago?¡± Ashton was at a loss for words. Ruben chuckled dryly. Larry cleared his throat. ¡°Well, I¡¯m full, and I have an early meeting at thepany, so I¡¯ll be going.¡± Ruben fought back a smile as he elegantly stood up and left. Larry also stood up. ¡°Uh, Briar, I have something to attend to as well. Take your time¡­¡± The two men practically fled from the dining room. They even thoughtfully cleared the room by sending away all the maids and bodyguards. As thest bodyguard left, he closed the dining room door behind him. Ashton was at a loss for words. He had seen heartless people before, but never any quite like them. He said, ¡°Uh, honey, let me defend myself¡­ ah, no, I mean, let me exin¡­¡± Ashton felt guilty because while Briar¡¯s approach was innocent, his had been a calcted plot. Fortunately, he had already tricked¡­ bah! He had already married her. She couldn¡¯t escape now, even if she wanted to. ¡°Exin what? That you deliberately set me up?¡± Briar said. ¡°Or that you pretended not to know me and then, step by step, tricked me into treating your grandfather? And finally, used that connection to start a rtionship with me?¡± Ashton looked more awkward with every word from Briar. His girlfriend was too smart and had guessed everything correctly. Ashton was at a loss for words. Seeing Ashton¡¯s expression, Briar understood now. She flew into a rage and roared, ¡°Ashton, I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± 73 55 vouchers Outside the dining room, Ruben and Larry were pressed against the door on either side, eavesdropping. Larry said, ¡°Briar screamed so loudly her voice cracked.¡± Ruben echoed, ¡°Briar must be furious!¡± ¡°He deserves it! He confessed everything to us but would not tell Briar the truth himself¡­¡± Larry said. Forsaken 264 Chapter 264 : ?(7) 55 vouchers As soon as Larry finished speaking, a series of crashes and bangs erupted from the dining room, apanied by repeated pleas for mercy. Of course, the one pleading for mercy could only be Ashton. Ruben and Larry nodded in satisfaction. Ruben pulled Larry towards the exit and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. The kid won¡¯t dare to fight back against Briar. Let them work it out.¡± Larry was still worried. ¡°Are we just going to let them fight in there and do nothing?¡± Ruben pulled Larry all the way to the car. ¡°Why should we get involved? Couples fight and make up. This is between them, so we should stay out of it.¡± Larry wanted to say more, but he had already been pushed into the car. ¡°They¡¯ve only been married for a day,¡± Larry muttered. ¡°Do they even know that couples are supposed to make up after a fight?¡± Whether they knew or not, it was not something Ruben and Larry could meddle in. In the dining room, shattered tes covered the floor, and cutlery flew through the air as Ashton dodged between tables and chairs. ¡°Honey, it¡¯s not what you think¡­¡± ¡°Honey, that¡¯s a knife! You can¡¯t throw that¡­¡± ¡°Honey, I was wrong. Put the chair down.¡± ¡°Honey¡­¡± Amid Ashton¡¯s repeated pleas for mercy and screams, the dining room was left in a total mess. If Ashton hadn¡¯t been so agile and quick, the tes, cutlery, chairs, and even vases and other ornaments she threw would have all hit him. Burning with fury, Briar charged at Ashton like a ferocious beast, scaring him so much that he only dared to dodge without fighting back. ¡°Ashton, you¡¯re dead today!¡± Briar¡¯s eyes were red with rage. ¡°Is it fun to mess with me? Was it fun watching me y the fool?¡± Ashton was angry but dared not speak. She had hidden so many secret identities herself. Every time one was exposed, she would either joke her way out of it or act cute and y coy. He was still convinced she had more secrets that hadn¡¯t been revealed. 10:19 Mon, Sep 22 She wouldn¡¯t tell him even when he asked. But he had never been angry with her. : 73 55 vouchers All he did was hide the fact that he was the mysterious tycoon who made a deal with her five years ago, and she got this angry. Although he felt wronged, Ashton dared not show it. He smiled, yed along with her anger, and apologized, waiting for Briar to calm down before he could reason with her. Briar was not an unreasonable person, but what Ashton hid from her was too significant. The truth serum she developed back then was not just for making money. It was also her ticket to join the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base. More importantly, it was her lead to track down Ben and the secret experimental bases behind him. In other words, if Ashton had known her identity as far back as five years ago, then the partner who hunted Ben with her five years ago, and was shot by an assassin while saving her, was Ashton. Ashton was the savior she thought had died. So, this savior didn¡¯t die, but instead changed his identity and bought the new serum she developed from her. That was incredible. Seizing the moment when Briar rxed, Ashton rushed over, wrapped her in a hug, and held her tightly, giving her no chance to fight back. ¡°Alright, alright. You¡¯ve vented your anger and gotten your scolding in. Can you listen to me quietly now?¡± Ashton soothed, gently patting Briar¡¯s back. Briar panted, saying nothing. ¡°If you don¡¯t say anything, I¡¯ll take that as a yes!¡± Ashton said, his voice humble because he knew he was in the wrong. Briar hmphed. ¡°And if I don¡¯t agree, are you just not going to say it?¡± ¡°Of course I have to,¡± Ashton said with a smile. ¡°We need to talk about problems, or they¡¯ll just get bigger. What if you end up leaving me? What would I do then?¡± Briar was speechless. ¡°It¡¯s too messy here. Let¡¯s go talk on the sofa,¡± Ashton said as he easily scooped Briar into his arms and opened the closed dining room door. The living room was empty; everyone had cleared out. Ashton let out a huge sigh of relief. 10:19 Mon, Sep 22 ?? 73 55 vouchers ¡°Babe, here, drink some water first.¡± Ashton poured a ss of water and helped Briar drink it all. Only then did he take both of her hands, ready to exin himself properly. Briar tried to pull her hands away, but Ashton¡¯s grip was too tight. In the end, she had no choice but to let him. ¡°Just say what you have to say while I can still sit here and listen.¡± Ashton leaned down and kissed Briar on the forehead. ¡°Okay.¡± He began, ¡°Honey, do you remember why we were both being hunted five years ago?¡± Briar snapped, ¡°What other reason could there be? It was just Freddie and his men trying to kill me!¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re mistaken. The reason we were being hunted five years ago wasn¡¯t just because of you. I was part of the reason, too.¡± Surprised, Briar asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ashton sighed, took his phone out of his pocket, and pulled up a set of photos for Briar. ¡°Do you remember how Dexter, the leader of Hacker Alliance, died?¡± When Briar saw the photos on Ashton¡¯s phone clearly, her eyes widened in shock. ¡°How do you have these photos?¡± The photos on Ashton¡¯s phone showed a murder scene. Briar was very familiar with the victim: it was the gruesome final moments of Dexter, the former leader of the Hacker Alliance. The Hacker Alliance was founded by Dexter, Georgiana, and a few others. She was recruited into the organizationter on. She clearly remembered that the Hacker Alliance first noticed her when she ran into Dexter during a mission while she was being pursued. To avoid unnecessary trouble, Briar performed a small act of kindness by helping Dexter use nearby surveince cameras to divert the assassin¡¯s tracking signal. As a result, Dexter recognized her talent and recruited her into the Hacker Alliance, where she became its fifth founding member. However, this very act also put Dexter on the kill list of Ben and his associates. Ultimately, Dexter died during a simple investigation mission, and the client for that mission was Freddie. By the time she sensed something was wrong and arrived, it was toote. Dexter had already been shot to death. A man dressed in ck was also at the scene. For some unknown reason, he stayed to help her hunt down the assassin who killed Dexter. As it turned out, the assassin had set an ambush with five aplices hiding nearby. 10:19 Mon, Sep 22 Even thinking back on it now, Briar could still feel the terror of being stalked by a wild beast. 73) E55 vouchers At that time, Briar had not yet joined the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base, and herbat abilities were not nearly as formidable as they are today. Faced with six vicious assassins, she became fearful and careless. In a moment of carelessness, she was nearly shot by one of the assassins. Fortunately, the man in ck took a bullet for her¡­ B ¦«¦¡ 10:19 Mon, Sep 22 Forsaken 265 Chapter 265 : 73 55 vouchers When Briar turned to look for the man in ck, he had vanished, leaving only a pool of blood on the ground. For a time, Briar believed the assassins had taken the man in ck, and she searched for him frantically. She feared the man in ck would die in vain, just like the leader of their Hacker Alliance. Later, the man in ck who took a bullet for her became a weight on her conscience, and she felt incredibly guilty whenever she thought of him. In the end, Ashton revealed to her in the most direct way that he was the mysterious, super¨Crich man who had bought her form. He was also the man in ck she had been looking for so many years¡­ Ashton exined everything to Briar, ¡°That¡¯s basically what happened. Connor and his men rescued me after I was injured. I wasn¡¯t intentionally avoiding you. ¡°As you know, a gunshot wound takes a long time to heal. ¡°Besides, I was the future head of the Wade family back then, so I couldn¡¯t let anyone know I was injured. ¡°So, I returned to the 121 overseas organization to recover and had no idea you were searching for me everywhere.¡± Ashton¡¯s voice grew more forlorn and emotional as he spoke, ¡°Besides, if I had known you were so worried and searching everywhere for me, I would havee to you, even with my injuries¡­¡± ¡°Oh, give me a break,¡± Briar said irritably. ¡°Why would you have looked for me? Didn¡¯t you find meter? You used the identity of a mysterious billionaire to buy three vials of truth serum from me.¡± Ashton fell silent, not daring to continue the conversation. At the time, Briar was just a young girl, and he had approached her solely for the truth serum she possessed. But of course, Ashton wouldn¡¯t dare say that. Briar was still fuming. She crossed her arms, tilted her chin up, and scrutinized Ashton. ¡°Be honest. Are you hiding any other secrets from me?¡± Ashton shook his head immediately and answered crisply, ¡°Of course not.¡± Briar was nomittal. Sensing the right moment, Ashton asked, ¡°Babe, do you have any other secret identities you haven¡¯t told me about?¡± Briar replied, ¡°Of course I don¡¯t!¡± 10:19 Mon, Sep 22 Her heart skipped a beat; she had nearly been tricked by Ashton. Ashton nodded with some regret. ¡°Fine. So we¡¯ve confided in each other. No more secrets, right?¡± Briar smiled. ¡°Of course.¡± Just then, Ashton¡¯s phone rang. It was a call from Connor. 73 55 vouchers The excitement in Connor¡¯s voice was evident even through the phone. ¡°Ashton, Freddie has confessed.¡± Ashton raised an eyebrow in surprise. He put his phone on speaker and asked, ¡°Why the sudden confession? What did he confess?¡± For Connor to be this excited, Freddie must have confessed Brody¡¯s whereabouts. ¡®But could this sudden confession be a trap?¡® he thought. Connor said, ¡°Ashton, Freddie confessed that Brody is hiding in Shoneport. He¡¯s in seclusion, working on a new experiment. Word is he¡¯s using a special universal blood type as a catalyst¡­¡± As he spoke, Connor suddenly began to stammer, ¡°Um, Ashton, is Briar there with you?¡± Ashton nced at Briar, who was leaning in and listening intently. ¡°She¡¯s right here next to me. My phone is on speaker.¡± This meant that even if Briar wasn¡¯t beside him, she could still hear everything with the phone on speaker. Connor immediately sounded hesitant, ¡°Oh, Briar¡¯s there too, huh?¡± Briar frowned. ¡°Connor, what Freddie confessed¡­ is it about my mother¡¯s cause of death?¡± On the other end of the line, Connor¡¯s breath caught, followed by two audible gasps. ¡°Y¡­ yes! You¡¯re so smart, Briar¡­¡± The two sharp gasps undoubtedly came from Brandon and Ian. It was clear this was no simple matter. Without thinking, Briar lunged for Ashton¡¯s phone, but he was too quick and pulled it out of her reach. Annoyed, she eximed, ¡°Ashton!¡± Ashton pulled the fuming girl into his embrace. ¡°Rx. I¡¯m not going to hide anything from you. We¡¯ll listen together. Be good.¡± Then, Ashton said in a low voice, ¡°Connor, just say what you have to say.¡± Connor hesitated. ¡°Ashton, are you sure? You want me to say it outright?¡± Ashton said, ¡°Speak.¡± Left with no choice, Connor recounted everything Freddie had confessed, holding nothing back. 73 55 vouchers. ¡°ording to Freddie¡¯s confession, thetest experiment Brody is working on requires a special blood type as a medicinal catalyst. The source of this blood type is the drug they fed to the first batch ofb rats twenty years ago¡­¡± Briar kicked over the mahogany coffee table, sending everything on it crashing to the floor. With her medical background, Briar immediately understood what Connor left unsaid. ¡°Connor, how did they get my mother¡¯s blood?¡± A chill ran through Briar, and her voice trembled. A terrible premonition crept up from the soles of her feet to her heart¡­ ¡®No, that¡¯s impossible. No matter how ruthless the Lopez family is, they would never do something like this,¡® she thought. The three men on the other end of the line held their breath. Connor, feeling utterly helpless, didn¡¯t dare answer Briar directly. ¡°Madam, we haven¡¯t confirmed it yet¡­¡± Briar said, ¡°Tell me exactly what Freddie said.¡± ¡°Mr. Wade¡­¡± Connor panicked. Even through the phone, he could feel Briar¡¯s bone¨Cchilling coldness. Ashton was a shrewd man, so he could hear the hesitation in Connor¡¯s voice. However, he knew Briar had to find out sooner orter. ¡°Just repeat his exact words.¡± Ashton pulled Briar back to his side, wrapping an arm around her waist to prevent another outburst. ¡°Alright, here it goes.¡± Connor took a deep breath. ¡°ording to Freddie¡¯s confession, all the blood was drained from Rosalia¡¯s body within half an hour of her death¡­¡± ¡°My grandfather was there. How did they take my mother¡¯s blood right under his nose?¡± Briar¡¯s voice was still cold, but at least she had calmed down. But Ashton¡¯s expression was grave. Her sudden outburst was still a cause for concern. Connor struggled to get the words out. ¡°Freddie said¡­ he said that Mr. Jennings agreed¡­¡± The other end of the line went silent. The biggest blow to Briar wasn¡¯t that Brody had hidden Rosalia¡¯s blood to use as a medicinal ingredient, but Connor¡¯sst sentence. ¡°My grandfather agreed?¡± she murmured. ¡°He agreed to let the Lopez family drain all of my mom¡¯s blood after she died?!¡± Forsaken 266 Chapter 266 : Briar was still frozen in ce, her face filled with disbelief. After a long pause, she finally found her voice. ¡°Connor, did Freddie show any evidence?¡± Without evidence, she couldn¡¯t just me her grandpa based on his word alone. When Zeke was alive, his greatest focus was finding the culprit behind her mom¡¯s death. 73 55 vouchers Even on his deathbed, Zeke kept reminding her uncles to find the culprit and avenge her mom at all costs. Zeke had spent thetter half of his life relentlessly searching for the real culprit behind her mom¡¯s death. He secretly hid in the study every day, looking at her mom¡¯s photo album and reminiscing. And he did everything to protect Briar, just because she was her mother¡¯s only child. He was the one who had always treated her with boundless kindness, protected her with unwavering care, and lit the beacon that guided her on the road to vengeance. On the other end of the line, Ian cleared his throat. ¡°Briar, the evidence is in the safe deposit box Zeke opened at Shrewy Bank before he died¡­¡± Briar knew Zeke had opened a permanent safe deposit box at Shrewy Bank. ¡®But if that box holds the evidence of what led to my mother¡¯s death¡­ Briar trembled at the thought. Ashton didn¡¯t know what the safe deposit box meant to Briar, but he could make a rough guess. Ashton quickly pulled Briar close, worried she couldn¡¯t handle the shock. ¡°Don¡¯t get ahead of yourself. We don¡¯t have solid evidence yet, do we? We can¡¯t convict Zeke based on Freddie¡¯s statement alone. Let¡¯s talk to your uncles first and decide on the next step.¡± Briar nodded, her voice hoarse, ¡°Okay.¡± Ashton also instructed Connor over the phone to have Brandon return to Dasmieca to track down Brody, insisting that he must be found before they got back. They couldn¡¯t let them get away this time. Connor and Brandon took their orders, hung up, and went to work immediately. Briar was still in a daze, muttering, ¡°Impossible¡­ This is impossible¡­¡± Ashton¡¯s eyes filled with concern. If Rosalia¡¯s death was truly connected to her father, he feared the blow to Briar would be devastating. No one could ept that a rtive who raised her was an aplice in her mother¡¯s murder. 10:19 Mon, Sep 22 73 55 vouchers But Ashton knew that Connor wouldn¡¯t have reported the information to him without verifying its authenticity. In other words, Edgar might not have been the only one behind Rosalia¡¯s death. Her own father, whom she trusted most, might have also been secretly involved. But as he thought about it more closely, something didn¡¯t seem right. Back then, Rosalia had run away from home for no apparent reason. She was the daughter of the prestigious Grant family in Shoneport. Zeke would have sent people to protect Rosalia after discovering Edgar¡¯s despicable behavior? The fact that Rosalia was sent to a psychiatric hospital was also highly suspicious. Before leaving home, Rosalia was not in high spirits, but she showed no signs of mental instability. So, she was perfectly normal before she left home. Ashton thought, ¡®Why did she lose her mind shortly after leaving home? More importantly, who sent her to the psychiatric hospital? ¡®She was a young woman who went missing, and many people in Shoneport at the time recognized her. ¡®Who would find Rosalia and, instead of calling the police, send her directly to a psychiatric hospital? ¡®When a normal person encounters someone who is lost and recognizes them, what is their first instinct? ¡®To call the police? Or contact her family directly for a handsome reward? But Rosalia was sent directly to a mental hospital. ¡®Besides, the psychiatric hospital where Rosalia was staying was a top¨Ctier facility in Shoneport. It offered the best medical care in the city, and the fees were not cheap. The hospital would not perform such acts of ¡®charity! They would surely try to find the patient¡¯s family to have them pay for the treatment. ¡®But none of that happened. Oh, right. There¡¯s also another important factor. Ashton asked in a deep voice, ¡°Honey, do you know who was the first to find Rosalia back then?¡± Briar, having regained her senses, naturally thought of the same suspicious points as Ashton. Her voice trembled as she closed her eyes in despair. ¡°It was my grandfather. He was the first one to find my mother.¡± A sharp weight struck his heart. ¡°So, was Rosalia already so far gone that she couldn¡¯t recognize anyone at that time?¡± ¡°Yes. She didn¡¯t recognize anyone. Besides her personalwyer, no one could keep her lucid.¡± Briar¡¯s voice was 10:19 Mon, Sep 22 hollow and helpless. (73 55 vouchers She gripped Ashton¡¯s hand, her nails digging so hard into his skin that they drew blood. ¡°Ashton, my mother didn¡¯t recognize anyone at the time, but she could recognize her personalwyer¡­¡± Briar¡¯s voice choked with sobs. ¡°In herst moments, she used the little lucidity she had left to give her fortune and the Jennings Group to me¡­¡± His heart aching, Ashton pulled Briar into his arms. Her muffled sobs came in broken gasps from his chest. ¡°So, she knew who was harming her. She knew. Ashton, just how desperate do you think my mother was then?¡± she sobbed. Ashton said nothing, only holding Briar tightly and letting her cry out all her pain and hatred. After receiving a call from Ashton, Ruben and Larry rushed back to see Briar breaking down and crying in his arms. Larry instinctively started to rush over andfort Briar, but he froze at the thought of what Ashton had told them over the phone. ¡°Briar, I¡¯m back. It¡¯s fine, my dear. We¡¯ll get through this together.¡± Briar¡¯s crying made Ruben¡¯s eyes too. well up If what Ashton said on the phone was true, her two uncles would be too ashamed to face Briar. They knew better than anyone how much suffering and injustice Briar had endured since she was a child. If Zeke was truly one of the aplices in Rosalia¡¯s death, Ruben couldn¡¯t even imagine whether Briar would be able to stay strong. Briar¡¯s crying subsided when she heard Ruben return, but she kept her head down, not even knowing how to face them. After a moment, Briar mumbled, ¡°Ashton, I want to go home,¡± Ashton immediately agreed, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go home.¡± Then, he picked Briar up and said to her uncles, ¡°I¡¯m taking Briar home first. We can talkter.¡± Ruben said, ¡°Okay, take Briar home. We¡¯ll talk when you¡¯re free,¡± 10:19 Mon, Sep 22 73 55 vouchers Forsaken 267 apter 267 Ashton carried Briar all the way back to the vi and up to the second¨Cfloor bedroom. ¡°Babe, let me put you on the bed to rest for a while, okay?¡± Briar was in a terrible state. She had been silent the entire journey, not dazed or crying, but cold and distant. Ashton was not mistaken. Briar¡¯s expression was cold, emotionless, and quiet. This was not normal. Seeing Briar like this, Ashton felt his heart clench painfully. Briar nodded, obediently released her arms from around Ashton¡¯s neck, took off her shoes and clothes, climbed into bed, and pulled the covers over herself. Ashton frowned, feeling that Briar was a stranger at that moment. She said, ¡°Honey, I want to be alone.¡± Ashton knew it was not a good idea to leave her alone at a time like this. But seeing the determined look in Briar¡¯s eyes, Ashton still nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll talk to the two uncles first.¡± Ashton leaned over to tuck Briar in and coaxed her softly, ¡°Promise me, whatever it is, you¡¯ll wait until I get back to talk about it, okay?¡± Briar lowered her gaze. ¡°Okay.¡± Ashton then got up. Before closing the door, he watched Briar for a long moment, still worried. However, Briar justy there quietly, her eyes dim and emotionless. Ashton sighed silently and closed the door. What Ashton didn¡¯t know was that the moment he closed the bedroom door, a murderous glint shed in Briar¡¯s dull eyes as shey on the bed. Briar pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed a number. ¡°Memphis, did you find the exact location for the coordinatesn sent you?¡± Memphis¡¯s voice was cautious on the other end of the line. ¡°I found it. It¡¯s in a remote mountain hollow in Shoneport, Dasmieca. And their security guards are all ¡­¡± ¡°Send me the location.¡± Briar cut him off before he could finish. Memphis stammered, ¡°Y¡­ Yes.¡± 10:19 Mon, Sep 22 (73) E55 vouchers Immediately, the tter of a keyboard came through the phone, followed by a notification alert on Briar¡¯s phone. Briar picked up her phone and nced at the message. ¡°Alright. Remember to erase the call history and allmunication traces.¡± Memphis asked worriedly, ¡°Um, Briar, are you going alone? They have dozens of assassins there, and it¡¯s too dangerous. How about I contact Louie and Kameron for you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone my whereabouts, got it?¡± Briar was already on her feet, getting dressed. ¡°Okay,¡± Memphis said reluctantly. ¡°Then you have to be safe!¡± Briar scoffed, ¡°I know. Don¡¯t worry. These people can¡¯t afford to kill me.¡± A pack of brutes who wouldn¡¯t even spare a dead person¡¯s blood would surely never kill her, the second- generation medicinal catalyst. It was only today that she finally understood why those people had spent years sending different assassins after her, yet could never kill her. In the past, Briar always thought that her uncanny ability to learn quickly was what allowed her to escape one crisis after another. But it was all just her naivety and foolishness. It was not that those people could not kill her, but that they were unwilling to. Her blood might be the key ingredient for their future experimental drugs. Briar pressed a raised spot on the wardrobe¡¯stch, and a momentter, several hiddenpartments popped out of the unremarkable mahogany wardrobe. Various handguns and bombs were neatly arranged in the hiddenpartments. Even thetest gourd¨Cshaped bombs on the market were stored inside. Briar carefully selected a few handguns, packed all the bombs, and after a moment of thought, stuffed a bulletproof vest into her bag. The zipper was pulled shut with a sharp zip. It was also the moment Briar¡¯s killing intent reached its peak. ***** Meanwhile, after leaving the vi, Ashton returned to the Grant family, Ruben and Larry approached him, concerned about Briar. The unease in his chest grew stronger. He said, ¡°Briar is home alone, and I¡¯m worried. Let¡¯s go back to her vi to talk.¡± 10:19 Mon, Sep 22 73 55 vouchers Ruben and Larry hesitated for just a second before nodding. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go. We won¡¯t go inside; we¡¯ll just talk in the yard. If Briar feels ufortable seeing us, we¡¯ll leave immediately.¡± Remembering Briar¡¯s listless, helpless, and pitiful state earlier, Ruben and Larry felt terrible. Zeke was gone, so some things couldn¡¯t be verified. But if the truth was what Freddie confessed, they wouldn¡¯t be able to face Briar. The three of them hurried to Briar¡¯s vi. Ashton looked up at the second¨Cfloor bedroom with its tightly drawn curtains, still feeling uneasy. ¡°I¡¯ll go check on Briar first.¡± Of course, Ruben and Larry had no objections. If they weren¡¯t afraid of upsetting Briar, they would have wanted to go up and check on her too. Ashton walked quickly to the bedroom door and quietly opened it. In the dim light of the wallmp, he saw a human¨Cshaped lump under the covers, and his tense heart began to rx. But the next second, his expression changed. He threw the door open, rushed to the bedside in a few strides, and ripped off the covers¡­ There was no trace of Briar; the lump under the nket was just a pile of pillows. Ashton gritted his teeth and sighed inwardly. ¡°My dear, couldn¡¯t you have waited for me? You want revenge; did you really think I would stop you?¡± He walked to the window, opened it, and shouted to Ruben and Larry in the courtyard, ¡°Briar snuck off on her own!¡± ¡°What?!¡± rmed, Ruben and Larry rushed upstairs. ¡°That child! How could she run off again without a word?¡± As if he had remembered something, Larry walked to the mahogany wardrobe against the wall. He fumbled around on it for a long time before finally finding the button for a hiddenpartment. He pressed the button, and several hiddenpartments popped out of the wardrobe. Half of the firearms and ammunition inside were gone, especially thepartments for bullets and bombs, which werepletely empty¡­ Ashton¡¯s eyes widened. He immediately took out his phone and called Xavion. ¡°Xavion, starting now, closely monitor all air routes into Dasmieca, includingmercial and private flights.¡± Xavion was startled by the fury in Ashton¡¯s voice, sensing that something was wrong. He asked, ¡°Ashton, what happened?¡± He said, ¡°My wife has secretly returned to Dasmieca alone, armed with heavy weapons.¡± Ashton¡¯s chest tightened. ¡°She hauled away more than half of the weapons she kept at her vi. We must find her. We absolutely cannot let anything happen to her.¡± Xavion was stunned. ¡°Yes, understood.¡± 73 55 vouchers After hanging up, Ashton turned to Ruben and Larry. ¡°Ruben, Larry, this is an emergency. We have to split up. You two figure out how to retrieve Zeke¡¯s safe deposit box from Shrewy Bank. I¡¯m going after Briar now.¡± Ruben and Larry immediately nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± 10:19 Mon, Sep 22 Forsaken 268 : 73 55 vouchers On the private jet to Dasmieca, Briar sat alone by the window, quietly watching the pitch¨Cck night sky. Her face was expressionless, and a frosty chill seemed to surround her. Memphis, who was flying the ne, snuck a fifth nce at her, only to meet her deep eyes head¨Con. Memphisughed awkwardly. ¡°Briar, are you thirsty? Hungry?¡± Briar said, ¡°Just fly the ne.¡± Memphis forced augh and said, ¡°Yes.¡± He turned away and pouted sullenly. The ne was already on autopilot, so it didn¡¯t need him to fly it manually. But Memphis didn¡¯t dare talk back, so he silently kept his head down. Briar was terrifying! He wondered how many of Briar¡¯s punches that Brody fellow could withstand. Briar probably wouldn¡¯t even bother beating him up. He would just put a few bullets in him. Memphis thought, ¡®Why did these people provoke this powerhouse?¡® They picked the wrong person to provoke. Besides, these people knew exactly how to infuriate Briar. Torturing Briar was one thing. After all, she was young, resilient, and hard to kill. But they tortured Briar¡¯s mother again and again. Not even the cruelest punishment was as vicious as what they did. Memphis stayed quietly in the cockpit, not daring to disturb Briar for the rest of the journey. Finally, this silent flight was about to end. Memphis peeked out again and shouted to Briar, who was resting with his eyes closed, ¡°Briar, we¡¯ll reach Dasmieca in half an hour. Where do you want tond?¡± Briar was sneaking back into the country, so they couldn¡¯t just brazenlynd the private jet at an airport. However, Shoneport wasn¡¯t like other cities; regtions on private aircraft were very strict. Besides, Ashton¡¯s men had probably been monitoring the few private airstrips for a long time. Without opening her eyes, Briar said, ¡°The most dangerous ce is the safest. Land in the clearing of that mountain pass in the suburbs of Shoneport.¡± 10:19 Mon, Sep 22 73 55 vouchers Brody¡¯s secretb was located in an uninhabited mountain pass in the suburbs of Shoneport. However, to call it uninhabited was not entirely urate, as a closer investigation would reveal that the pass actually had an owner. The owner was an obscure local mountain keeper whose records wereplete, but he had been dead for many years. Memphis said, ¡°Understood.¡± When it came to devious cunning, no one couldpare to Briar. As the ne circled above the uninhabited mountain pass in the suburbs of Shoneport, Briar had already jammed all nearby satellite signals. This created a tight, two¨Cminute window that put Memphis¡¯snding skills to the test. But as Briar¡¯s trusted confidant for overseas missions, Memphis was certainly capable. Two minutester, their private nended steadily in a clearing. They made no attempt to camouge or hide the ne, leaving it parked in the open. After all, Briar had no intention of hiding that she was there for Brody. She only pressured Ashton because she did not want them to worry. Memphis was an expert scout. After making a round, he returned and squatted beside Briar, who was checking her weapons and ammunition under a tree. ¡°Briar, this is it. This is the secretb base Freddie told us about. There is a cave 2 miles ahead, and it looks like it has been deliberately concealed¡­¡± Briar remained unhurried. She simply raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°Okay, I get it. You are staying out here. I am going in alone.¡± Memphis narrowed his eyes and asked in disbelief, ¡°Briar, are you not going to take me with you again?¡± Briar looked at Memphis. ¡°I am on a suicide mission. Why would youe with me?¡± Memphis said sullenly, ¡°That is exactly why you need to take me! If you die, someone has got to be there to collect your body, right?¡± Briar was speechless. This one sentence from Memphis managed to dispel much of the anger that had been building up in Briar, who had been silent for more than ten hours. Following closely behind Briar, Memphis said, ¡°I do not care. You can¡¯t leave me behind this time, Briar. If you do, I will tell Ashton right away.¡± Afraid that Briar would do something stupid on her own, Memphis even resorted to threats. If it weren¡¯t for the tant worry on Memphis¡¯s face, Briar would have really put him in his ce. 10:20 Mon, Sep 22 Briar sighed. ¡°Alright, fine. You cane along!¡± Memphis immediately broke into a smile. ¡°Yes.¡± 55 vouchers The two of them quickly ducked into the woods, erasing all traces of their presence as they stealthily made their way to the cave Memphis had mentioned. ¡°Briar, look, it¡¯s right there.¡± Memphis pointed to a cave entrance not far ahead, almostpletely covered by vegetation. Briar followed the direction Memphis was pointing, suppressing the anger in her chest. She nodded. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s very well hidden. No wonder they could hide in Shoneport for so many years without being discovered.¡± If Freddie hadn¡¯t willingly confessed, they would have had to tear the mountain apart to find this ce. Looking at the empty cave entrance, Memphis asked worriedly, ¡°Briar, what¡¯s your n to get in? They must have guards posted. Rushing in directly might alert the people inside¡­¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll just have to alert them. After Freddie was captured, did you really think they wouldn¡¯t guess I¡¯de for them?¡± Briar tossed a gun to Memphis. ¡°I¡¯ll go in first. You cover the rear.¡± With that said, she rushed toward the cave entrance before Memphis could even react. Memphis choked back a curse, but Briar had already rushed out. He couldn¡¯t reveal himself and risk cutting off their escape route. Just as Memphis expected, the moment Briar neared the cave entrance, several burly men rushed out to stop her. The secret experimental base had been in this mountain pass for years, and people had trespassed by mistake before. So, they mistook Briar for a passing hiker. ¡°Stop! This is private property. No trespassing!¡± one of the men said. But their words didn¡¯t make Briar stop; instead, she ran even faster. Seeing that Briar was about to rush into their cave, the burly men reached into their pockets to pull out their guns. ¡®What¡¯s wrong with this woman? We told her not toe closer, so why is she still trying to force her way in?¡® they thought. In that case, they would show no mercy. But Briar would not give them a chance to draw their guns. Before they could even draw their guns, she fired first. Three gunshots shattered the silence of the woods. 0 73 55 vouchers The three burly men rushing toward Briar copsed at the sound of the shots. They hit the ground hard, twitched a few times, and died. Seeing this, thest burly man¡¯s eyes zed with fury. Without a word, he drew his gun and shot at Briar. But he was no match for Briar¡¯s speed. After two more shots, thest burly man also fell. Forsaken 269 : D EX 55 vouchers Hiding in the woods, Memphis swallowed as he watched the formidable Briar take down four burly men with four shots in under thirty seconds. As expected, Briar was still her old self. Still as ruthless as ever. They recalled when they first joined the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base and were assigned to Briar for special training, only to see that she was a girl, and an underage one at that¡­ Because they arrogantly underestimated her, Briar put them through hellish training that almost broke them. Later, they went on an assessment mission with Briar, but an unexpected incident left their entire team trapped in a primeval forest. It was Briar who single¨Chandedly killed twenty¨Cone people and broke them out of the encirclement. So, even if the bodyguards at the cave entrance were allbat¨Cready mercenaries, they were no match for Briar. However, the gunshot quickly drew more bodyguards from inside the cave. ¡°Who¡¯s there? Quick, get her!¡± A group of bodyguards rushed out. Their expressions changed drastically when they saw theirrades lying dead on the ground. Then they looked again and saw only a woman standing at the cave entrance. So, a single woman had killed their fourrades. When they saw the gun in her hand, there was no room for doubt. They knew it was her. It didn¡¯t matter how this woman killed theirrades; she had to die today. The bodyguards charged forward, yelling as they aimed their guns at Briar. But in the next second, the shouting bodyguards scattered in panic. ¡°Holy shit! Get down¡­¡± ¡°Damn it, run!¡± One moment, Briar was holding a gun, and the next, it was a bomb. They thought, ¡®What the hell? This woman doesn¡¯t y fair. They were in a cave. 10:20 Mon, Sep 22 73 55 vouchers The st from just one bomb would leave them nowhere to hide, and it could even affect the stone walls of the cave¡­ Briar watched the bodyguards scramble for cover in a panic, a wicked sneer ying on her lips. ¡°Why run? I only have seventeen or eighteen of these little gourd bombs.¡± One of those little gourd bombs was enough to kill them all, and she had seventeen or eighteen of them. They would be blown to bits, leaving not even a skeleton behind. They wondered who on earth Briar was. She was so vicious. Over half of the bodyguards assigned to the secret research facility in the cave were not professional killers. Some had never even fired a gun or killed anyone. Security in Shoneport was exceptionally tight, so it was an incredible feat for the Lopez family to equip each of their men with a gun. So, when the bodyguards saw a woman with a sinister smile rushing at them with a bomb in her hand, their first instinct was not to kill her. Instead, they ran! This was absolutely terrifying. No one would risk their life fighting a woman with a bomb. These bodyguards believed that their fourpanions had foolishly charged forward even after seeing the woman with the bomb. Who else would die if not them? As they fled, they silently cursed the four for their stupidity. Briar pursued the bodyguards into the cave, nting small gourd¨Cshaped bombs in the stone walls along the way. These modified time bombs would soon be incredibly effective. She was so bold, and she wasn¡¯t afraid of the surveince cameras. She was Briar, the legendary hacker Bree. Of course she would hack their surveince system before entering such a dangerous and unknown ce. She had already overridden the cave¡¯s surveince system, causing the monitors to go ck. No one else knew where she had nted the bombs. With a single gourd¨Cshaped bomb, Briar herded the bodyguards into the mainboratory chamber, like a hunter cornering its prey. Luckily, the mainboratory chamber wasrge enough. Otherwise, they would have crashed into the bodyguards assigned to guard it as they rushed in. 10:20 Mon, Sep 22 73 55 vouchers Six bodyguards were stationed in the main chamber. They were all international mercenaries hired by the Lopez family for a hefty sum. They were in apletely different league than the other bodyguards. Hearing themotion, they ran over to see what was happening and were furious. ¡°Damn it! You idiots! Why are you running? Kill her! What a bunch of idiots, forced to run and hide by a single woman. How pathetic.¡± Without another word, the mercenaries raised their guns and fired. They had blood on their hands and were nothing like those cowardly bodyguards. Besides, this woman dared to break into theb, so she couldn¡¯t be left alive. Who knew if someone had sent her to steal their research findings? Soon, gunshots erupted once more. The researchers in the mainb finally noticed the intruder. Upon seeing the girl holding a bomb, they began to scream and run, plunging the room into chaos. Thismotion made it much easier for Briar to move and find cover. Using a few panicked researchers as cover, she wlessly dodged multiple shots from the six mercenaries. It was quite amusing, whether it was the bodyguards at the cave entrance or the mercenaries guarding the mainb, to Briar, theirbat abilities were utterly pathetic. But it was these ipetent bodyguards and the Lopez family¡¯s crude methods of concealment that had somehow managed to fool her for so many years. Like an idiot, she had scoured the world for the Lopez family, searching for that secretboratory¡­. It was ridiculous. What was even more pathetic was that her dear grandfather had just watched as she ran around like a headless chicken, searching aimlessly. A series of gunshots from behind snapped Briar out of her daze. She dodged behind a rock wall and nced back. The next instant, her brow furrowed. Memphis had followed her in after all. ¡°That kid. Haven¡¯t I told him to cover my rear?¡¯ she thought. do what you ¡°Briar, go displeased gaze. need to do. Leave these bastards to me,¡± Memphis said with a grin, meeting Briar¡¯s Resigned, Briar nodded. ¡°Alright. Be careful.¡± 10:20 Mon, Sep 22 73 EZ 55 vouchers While firing his gun, Memphis still found time to give Briar an ¡°OK¡± sign. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Briar.¡± With time running out, Briar didn¡¯t hesitate. She turned and charged toward the small room beside the main chamber. She hadn¡¯t seen Brody anywhere on her way in. Across the entireb, this small room was the only ce someone could be hiding. Briar kicked open the door to the small room. A fierce killing intent immediately rushed at her, and she dodged on pure instinct. Then, she tossed the small gourd bomb inside. Forsaken 270 Chapter 270 : 73 55 vouchers The power of the small gourd bomb forced those hiding in the small room to scramble out before the explosion, desperate to save their own lives. And among those who rushed out was Brody. Brody was a scrawny man, barely 5¡¯7¡± tall. nked by two bodyguards, he was protected in the middle like a helpless chick. The stall door had barely closed when the cold, dark muzzle of a gun was pressed against the forehead of the bodyguard on the left. An icy voice from the side said, ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± The two bodyguards¡® expressions changed drastically, especially when they saw the small, gourd¨Cshaped bombs hanging from Briar¡¯s waist. Forgetting about their employer¡¯s safety, the two bodyguards wisely raised their hands to surrender. When Brody finally saw who it was, his face turned deathly pale. ¡°B¡­ Briar?¡± ¡°Why so surprised? Didn¡¯t you already guess that I¡¯de for you?¡± Briar¡¯s voice held a gentleugh. However, to Brody¡¯s ears, it was as terrifying as a demoning to reap his soul. The moment she finished speaking, the bomb in the stall erupted with a massive roar. The door was sted and warped, and scorching waves of heat rushed out through the gaps. It wasn¡¯t just their bodies that were scorched, but their hearts as well. If the partition walls were not explosion¨Cproof, they would have been blown to bits by now. Brody¡¯s voice trembled, ¡°Briar, what¡­ what are you trying to do?¡± Briar chuckled, looking at Brody as if he were an idiot. ¡°What do you think? Of course, to kill you!¡± Then, she fired without hesitation. With two bangs, she killed the bodyguards protecting Brody on either side. The bodyguards¡® heads burst from the bullets, sttering brains and blood mostly onto the face and clothes of Brody, whom they were protecting. Brody felt the warmth and taste of blood on his face and in his mouth. It was sticky, greasy, and disgusting. He enjoyed using live people as test subjects and spent long hours in theb every day with mice and live humans. However, the Lopez family had always protected him so well that he had almost never witnessed such a 10:20 Mon, Sep 22 violent, bloody scene and was instantly petrified. 73 Et 55 vouchers Two gunshots rang out next to Brody¡¯s ears. He stared nkly at Briar with his mouth hanging open. ¡°You¡­ you¡­ you can¡¯t kill me! Your mother¡¯s body is still in my¡­ my hands¡­¡± he faltered, unable to finish his threat under Briar¡¯s increasingly cold gaze. ¡°Very good. You¡¯ve just earned yourself another chance to live,¡± she said. ¡®A chance to live?¡® Brody felt a surge of joy. Just as he thought, the person Briar cared about most was her mother, who had been dead for over a decade. Briar tapped Brody¡¯s cheek with the hot muzzle of her gun, a hint of anticipation in her voice. ¡°Where is my mother?¡± Brody tried to negotiate. ¡°If I tell you and let you take Rosalia¡¯s body, will you let me go?¡± Briar sneered inwardly but kept a straight face. ¡°That depends on my mood,¡± she said lightly. ¡°Lead the way.¡± Afraid for his life, Brody didn¡¯t dare to challenge Briar directly. Seeing her attitude soften, he had no choice but to lead her there. Gunfire echoed continuously outside the main room as the battle raged on. But hearing the endless screams and roars, Brody knew his side wouldn¡¯t be able to hold out for much longer. Honestly, hisbat skills were probably worse than any of the femaleb assistants. If he disobeyed, Briar would most likely shoot him dead. Brody led Briar deeper into the cave. As they went further, the temperature began to drop. Just as Briar was about to lose her patience, Brody finally stopped. He pointed to a closed door ahead and said, ¡°Your mother¡¯s body is in there.¡± Briar¡¯s gaze followed his pointing finger. The door was electromaic and explosion¨Cproof, so she couldn¡¯t see what was inside. But through the single ss window, she could clearly see a series of bodies inside, preserved in formalin. There were both male and female corpses. However, the bodies were not fully intact. Some were missing hands, while otherscked feet. Some bodies were even dismembered, their limbs, torsos, or heads floating inrge ss jars. From a distance, they looked like duckweed floating on water. From where Briar stood, she couldn¡¯t see Rosalia¡¯s body. However, seeing the dismembered body parts in the jars and containers, she could only imagine the terrible 10:20 Mon, Sep 22 state her mother¡¯s body must be in. Briar felt a dull ache in her chest. These people deserved to die. They should all apany her mother in death. 73 E55 vouchers As Briar¡¯s expression grew darker, Brody trembled in fear. Afraid she would shoot him, he looked for a chance to slip away. However, he had only taken one step back when Briar spotted him. Briar¡¯s sharp gaze swept over him. ¡°Trying to run?¡± Brody quickly waved his hands. ¡°No, no, no! I¡¯m not trying to run. I just¡­ I wanted to¡­ open the door for you. Yes, that¡¯s right, open the door for you.¡± Briar snorted. ¡°Then open the door.¡± Brody agreed but found Briar¡¯s behavior odd. She had gone to great lengths to find them, yet she didn¡¯t seem intent on destroying the ce. Brody thought, ¡®What¡¯s so important about Rosalia¡¯s body? Even if it is recovered, it wouldn¡¯t bring her back to life. ¡®Even if a potion that could revive the dead truly existed, all of Rosalia¡¯s blood has been drained. How could she possibly be saved?¡® To prevent any uncontroble situations, Zeke had deliberately drained Rosalia¡¯s blood, tube by tube, right before she died, and in front of Zeke. Even if Briar wanted to settle scores and seek revenge, she couldn¡¯t ce all the me on the Lopez family. Besides, judging from Briar¡¯s attitude toward the Grant family, Brody guessed that she didn¡¯t know the inside story. Perhaps he could use this to increase his chances of survival. ¡°Get in!¡± Brody opened the door, but before he could step back, Briar shoved him inside. Then, Briar saw a sight she would never forget for the rest of her life. If seeing the body parts floating in jars and containers outside was a testament to Brody¡¯s cruelty, then this entire wall of sectioned and diced body parts,beled with numbers indicating the cutting order, nearly drove Briar to madness. She shouted, ¡°How dare you chop my mother¡¯s body into pieces! Brody, I will tear you limb from limb!¡° In the jars and containers on the wall, body parts ranging from the head and various internal organs to smaller pieces like fingers, eyeballs, and ears were all methodically arranged¡­ Briar¡¯s eyes zed with fury, and hatred consumed every fiber of her being. 10:20 Mon, Sep 22 Forsaken 271 Chapter 271 : Intimidated by the sinister aura and killing intent radiating from Briar, Brody swallowed hard. Briar¡¯s entire demeanor had changed. It was terrifying. But it was unclear whether Brody¡¯s gulp was too loud or if Briar¡¯s hearing was just too sharp. The next second, Briar¡¯s murderous gaze slowly shifted from the jars on the wall to Brody. She looked at him and uttered the most chilling words, one by one. 73 55 vouchers She said, ¡°Brody, ever since the hitmen you hired started hunting me at the age of five, I have learned 108 methods of torture.¡± Brody was shocked. ¡°I am proficient in every one of them.¡± Briar moved closer to Brody and asked with a smile, ¡°Which one would you like to experience first?¡± She felt that death by a thousand cuts alone was too lenient for Brody and the rest of the Lopez family. With so many forms of torture in the world, it would be a waste of her years of diligent practice not to make them experience each one. ¡°No! I don¡¯t want to¡­¡± Brody shook his head frantically. No one would want to experience that. Briar grabbed him, dragged him inside, and pressed his head against a bottle containing her mother¡¯s eyeballs. Briar asked, ¡°Why not? Did you ask my mother if she wanted her eyeballs gouged out?¡± Then she dragged him to a nearby jar containing ears and questioned furiously, ¡°Did you ask my mother if it hurt when you cut off her ears?¡± She dragged him to the jar of fingers, then to the skull with no eyes, no nose, and no ears¡­ Finally, she shoved Brody down before the skeletal remains of Rosalia¨Cher ribs, shins, pelvis, and other bones¡­ Brody was trembling all over, his legs too weak to stand. Terrified by Briar¡¯s manic and relentless questioning, he was too scared to even speak. As the questioning continued, Briar¡¯s voice grew colder and softer until she finally shoved the gun barrel into Brody¡¯s mouth. She sneered, ¡°What the hell are you crying for? My mother didn¡¯t cry when you tore her flesh from her bones, 10:20 Mon, Sep 22 : 73 55 vouchers drained her blood until she was a husk, and dismantled her entire skeleton. What right do you have to cry?¡± The cold gun barrel in his mouth felt like an icy de of death piercing his heart. Though his face was a mess of tears and snot, Brody forced his sobs to a halt. He was terrified that if he kept crying, Briar would actually shoot him dead. Having dealt with the situation outside, Memphis burst in, ready to gloat. But when he looked up and saw the wall of jars, he stopped. ¡°Briar¡­ Holy crap! Damn it!¡± Even for a cold¨Cblooded mercenary like him who lived on the edge, the sight made his hair stand on end. His eyes turned red when he saw the uncontroble murderous aura radiating from Briar. Memphis took out his phone, photographed the entire wall of jars and bottles, and sent it directly to Ashton. He said: [Ashton, hurry! Briar is about to snap!] Memphis thought Briar looked terrifying. She hadpletely snapped. He thought, ¡®Damn it! Are these bastards even human? ¡®It wasn¡¯t enough to kill someone; they actually dismembered the body into so many pieces? Damn it! Who could possibly tolerate this?¡® ***** An hour had passed before Ashton saw the message from Memphis. When he opened the message and saw a nearly crazed Briar in front of a wall of jars and bottles, his face instantly turned ice¨Ccold. Brandon and Ian, who had returned with Ashton, also saw it. Brandon was fine and managed to stay calm. Ian immediately started cursing, ¡°Damn it¡­ How devastated must Briar be?¡± Ashton ordered coldly, ¡°Get there as fast as possible.¡± Briar¡¯s phone signal was still stationary in a remote mountain hollow outside the city, which meant they hadn¡¯t left the cave yet. Although Ashton¡¯s men had most of the Lopez family under control, some may have slipped through. Briar had captured Brody but hadn¡¯t moved from her spot, undoubtedly putting herself in danger. This was a fatal mistake for them. Even with Memphis by her side, Briar would be at a disadvantage if she got surrounded. 10:20 Mon, Sep 22 73 55 vouchers In the photo, Briar¡¯s clothes were stained with blood, and Ashton couldn¡¯t tell if it was her blood or someone else¡¯s. ¡°Yes.¡± Brandon floored the elerator, pushing the car to its top speed. Additionally, the team sent to support Briar had already reached the deserted mountain pass, but they reported that she wouldn¡¯t let them into the cave. They could only wait outside, unaware of the situation inside the cave for the time being. Fortunately, Ashton¡¯s reputation in Shoneport was formidable enough that no other factions dared to cause trouble when they learned his men had been mobilized. Just then, Ashton¡¯s phone rang. It was Reece. ¡°Ashton, what¡¯s the situation? I got your message and am heading to the outskirts with Hamish now.¡± When Reece and Hamish received Ashton¡¯s frantic series of calls, they were rmed by his unusual urgency. They wondered what got him this worked up. He insisted on bringing Hamish and even told them to prepare sedatives. Reece thought, ¡®Seriously, who was the unstable one here that needed to be sedated?¡® Hamish said it must be something serious to get Ashton this worried. He said, ¡°Maybe his wife left him, and he wants us to help him kidnap his runaway bride!¡± Ashton¡¯s voice wasced with anger. ¡°Reece, something has happened to Briar. You must watch over her until I arrive. Do not let her out of your sight.¡± Ashton feared that Briar was so devastated that after torturing Brody to death, she would lose the will to live and harm herself. Reece¡¯s tone immediately grew serious. ¡°Alright. Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll be there in ten minutes.¡± After Ashton hung up, he closed his eyes for a few seconds topose himself. When he opened them again, his gaze was dark and murderous. He opened his phone again and issued severalmands in quick session. [Put everyone in the Jennings family under guard. Break the legs of anyone who dares to interfere.] [Take the Garzas to the basement and torture them twice before I get back.] [Look into the connection between the Grant family and Tristan¡­] Ian felt a sense of dread from the passenger seat when he heard Ashton¡¯s final order: investigate the Grant family and Tristan. After Ashton hung up,n asked cautiously, ¡°Mr. Wade, are you suggesting that it wasn¡¯t just Zeke involved in 10:20 Mon, Sep 22 that incident, but Briar¡¯s mentor as well¡­?¡± Ashton sighed. ¡°It¡¯s just a guess for now. I hope I¡¯m wrong.¡± Ian was speechless and thought, ¡®But could he be wrong about something like this?¡® Forsaken 272 Ian shuddered. If Ashton¡¯s guess was right and Tristan was also involved in the plot against Rosalia back then, then everything Briar believed in would crumble. Brandon grew tense and sped up, hoping to get there before the missuspletely lost control. He had a feeling that even with Reece and Hamish there, they might not be able to control her. Apparently, Ashton¡¯s fears were soon confirmed. Ten minutester, Reece called. ¡°Damn it! Ashton, your wife has lost it. The two of us can¡¯t stop her. Where are you? Hurry up¡­¡± Before Reece could finish, three gunshots brought the call to an abrupt end. Ashton¡¯s breathing grew heavy. ¡°Brandon, drive faster.¡± Brandon said, ¡°Understood!¡± 19 The atmosphere in the car was tense and quiet. Brandon and Ian, sitting in the front, had heard Reece¡¯s call. Thest three gunshots, in particr, made their hearts pound. Brandon wished he could drive the SUV at supersonic speed. The situation had gotten serious. Just then, Ashton¡¯s phone rang again. It was not a call from Reece, but from Ruben. Ruben said, ¡°Ashton, we¡¯ve retrieved Zeke¡¯s safe¨Cdeposit box from Shrewy Bank¡­¡± Ashton¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°What was in the safe¨Cdeposit box?¡± In fact, Ashton did not need to wait for Ruben¡¯s answer. He could already guess from the gravity of his tone. Sure enough, Ruben sighed. ¡°Inside the safe¨Cdeposit box was Zeke¡¯s handwritten confession about how he had conspired with the Lopez family to harm Rosalia, step by step¡­¡± The truth and its consequences were too cruel for Ruben to speak of. Larry snatched the phone and asked, ¡°Ashton, what¡¯s the situation on your end? Have you found Briar? We must keep this from her for now. Otherwise, I¡¯m afraid she won¡¯t be able to handle the shock.¡± Ashton¡¯s voice was even heavier than Ruben¡¯s and Larry¡¯s. ¡°It¡¯s toote.¡± Larry was stunned. ¡°What do you mean? Where is she now?¡± Their car drove into a deserted mountain pass. Ashton looked at the two cars parked not far away. ¡°She¡¯s 10:20 Mon, Sep 22 already found Brody.¡± 73 55 vouchers On the other end of the line, Ruben and Larry gasped in shock. ¡°What? How is she so fast? Is Brody still alive?¡± Ashton replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know. Even if he is alive, he¡¯s probably crippled or maimed.¡± ¡°Mr. Wade, we¡¯re here.¡± Brandon parked the car near the cave and looked at the men in ck lying at the entrance, his voice tense. Ashton told Ruben, ¡°I have to go.¡± Then he pushed the door open and got out of the car. Ian also hurried out of the car and checked the dead men one by one. He said proudly, ¡°Mr. Wade, they were all killed with a single shot. The technique was clean and efficient. It¡¯s Briar¡¯s work.¡± Ashton was at a loss for words. It was not the time to be proud. The men Reece brought with him approached. ¡°Ashton, our boss said for you to go into the cave as soon as you arrived. They¡¯re about to be overwhelmed.¡± Most of Reece¡¯s men were elite retired military veterans with exceptional skills and resilience, yet Ashton could see the tension and panic on their faces. Ashton¡¯s heart sank. ¡°Understood. You all guard the entrance. Don¡¯t let anyone near.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Ashton rushed into the cave with Brandon and Ian. As they ventured deeper, they found the cave littered with bodies, nearly all killed by gunfire. The air was thick with the stench of blood. But what horrified them most wasn¡¯t the bodies on the floor or the overturnedb equipment, but the bloodcurdling screams echoing from deep within the cave. ¡°No¡­ I was wrong!¡± ¡°Kill me! Please, kill me!¡± They followed the screams and soon found a frantic Reece. ¡°Damn it! Briar, calm down, will you?¡± Hamish stood behind the blood¨Csoaked Briar, wanting to stop her, but Memphis held him back. Unable to get close, he also looked like he was about to lose his mind. Looking at Briar, besides the blood covering her, the most startling thing was the boning knife in her hand. The 10¨Cfoot¨Clong boning knife spun deftly in her hand. With every rotation, a piece of flesh flew out, apanied by a scream. 10:21 Mon, Sep 22 73 E55 vouchers A small, thin man covered in blood was tied to a wall. His hands and feet were pierced through with iron rods, but miraculously, he was not bleeding profusely. But there wasn¡¯t a patch of intact flesh left on his body. The scene was so gory and brutal that it was hard to imagine that this was the ¡®masterpiece¡® of an 18¨Cyear¨Cold girl. When Hamish heard footsteps behind him and turned to see Ashton, he looked as if he had seen his savior. ¡°Ashton, you¡¯re here.¡± Ashton strode forward, his gaze sweeping over Briar. Seeing that she was unharmed, he finally rxed a little. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why haven¡¯t you given my wife a shot yet?¡± Ashton asked Hamish in a low voice as he walked over to him. Hamish¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I injected her twice, but your wife waspletely unaffected. It¡¯s like she¡¯s not human.¡± Ashton asked in astonishment, ¡°You¡¯re telling me you injected my wife twice, and she waspletely fine?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Your wife¡¯s body must have undergone some special modification.¡± Hamish spread his hands. He was even more shocked than Ashton. Heaven knows how thrilled he was at that moment. If Briar weren¡¯t Ashton¡¯s wife and therefore off¨Climits, he would have wanted to take her to his hospital to study her properly. ¡°Babe.¡± Noticing the excitement in Hamish¡¯s eyes, Ashton irritably blocked his view and called out to Briar in a low voice. In truth, Briar had known for a while that Ashton had arrived. She couldn¡¯t have missed all themotion outside. But she didn¡¯t turn around. She didn¡¯t need a mirror to know how disheveled and crazed she must look. ¡°Babe, it¡¯s me. I¡¯m here. Let¡¯s stop for now, alright?¡± Ashton said as he cautiously walked over. Memphis nced at Briar. Seeing no objection, he obediently stepped aside. ¡°Ashton, Briar is furious. Be careful not to provoke her further.¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°I know.¡± Ashton walked up behind Briar and took her by the wrist. He lowered his voice, afraid of startling her. ¡°Babe, you must be tired. Let¡¯s rest for a while, Okay?¡± Briar didn¡¯t struggle and let Ashton take the boning knife from her hand. ¡°What? Are you also here to tell me to show mercy?¡± Ashton turned and red at Hamish. ¡°Of course not. Death is too good for people like him.¡± ??? 73. E55 vouchers Forsaken 273 Chapter 273 Ashton¡¯s survival instinct went into overdrive as he gently took the boning knife from Briar¡¯s hand, trying to soothe her. He said with a coaxing smile, ¡°Honey, this man deserves to die, but will torturing him to death in one go really quench your anger?¡± Briar nced at the bloodied and unrecognizable Brody and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough for today.¡± This was music to Brody¡¯s ears. He stopped screaming and stared hopefully at Memphis, who was watching the show from the sidelines, thinking he would be let down. But then, he heard Ashton instruct Brandon, who had followed him in, ¡°Brandon, take him away and take good care of him. Interrogation is rough work; we can¡¯t let Mrs. Wade dirty her hands.¡± Brandon replied respectfully, ¡°Understood. Rest assured, Mrs. Wade. Our interrogation methods may be simple, but they are definitely more effective and brutal.¡± Brody nearly passed out from horror. Monsters! These people were all monsters! Ian, ever resourceful, found a few towels and handed them to Ashton. Ashton carefully and gently wiped the blood from Briar¡¯s hands. ¡°Honey, should we go home first?¡± Briar lowered her head, watching as Ashton patiently and meticulously cleaned her hands until they were spotless again. After a long moment, she finally responded, ¡°¡­Okay, let¡¯s go home.¡± She no longer felt the same attachment to home she once had. The house remained, but her family¡­ was not the family she thought they were. Briar followed Ashton out, her expression¡­ serene. When they reached the mainboratory, she came to a halt. She turned her head, looked at the mainboratory, and refused to go any further. ¡°Ashton.¡± Briar¡¯s voice was low and faint. ¡°Can you find me a cold storage unit specifically for preserving blood?¡± Ashton followed Briar¡¯s gaze to a pane of transparent ss against the wall of the main room. Through the ss, he could see a cold storage room. Inside, various blood samples were stored in separate containers. B5 vouchers The weight that had just lifted from Ashton¡¯s heart settled back in. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll have someonee immediately to transport and seal everything.¡± If Zeke¡¯s concealment and betrayal were a sharp sword piercing Briar¡¯s resilient heart, then seeing her mother¡¯s body exploited and studied was the final blow that shattered her will. Briar nodded and withdrew her gaze. This time, she walked out of the cave without looking sideways. But anyone could see the despair and devastation reflected in her ramrod¨Cstraight back and slender shoulders. Hamish shook his head silently and turned to leave with Reece. ¡°What do we do now? I think Briar is deeply shocked.¡± Reece managed a wry smile. They had rushed over after getting Ashton¡¯s call, but it was already toote. Especially when they saw the entire wall of Mrs. Jennings. It was no wonder a young woman like Briar couldn¡¯t handle it; even they, two men ustomed to life and death, nearly went mad with anger. ¡°Are the Lopezs even human? ¡°They are utterly depraved. ¡°Carving flesh, breaking bones, collecting blood¡­ ¡°No matter how one looks at it, this is perverse,¡± they shouted. ¡°It¡¯s not just a minor shock; she¡¯s on the verge of snapping.¡± Hamish could read the determination on Briar¡¯s calm face. The Lopezs and the Jennings were probably finished. If Ashton couldn¡¯t keep her in check, it was possible that the Lopezs and the Jennings would bepletely wiped out. But this was Shoneport. If their entire families were really wiped out, it would be too big an incident to cover
  1. up.
Some troublemakers in high ces would definitely seize the opportunity to stir up trouble. ¡°We¡¯ll have our people keep a close watch on any activity for the next few days,¡± Reece said helplessly. Hamish nodded. ¡°Yeah, we have to keep an eye on things. Otherwise, if the situation gets too big, Ashton might be overwhelmed.¡± Ian chimed in with a chuckle, ¡°Reece, Hamish, you can rx. If Briar really wants to cause trouble, I guarantee she¡¯ll do it without anyone noticing, leaving no trace behind.¡± Memphis nodded repeatedly. ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right. Briar is an expert at this. Don¡¯t forget, her medical skills are among the best in the world.¡± Reece didn¡¯t know what to say. So did Hamish. ¡°What does that mean? ¡°Are you saying your Briar doesn¡¯t just handle the killing and burial, but can also destroy all evidence?¡± they asked. But Reece and Hamish fell silent when they met the bright, intense gazes of Ian and Memphis. After a long pause, they both eximed, ¡°Holy shit! Badass!¡± No matter how articte they were, only those words could describe their feelings at that moment. Destroying a body without a trace was easy to say, but actually doing it was no simple task. They were already shocked when they heard from Ashton that Briar was one of the eight instructors at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base. Hearing Ian and the others proudly discuss how Briar could dispose of a body without a trace felt even more surreal. ¡°How old is Briar, anyway? ¡°She has just turned 18! ¡°How on earth did she manage to juggle so many roles?¡± they wondered. What made them feel most inadequate was that each of Briar¡¯s personas, on its own, represented a level of achievement that most people could only dream of reaching in a lifetime. In traditional medicine, she was a legend for curing Griffin¡¯s chronic illness. She was also the sole disciple of the master physician Tristan, possessing medical skills far beyond her peers. In the entertainment world, she was the international racing legend, Speed Queen Bree. At such a young age, she had already imed multiple world¨Css racing titles. The most frustrating part was that this skill was merely a hobby for her. Then it was revealed that she was the world¨Css Legendary Hacker Bree, a core member of the Hacker Alliance¡­ Damn, being omnpetent was supposed to be an inspiring fantasy, not a real¨Clife requirement! Now, they were told that Briar was one of the eight instructors at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base, a global organization. Others might not grasp the meaning and weight of the title ¡°DDC Vanguard Base, one of the eight instructors.¡± But as former soldiers who had also reached the pinnacle, the two were acutely aware of thebat capabilities of the eight instructors at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base. : That was the very best in the mercenary world! 485 5 vouchers Ian said smugly, ¡°So, don¡¯t worry too much about Briar. She¡¯s not that fragile. She just needs a moment to recover¡­¡± Reece asked curiously, ¡°So, what will she do when she recovers? Is she really going on a killing spree?¡± Memphis cleared his throat. ¡°Reece, listen to yourself. How can you call what Briar does a killing spree? That¡¯s called ¡®an eye for an eye!¡± Forsaken 274 Hearing that, Reece didn¡¯t know what to say. So did Hamish. The two of them looked at Ian and Memphis with indescribable expressions. 5 vouchers As expected of men from the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base, each one was more ruthless than thest. They were probably the only ones who could get so excited about a killing spree. But they were mercenaries from the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base, so being ferocious was normal for them. Reece cleared his throat, trying to reason with the two men who were itching to follow Briar on a killing spree. ¡°Ashton won¡¯t let Briar do that. You know that Dasmieca is different from other countries, and you can¡¯t go on a killing spree here, especially in Shoneport.¡± Shoneport was the most important political center in Dasmieca. Anyone who caused trouble there, whether an individual or a family, would not end well. Not to mention him and Hamish, just take Ashton for example. Back then, no matter how wildly he acted, he never dared to make trouble in Shoneport, but instead went abroad to wreak havoc. As for him and Hamish, their family elders were afraid they would cause too much trouble, so they sent them to a military camp against their will. They were not allowed to return to Shoneport until they could handle things on their own. Even though all of Ashton¡¯s shady businesses were extremely profitable, he never considered moving them to Dasmieca, letting them grow freely overseas instead. Take the International Dark Net organization founded by Ashton, for example. Another example was the 121 Overseas Mercenary Organization. Was it that Ashton didn¡¯t want to relocate his global mining operations back to Dasmieca, to Shoneport? No, he did! Putting aside Dark Net and 121 Overseas Mercenary Organization, just consider those mineral resourcepanies. If they were relocated to Dasma, with their headquarters established in Shoneport, imagine how much tax revenue they could generate in a year. However, such lucrative and illicit ventures often fueled not only legitimate industries but also gave rise to more ndestine operations. 12:02 Wed, Sep 24 Therefore, some businesses must remain overseas. Z (85 5 vouchers Ian nodded. ¡°We all know. Don¡¯t worry. When it¡¯s time to make a move, we¡¯ll do it covertly to ensure it can¡¯t be traced.¡± Memphis also nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. Our assassination skills are the best in the world. We specialize in making people disappear without a trace.¡± ¡°¡­ You sound quite proud of yourselves,¡± Hamish retorted. Reece massaged his forehead and said, ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s leave this problem for Ashton to deal with himself.¡± Hamish chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s right. Briar is his wife, so why are we worrying?¡± The two of them sauntered away. Theb in the cave still needed cleaning, so Brandon stayed behind. He had to personally supervise his men as they removed everything that Mrs. Wade needed, making sure it was all taken away intact. However, everyone was in a heavy mood. This group of men felt very ufortable looking at the contents of all these bottles and jars. Ian and Memphis didn¡¯t leave either. They stayed, not to help move things, but to collect evidence of the Lopez family¡¯s crimes. Although they were vicious mercenaries, the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base did not kill indiscriminately, as their actions must be supported by convincing evidence. ***** In the car, Ashton was driving. At the same time, he kept an eye on the silent girl in the passenger seat beside him. Briar was quiet. She sat quietly, breathed quietly, and blinked quietly¨Cher silence was terrifying. She had changed out of her blood¨Cstained clothes and was wrapped in Ashton¡¯s oversized ck coat, making her small frame look even thinner and colder. The car was heading toward Moonspring Estate. Originally, Ashton had wanted to take Briar to the old residence first. His grandfather had also heard about her situation and was furious. But seeing her looking so lost and broken, he knew his grandfather would not be able to contain his anger. He could only take her to Moonspring Estate first. He would take her to the old residence to see his grandfather once she had recovered. 12:02 Wed, Sep 24 : Just then, his phone rang. Ashton picked it up; it was his grandfather calling. He answered, his voice steady. ¡°Grandfather, Briar and I are together.¡± He reminded the old man to be careful with his words and avoid upsetting Briar. Sure enough, Griffin¡¯s tone softened on the other end of the line. ¡°How is Briar?¡± 85 5 vouchers Ashton nced at Briar again. ¡°She¡¯s not in a good state. I¡¯ll take her to Moonspring Estate first, and I¡¯ll bring her to see you when she¡¯s feeling better.¡± Griffin¡¯s heart went out to her as soon as he heard. ¡°Okay, okay. First, take Briar back to get some rest. You must stay by her side. This is when she needs someone with her the most. Tell me if anything happens.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Ashton said. Griffin hesitated but finally said, ¡°About the Lopez family¡­find a suitable opportunity to mention it to Briar. Have her ask Marvin first.¡± Ashton¡¯s brow twitched. He switched his phone to his left hand and instinctively lowered his voice. ¡°Grandfather, is there something you know?¡± Griffin coughed lightly, and his difort was palpable even over the phone. ¡°Ahem, I don¡¯t actually know much. Back in the day, Marvin and his circle and I¡­ we didn¡¯t run in the same crowd. But some of the things they did back then didn¡¯t escape Steven¡¯s notice.¡± In his early years, Griffin had been a follower of Steven. As the head of state, Steven naturally had a vast intelligencework. Fearing Ashton would press for more details, Griffin said, ¡°This is all I can tell you for now¡­¡± Ashton gritted his teeth and asked bluntly, ¡°Grandpa, you weren¡¯t involved in this, were you?¡± On the other end of the line, Griffin snapped in frustration, ¡°You brat! Do you think I¡¯m as crazy as a bunch of mad scientists?¡± Ashton was relieved. ¡°Good. As long as you weren¡¯t involved, that¡¯s fine. Otherwise¡­¡± ¡°Otherwise, what? You wouldn¡¯t dare turn on your own family, would you?¡± Griffin retorted. Ashton smiled and didn¡¯t reply. After hanging up, Ashton met Briar¡¯s dark eyes. The smile on his lips froze into a straight line. ¡°Honey¡­¡± Briar stared into Ashton¡¯s eyes and asked, word for word, ¡°Honey, what did Grandpa just say to you?¡± Honestly, Ashton loved it when she called him ¡°honey.¡± Her soft, sweet voice was so alluring. : But at that moment, Ashton did not want Briar to call him that at all. Her tone was meant to be endearing, but he heard a clear threat in her words. 85 E5 vouchers It felt as if she would kick him out of the car the very next second if he did not tell the truth. Ashton had no choice but to confess, ¡°Grandpa just called. He suggested that if we want to investigate why the Lopez family acted so unscrupulously back then, we should start by asking Marvin¡­¡± ¡°Turn the car around. We¡¯re going to Shoneport University right now,¡± Briar ordered. 12:02 Wed, Sep 24 Forsaken 275 85 5 vouchers Ashton paused. ¡°Honey, your clothes are dirty. No matter how much of a hurry we¡¯re in, we should Moonspring Estate and change first.¡± He knew that as soon as she found out, there was no way she would quietly go home. go back to ¡°Besides, we don¡¯t need to turn around to get to Shoneport University. It¡¯s on our way,¡± Ashton added. Briar was speechless. The stern expression she had maintained the entire time finally cracked, and she shot Ashton a fierce re. Ashton found his wife¡¯s re incrediblyforting. He thought his little girl looked her best when she was lively and cute. It broke his heart to see her with a tense face and cold eyes. Ashton reached out and ruffled Briar¡¯s hair. ¡°Let¡¯s go back, freshen up, change our clothes, and grab a bite to eat before we go find Marvin, okay?¡± But Briar said nothing. ¡°Marvin isn¡¯t going anywhere,¡± Ashton continued to coax her. ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush. You need to rest. Besides, our conversation with him will take a while. You should give him some time to gather his thoughts, shouldn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Gather his thoughts?¡± Briar retorted. ¡°Of course, to gather his thoughts ¨C on how to face your questions!¡± Ashton said. If Griffin¡¯s hint was correct, then Marvin must have received the news by now. Marvin was probably waiting for Briar to show up; no reminder needed. After a long moment, Briar reluctantly nodded. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s go back to the vi first.¡± ¡°You¡¯re such a good girl,¡± Ashton sighed in relief. He wasn¡¯t worried about Marvin escaping; his mind was entirely focused on the two sedatives that had been injected into Briar. He worried that her extreme anger had prevented the sedatives from taking full effect. Perhaps once they were home and she rxed, the drug would finally put her to sleep. Ashton half¨Ccoaxed, half¨Ctricked Briar into returning to the vi, as he couldn¡¯t bear the thought of leaving her alone again. Having such a skilled wife could sometimes make him feel quite helpless. 12:02 Wed, Sep 24 Z(85) 5 vouchers Ashton took Briar¡¯s hand and led her into the bedroom. The moment he closed the door, he started to undress her. Pulled from her daze, Briar grabbed his wandering hand. ¡°Ashton, what do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± ¡°Sweetheart, you need to change this habit of calling me ¡®hubby¡® when you need something and ¡®Ashton¡® when you don¡¯t,¡± Ashton teased as his hands kept moving. At this, Briar was speechless. Ashton quickly pulled off Briar¡¯s clothes, lifted her with one arm, grabbed a set of her pajamas from the closet, and headed for the bathroom. It was not until Briar was sitting naked in the bathtub that her face turned beet red. ¡°I can wash myself.¡± But Ashton remained unmoved. ¡°As your husband, how could I let my wife do a tough job like bathing herself? Lift your arm!¡± Briar was rendered speechless. Fully aware that Ashton was deliberately teasing to amuse her, she could onlyply by raising her arms. She resigned herself to his assistance with the ostensibly mundane task of bathing¨Cthough in reality, he seized the opportunity to wander hands freely under the guise of helping. An hour and a half had passed by the time the bath was over. Thanks to Ashton¡¯s enthusiastic service, Briar had fallen into a deep sleep. Ashton gently carried the sleeping Briar, nestled in his arms, to the bed and carefully tucked her in. He was afraid she would run off again the moment he turned his back. Ashton had learned his lesson this time. He gave Briar no chance to sneak away, lying down beside her and holding her hand to cut off all her escape routes. Perhaps because of the two sedatives Hamish had given her earlier, Briar slept long and soundly. She didn¡¯t even have any nightmares. When she opened her eyes again, she saw a warm, firm chest right in front of her. For a moment, her mind went nk. She couldn¡¯t figure out where she was. Ashton noticed the moment Briar woke up. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. ¡°Honey, you¡¯re awake? Are you hungry?¡± Briar looked at Ashton¡¯s smiling eyes, then turned to look at the sky outside. It was pitch ck. She asked in a hoarse voice, ¡°¡­How long was I asleep? What time is it now?¡± Ashton picked up his phone, nced at it, and said, ¡°10:40 p.m.¡± 12:02 Wed, Sep 24 At this, Briar was stunned. She had slept for an entire day. B (85) B5 vouchers Shaking her head, she wriggled out of Ashton¡¯s arms, not bothering to ask why he let her sleep so long. If she asked, he would surely say, ¡°You were sleeping so soundly; I couldn¡¯t bear to wake you.¡± Ever since meeting Ashton, Briar had beenpletely unable to resist his subtle and flirtatious sweet talk. Although she had a lot on her mind, she maintained anguid expression, appearing to have reverted to her usual carefree self. But only Ashton knew that she had not let anything go. Her body was still tense, and the slightest disturbance could set her on edge. While Briar was asleep, Ashton called Hamish, who said that her bipr disorder had gotten worse. Although she appeared perfectly normal, it was only because she was a doctor and knew how to manage her own physical and mental health issues. No matter how capable she was, it did not mean she could cure her mental illness with willpower and self- control alone. As the saying goes, it is better to channel a problem than to suppress it. The root of her psychological issues was the overwhelming weight of her suppressed thoughts. Once the matters buried deep in her heart were resolved, her bipr disorder could slowly heal on its own. Ashton took the shirt from Briar¡¯s hands and eagerly helped her put it on. ¡°Babe, let me help you.¡± This time, his hands behaved and didn¡¯t stray to any inappropriate ces. Briar watched as Ashton did everything he could to please her. After dressing her, he even crouched down to put on her socks. With a smirk, she said, ¡°Ashton¡­¡± Ashton cut her off, bringing his handsome face close to hers. He shed a roguish grin. ¡°Wifey, I much prefer it when you call me hubby. Go on, be a good girl and let me hear you say it.¡± Briar pushed his head away. ¡°Why would I call you that when I don¡¯t need anything?¡± She was using his own words against him-¡°Call me hubby when you need something, and Ashton when you don¡¯t¡°-to shut him up. Ashtonughed in exasperation. ¡°Wifey, why can¡¯t you call me hubby for no reason? You were crying out my name so eagerly in the bathroom earlier. Your voice was so soft and sweet, it was music to my ears¡­ Ouch!¡± A fist suddenlynded hard on his shoulder. Ashton cried out and theatrically fell to the ground. He looked at Briar with a pitiful expression and whined, ¡°Wifey, you¡¯re abusing your husband.¡± 12:03 Wed, Sep 24 : 85 5 vouchers The truth was, even if Briar put more force into that punch, there was no way she could actually take Ashton down. But then again, wasn¡¯t he just trying to spoil his wife? Briar bit her lip, looking at the red mark on Ashton¡¯s shoulder. Feeling a little guilty, she asked, ¡°Does it really hurt?¡± Was this man trying to y on her sympathy again? Ashton deliberately leaned closer to Briar, showing her the shoulder she had punched. ¡°Of course it hurts, babe. Don¡¯t you know how hard you can punch?¡± 12:03 Wed, Sep 24 Forsaken 276 Briar reached out and gently rubbed his shoulder, her eyes full of concern. But her words still carried a stubborn edge, a blend ofint and coquetry as she murmured, ¡°How are you so easy to knock down?¡± Briar knew Ashton was just pretending to be pathetic to get her sympathy. Ashton seized the opportunity to wrap his arm around Briar¡¯s waist, murmuring pitifully, ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m easy to knock down¨Cit¡¯s that my wife¡¯s fighting skills are too powerful.¡± ¡°Watch your persona¨Cit¡¯s about to copse.¡± Briar withdrew her hand. ¡°I¡¯m hungry. Is there anything to eat at home?¡± ¡°Of course. I had the housekeeper prepare dinner in advance. Come on, let me carry you downstairs to eat.¡± As he spoke, Ashton tightened his hold on her waist, swept Briar into his arms, and headed for the door. ¡°Persona? What¡¯s that? ¡°Can I eat it? ¡°Can it make my wife happy?¡± Asthon asked rhetorically. Briar threw her arms around Ashton¡¯s neck, her face pale with fright. ¡°Wait, don¡¯t go out yet¡­ You¡¯re not dressed.¡± Ashton gave a smug, nonchntugh. ¡°What are you afraid of? No one else is home. Besides, these are masculine assets that my wife loves to see, and I should show them off when necessary.¡± But internally: Holy shit! Holy fucking shit! How did I forget to get dressed? He was so focused on coaxing his wife that he forgot he was also naked. In the end, Ashton casually threw on a bathrobe, puffed out his chest to show off his masculine assets, and carried his wife downstairs to eat. Briar tried her best to focus only on the bowl in her hands, forcing herself not to let her gaze wander, especially not across the dining table. Across the dining table sat Ashton. Whether it was due to the heat or his own teasing charm, the man¡¯s robe was technically on¨Cyet somehow essentially off. His bathrobe was wide open, the cor slipping off his shoulder and exposing his chest. If Briar sat up straight and looked closely, she could faintly see the smooth lines of his abdomen¡­and its chiseled definition. Every exposed part of Ashton¡¯s body showcased his masculine charm to Briar. 10:43 Thu, Sep 25 ? 65 vouchers If the timing weren¡¯t so inappropriate, if Briar hadn¡¯t already had her fill of him before, there¡¯s no way she could have resisted such a breathtaking sight of male beauty. ¡°Here, Briar, eat more. ¡°You¡¯ve lost weight in just one night,¡± Ashton said. He enthusiastically served her more food, noticing that Briar was only focused on eating rice. Since they were sitting across the dining table from each other, Ashton had to stand up to put food in Briar¡¯s bowl. But when he stood up, his bathrobe revealed even more. His abs were on full disy, and she could even see his V¨Clines disappearing into the waistband of his underwear¡­ His captivating waist and impressive assets were enough to dazzle Briar. Because of Ashton¡¯s movements, Briar was ¡°forced¡± to take in the entire handsome view across the table. That was against the rules! Totally against the rules. She quickly stopped Ashton¡¯s attempts to flirt while serving her food. ¡°Don¡¯t move. Just sit there. I can get it myself.¡± Ashton did as she asked, leaning back in his chair with azy look and a nod. ¡°Alright.¡± Afraid that Ashton would try to flirt with her again, Briar gave equal attention to every dish on the table, leaving him no opportunity to dote on her. Ashton suppressed a smile as he watched Briar earnestly finish every dish on the table. Since it was ate¨Cnight supper, the portions for each dish were small. Ashton had sessfully used his charm to coax Briar into eating her fill. After the meal, Ashton had no more excuses to tease Briar. Under her insistent gaze, he took out his phone and called Marvin. It was quitete. ording to his usual schedule, Marvin would have already been asleep by now. But tonight, Marvin had been waiting in his study, sitting quietly and waiting for the phone on his desk to ring. Marvin was conflicted; he both wanted his phone to ring and hoped it wouldn¡¯t. But at midnight, his phone rang. He let it ring three times, then cleared his throat and answered, his voice casual, ¡°Ashton, it¡¯ste. What can I do for you?¡± On the other end of the line, Ashton put his phone on speaker and set it on the table. ¡°Marvin, you¡¯re still 10:43 Thu, Sep 25 awake, I presume?¡± Although he phrased it as a question, his tone was certain. 55 vouchers ¡°If you have something to say, just say it, you brat. Are you still trying to y games with me?¡± Marvin said. Ashton let out a low chuckle, his gaze falling on the young woman who sat with her arms crossed, once again. cloaked in an aura of aloofness. He got straight to the point, ¡°Marvin, I presume you¡¯ve heard about what happened today?¡± On the other end, Marvin¡¯s breathing grew heavy. ¡°¡­Yes, I¡¯ve received the news.¡± Ashton reached for Briar¡¯s hand, toying with it in his palm. ¡°Briar is here with me. Do you have anything to say to her?¡± Marvin didn¡¯t know what to say. No, he wasn¡¯t ready to talk yet. He didn¡¯t want to say anything for the time being. Not until he contacted that person. But he couldn¡¯t refuse Briar so directly. He was afraid the young woman would storm his home. After all, given Briar¡¯s status as an instructor at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base, he didn¡¯t dare confront her head¨Con. Especially after hearing reports about Briar¡¯sbat prowess at the deserted mountain pass and the bloody, brutal aftermath of the battle, Marvin¡¯s initial affection for her had turned into deep fear. A few of them, old¨Ctimers, had participated in the Lopez family¡¯sb experiment ns back in the day. Although theyter withdrew for various reasons, they ultimately chose to stand by and do nothing as evil began and good people suffered. But life was unpredictable. Marvin never imagined that Briar had returned to avenge her mother. Marvin had already sent a message to Tristan. He knew he couldn¡¯t face Briar¡¯s wrath alone. No matter what, those other old¨Ctimers had toe forward and share the consequences. Freddie had disappeared¡­. Briar¡¯s people had also captured Brody¡­ Next, Briar woulde for them. He just never expected that he would be the first person Briar called. Honestly, he was too ashamed to face Briar¡¯s questions. At least, he couldn¡¯t face Briar until he saw Tristan. 85 55 vouchers He wasn¡¯t as cold¨Chearted as Tristan. He couldn¡¯t be ruthless about the incident back then, and he couldn¡¯t bring himself to deny Briar the truth now. But what they nned back then, personal feelings aside, was meaningful for the greater good. At least the sacrifice of a poor woman back then saved a highly respected person. If they could do it all over again, those old men would surely make the same decision. As for the consequences¡­.sacrificing a family¡¯s happiness for ten more years of that person¡¯s life was worth it. Forsaken 277 Chapter 277 : 85 55 vouchers 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. 10:43 Thu, Sep 25 : BS E55 vouchers ¡°I knew it. All your talk about doing things for my own good is just a self¨Cserving 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.¡± 55 vouchers ¡°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 25 He ruffled her hair andforted her with a smile, sensing her sudden low mood. 85 E55 vouchers ¡°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¨Cranking 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?¡± B Forsaken 278 Chapter 278 P: 85 55 vouchers Ashton carried Briar back to the bedroom. She used her beauty and every trick in the book to charm him, and they finally spent a quiet and peaceful night in the bedroom. When Briar woke up, it was already 9:30 a.m. the next day. Briar struggled in bed for several minutes before she could finally get some strength back into her limp limbs. ¡°Dear, you¡¯re awake?¡± Ashton chose that moment to enter, smiling as he scooped up the grimacing Briar from her sitting position and ced her on hisp. ¡°Is your back sore, or are your legs weak?¡± Briar red at him for asking such an obvious question. ¡°What do you She thought, ¡®Of course my back is sore and my legs are weak!¡® think?¡± Ashton smiled and reached out to gently massage Briar¡¯s sore back. ¡°Don¡¯t be mad. I had someone make your favorite seafood shrimp.¡± ¡°You think one meal can make up for your ravenous behaviorst night?¡± Briar rxed, letting Ashton¡¯s hands massage her back. Ashton nced at the bright, sunny sky outside. ¡°How about I lie down and let you have your way with me? Is an hour enough?¡± Briar spoke in a calm, quiet voice, but her words carried immense power. ¡°Get out!¡± Ashton stifled augh. ¡°Dear, this is a perfectly proper way to make it up to you. Why don¡¯t you appreciate it?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s really bullying whom here? If you lie down, can you guarantee you won¡¯t move an inch?¡± Briar said irritably, pinching Ashton hard on the chest. She was satisfied to hear him gasp. Ashton endured the pain. ¡°Dear, only a statue stays perfectly still.¡± Briar had never once gotten the upper hand in their bedroom affairs. ¡°Well, there you have it! You never listen to me. In the end, you always just do as you please. You¡¯ll never change.¡± ¡°What do you mean, I don¡¯t listen? I always do as you say in the end. You told me to be gentle, so I didn¡¯t dare to use any force¡­ Ouch! That hurts. Dear, let go.¡± Ashton¡¯s shameless, truth¨Ctwisting words drove Briar into a fury. Without hesitation, she bit him on the chest. His poor nipples were ravaged and gnawed. The piercing pain could probably only be described as a mix of agony and ecstasy. After an hour of ying around in the bedroom, Ashton carried the fully dressed Briar downstairs. Brandon and Ian were already downstairs. 10:43 Thu, Sep 25 : ? 85 55 vouchers Even Frank was waiting eagerly in the living room. When he saw Briare downstairs, he said, ¡°Briar, you¡¯re finally down. I¡¯m starving to death.¡± Briar¡¯s face instantly burned hot. She struggled out of Ashton¡¯s arms and jumped down. She was blushing, but she would never admit it was due to shyness. A smack was heard. Ashton mercilessly pped Frank on the back of the head. ¡°Speak properly.¡± Fuming but not daring to talk back, Frank aggrievedly followed behind Briar and whispered, ¡°Briar, what do you even see in Ashton? He¡¯s so violent. Be careful, or he might abuse you.¡± ¡°Rascal, I can hear you,¡± Ashton reminded him irritably. Frank silently edged closer to Briar. ¡°See, Briar? Ashton is so fierce.¡± The corner of Briar¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Frank, is Connor back? You¡¯re being a little¡­ delicate today.¡± Frank was speechless. Briar¡¯s eyes crinkled into a smile as she watched Frank¡¯s face turn red. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Between Ashton and me, it¡¯s not yet decided who¡¯s the boss.¡± Frank gave a thumbs¨Cup. ¡°As expected of the woman who conquered Ashton. You¡¯re impressive.¡± Ashton kept his word. He shelled every shrimp Briar ate, so she didn¡¯t have to get her hands dirty. The sight made Frank incredibly envious. Unfortunately, he and Connor were in a long¨Cdistance rtionship. Their connection was maintained almost entirely through physical intimacy. A genuinely romantic moment, like being fed at the dining table, was something he could only imagine. Ian noticed the longing in Frank¡¯s eyes. ¡°You like this cheesy stuff?¡± ¡°You¡¯re single, so you wouldn¡¯t understand this kind of romance,¡± Frank said gloomily. Brandon mercilessly exposed him. ¡°Frank, I recall that whenever Connores back, you just sit in bed and wait for him to feed you, don¡¯t you?¡± Frank was speechless. Ian burst outughing. After the meal, it was time to get down to business. Briar returned to her vi alone. When she reappeared, the bulge under her loose coat made it obvious she had a gun tucked at her waist. 10:43 Thu, Sep 25 85 #55 vouchers. 65 Her eyes were dark and cold, with faint bloodshot streaks and a murderous glint. She was like the god of ughter about to enter a battlefield, radiating an imposing aura. Frank gulped. ¡°Don¡¯t you guys think Briar looks a little scary like this?¡± ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s quite terrifying,¡±n agreed with a nod. However, this was the Briar he knew. Jaded and ruthless, as if every breath she took wasced with killing intent. A single nce from her was enough to make the weak¨Cwilled retreat without a fight. Brandon¡¯s respect for Briar deepened. He hurried to the car to open the door for her. ¡°After you, Mrs. Wade.¡± Ian scoffed, ¡°Bootlicker!¡± Brandon ignored him, waited for Ashton to get in the car, then slipped into the driver¡¯s seat and drove off. ¡°Hey!¡± Frank panicked. ¡°We haven¡¯t gotten in the car yet.¡± Ian pulled Frank away. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you.¡± Then, two cars pulled out of the vi, one after the other. But no one noticed that just as the cars were leaving and the vi gates were slowly closing, two figures quickly slipped inside¡­ Briar, quietly scrolling through her phone in the back seat, paused. She nced up at Ashton, who sat beside her, equally silent and focused on hisptop. Sensing Briar¡¯s amused look, Ashton gave a slight nod. ¡°We have intruders.¡± Briar looked away. ¡°So, what¡¯s the n? Are you just going to let them walk right in?¡± Ashton turned slightly. He lowered his gaze, a sharp glint in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s always easy to get into my territory. Getting out is the hard part.¡± Briar frowned. ¡°What if they saw something they shouldn¡¯t have? Or photographed something they shouldn¡¯t have?¡± ¡°They¡¯d have to be able to get out first.¡± Ashton closed theptop on hisp and nced at the phone in Briar¡¯s hand. ¡°Dear, didn¡¯t you already cut off all signals in the vi?¡± Briar raised an eyebrow. ¡°You noticed?¡± Ashton smiled and leaned in, looking directly into Briar¡¯s eyes. ¡°I pay close attention to everything my does.¡± Briar fell silent. wife Brandon, who was driving, listened as the two power yers in the back seat dismantled someone¡¯s scheme in just a few words. He couldn¡¯t help but silently wipe the cold sweat from his forehead. 10:44 Thu, Sep 25 : 85 55 vouchers Sure enough, powerful people only ended up with those who were even more powerful. Ashton¡¯s influence was already the strongest in Shoneport, and now with the ruthless Briar by his side, Shoneport was about to be thrown into turmoil. Forsaken 279 Chapter 279 They drove to the vi district in the city center. The moment they stepped into Ashton¡¯s vi, just like at Moonspring Estate, all signals throughout the building disappeared. This left their secret followers baffled and furious. No one knew how many secrets the group had uncovered from Brody after spending the entire day at the vi. However, judging by the wide smiles on Ashton¡¯s and Briar¡¯s faces as they left the vi, it was clear their efforts had been fruitful. Moreover, the most unsettling part was that the two people who had sneaked into Ashton¡¯s vi were never heard from again, even after Ashton and the others returned home. They vanished without a trace. It was eerie, yet logical. On winter nights in Shoneport, the moonlight seemed dimmer and less white. After dinner, Frank was picked up by Connor. Ian and Brandon remained at the vi. As night fell, the outside world was quiet and peaceful, while the vi was warm and harmonious. Only the courtyardmps were on, illuminatingyers of white frost. At two in the morning, a time when people were most tired, the lights in the vi slowly went out. From the outside, the entire vi seemed to be in a deep slumber. Under the courtyardmps, several dark figures shed past, so fast they barely left a trace on the ground. In the pitch¨Cck master bedroom on the second floor, a fully dressed Briar and Ashton stood by the window. Their eyes met in the dim light. Briar scoffed, ¡°They¡¯re so impatient.¡± Ashton picked up two phones from the table. He handed one to Briar and put the other in his pocket. ¡°Perfect timing. These guys are just what we need to make an example of.¡± Instead of using the door, they opened the window and climbed one after the other into the adjacent bedroom, which was Ian¡¯s and Brandon¡¯s room. Ian and Brandon were responsible for protecting Ashton and Briar, so they hadn¡¯t nned on sleeping. The moment they heard a noise at the window, they opened it to let Ashton and Briar in. In the darkness, Briar gave them a hand signal to proceed. Ian and Brandon nodded silently, then quietly opened the door and stepped into the pitch¨Cck hallway Ashton and Briar climbed out the window again,nding in the yard just a few secondster. Briar easily dismantled a time bomb and raised an eyebrow at Ashton. ¡°Hubby, how dare they nt a bomb on your territory? They clearly don¡¯t respect you at all.¡± Ashton epted her sarcastic tone without missing a beat. ¡°You¡¯re right. They¡¯ve gone too far. If we don¡¯t fight back, we¡¯ll look like easy targets. Dear, care to join me in making a big move?¡± As Ashton spoke, Briar dismantled two more time bombs. She chuckled and replied, ¡°I¡¯m in.¡± Briar had dismantled so many bombs that she couldn¡¯t hold them all. Ashton thoughtfully grabbed her small backpack, and they filled it with more than twenty time bombs. Firearms were banned in Dasmieca, and dangerous weapons like bombs were also strictly prohibited by the authorities. Even if those people wanted Briar dead, they wouldn¡¯t dare use the world¡¯s most advanced gourd¨Cshaped bombs to attack Ashton¡¯s vi. Who was Ashton, after all? He was the powerful heir of Shoneport¡¯s elite. The Wade family¡¯s status was unshakeable, and his own shadowy connections were enough to make anyone hesitate. So, even though the men were ordered to capture Briar, none dared to cause a disturbance in Ashton¡¯s vi. The twenty¨Csomething time bombs dismantled by Briar were naturally not as powerful as the small gourd- shaped bomb. However, if all twenty¨Csomething bombs exploded at once, it would be enough to level the vi. Of course, they never expected that all the bombs they nted would escape the notice of Ashton¡¯s men and detonate at the same time. Just a few of them exploding would have been enough to cause big trouble for Briar. No matter how capable she was, being an 18¨Cyear¨Cold girl, what could she do against the power of a bomb? But who would have thought their meticulously nned assassination plot would be foiled so easily? The entire process, from nting the bombs to theirplete dismantlement, took less than ten minutes.. ¡°Stay still.¡± Brandon and Ian restrained five burly men in ck, leading them from the house into the courtyard, and kicked them to their knees before Ashton and Briar. Brandon said, ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Wade, we caught them all. There are five of them. They have mediocre skills, yet they had the nerve toe here and cause trouble.¡± Ian cracked his knuckles. ¡°Briar, they walked right into our hands. Can we just take them out?¡± Briar¡¯s mouth twitched. She stole a nce at Ashton, who had an ambiguous smile on his face. ¡°What are you thinking? They¡¯re not like chickens delivered to our door for us to just kill and eat. Ian nced at Ashton, his expression serious. ¡°Yes, Briar, you have a point. We should win them over with reason, not force.¡± Ashton couldn¡¯t be bothered with their dramatic act and looked at Brandon. ¡°Have you interrogated them? Who sent them?¡± In fact, Ashton didn¡¯t need to ask to guess the oue. These five were just disposable pawns sent by the masterminds, and they had no idea who was really behind it all. As expected, Brandon shook his head. ¡°They¡¯re useless. They don¡¯t know a thing.¡± Ian sidled over with a smile. ¡°They don¡¯t know anything? Let me question them.¡± Brandon warily blocked Ian. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? Mrs. Wade said not to kill anyone.¡± Ian smiled. ¡°Brandon,e on. Do I seem like a ruthless person to you?¡± Still unconvinced, Brandon continued to block the way. His eyes drifted to the unnaturally bent arms of the five men on the ground. ¡°You¡¯re not?¡± Ian awkwardly rubbed his nose andughed sheepishly. ¡°I might have gotten a bit carried away. Who knew they couldn¡¯t take a hit?¡± Ashton nced at the five men on the ground, their arms bent at an unnatural 180¨Cdegree angle. ¡°Ian, you certainly don¡¯t hold back.¡± The breaks were precise. They wouldn¡¯t cause permanent disability, but it would be impossible for the five men to use a gun again. If a professional assassin couldn¡¯t use a gun, wouldn¡¯t that effectively end their career? This was a crueler fate than simply killing them. Ashton calmly nced at Briar, who stood nearby, casually juggling a bomb. He asked tentatively, ¡°Dear, how do you n to deal with these five?¡± Briar put the bomb back in her backpack. ¡°Deal with them? Why should we? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to send them back where they came from?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already figured out who¡¯s behind them?¡± Ashton asked in surprise. Forsaken 280 Chapter 280 Briar triumphantly held out her phone, showcasing several photos on the screen. The images were vivid, clearly revealing every injury on the faces and bodies of the individuals depicted. Ashton had ruled Shoneport for years, giving him the opportunity to know everyone in the city¡¯s high society as well as its various underground factions. He instantly recognized the person in the photo. ¡°Someone from the Lopez family again?¡± he asked. However, the person in Briar¡¯s photos was not Brody or Freddie, but the official head of the Lopez family, Harith. Harith was a slick and treacherous man with a corrupt heart. Ashton was not surprised that it was Harith. He was a man who never acted without a motive for personal gain. To send assassins to the vi, he must have received an enormous reward from the mastermind behind the scenes. Otherwise, given Harith¡¯s greed, he wouldn¡¯t dare put the entire Lopez family at risk by confronting him directly. Brandon and Ian could clearly hear the disgust in Ashton¡¯s voice, even from a distance. This surprised Brandon, who then asked, ¡°Mr. Wade, does the Lopez family still dare toe here to confront us?¡± ¡®Are they really unkible? Both Freddie and Brody have already fallen into Mr. Wade¡¯s hands, along with that dim¨Cwitted Hayden and the Garzas. Where do these people get the audacity?¡® he thought. Ian scoffed, ¡°Are the Lopezs really nning to go down with Brody?¡± He had witnessed countless crude and brutal tactics before. When they realized that rescue was impossible, they always found a way to silence the person permanently, making sure they couldn¡¯t reveal anything they shouldn¡¯t. It was a Pyrrhic tactic that appeared reckless, yet they were never the ones who paid for their lives. To some, after all, human life held little to no value. Upon hearing this, Brandon¡¯s expression grew serious. He had witnessed numerous instances of people being silenced by murder over the years. He simply couldn¡¯tprehend why they continually challenged Ashton¡¯s authority. It was as if they felt no fear that he might explode in rage and annihte their entire family. It was simply the Lopez family. If the Wade family wanted them to vanish, few would be brave enough to intervene. Briar smiled at Ashton and said, ¡°Ashton, we just caught Brody, and now someone is nting bombs at our house. If we don¡¯t fight back, don¡¯t you think they¡¯ll see us as easy targets?¡± Hearing Briar¡¯s words, Ashton narrowed his eyes. ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± Although Briar was smiling, her tone remained serious. The actions of the twenty¨Csomething individuals ignited her fury. Ashton, however, was unable to predict her next move. But this time, the Lopez family had truly crossed a line. Ashton was still very alive, yet they dared to act so brazenly. This was tant disrespect not only toward him but also toward the Wade family. Indeed, it wasn¡¯t that he was unable to destroy the Lopezs; he simply hadn¡¯t found it necessary. Given that the Lopezs have repeatedly invited trouble, he wouldn¡¯t mind sending them on their way. ¡°How did you go about bringing down a wealthy family?¡± Briar leaned against the wall with one leg bent, appearing somewhat cocky and indulgent. Yet, the sight was surprisingly captivating, holding Ashton¡¯s gaze. Ashton observed Briar with an unreadable expression. After a prolonged silence, he smiled and said, ¡°The Wade family is make a wealthy family vanish is to take control of their business.¡± Once their family business could no longer generate wealth for them, they brought about their own downfall without anyone else having to intervene. It was easy to rise from a simple life to a life of luxury, but nearly impossible to return. Forcing those who had grown used to luxury to live a in, modest life proved harder than killing them. Though this bloodless tactic was despicable, it was also the swiftest and most effective. However, Ashton had relied on this method frequently when expanding his territory a few years earlier. He rarely employed it afterward¨Cnot because he considered the tactic dishonorable, but because he no longer deemed it necessary. Briar lifted two fingers and wiggled them. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take the Lopez family¡¯s entire holdings. Is that too much to ask?¡± Though she invoked all their assets, the two¨Cfinger gesture made in she had her sights set on the family¡¯s two secret research bases. Ashton did not immediately agree. It was not due to any reluctance to relinquish the twobs. In his view, apart from the top leaders, no one in all of Shoneport could match his wealth and power. He paid no attention to anyone else. If he seized the Lopez family¡¯s assets, no one would dare oppose him; if Briar tried the same, they would likely refuse to hand them over without a fight. ¡®But so what? Who would dare to stop my wife from getting what she wanted?¡® he thought. ¡°Okay.¡± Ashton looked up and nodded. ¡°If you want them, the Lopez family¡¯s assets are yours.¡± The corner of Ian¡¯s mouth twitched. He whispered to Brandon, ¡°Brandon, has your boss always been this narcissistic and overbearing?¡± Brandon red. ¡°Watch it. Don¡¯t you know how to speak properly?¡± Ian curled his lip. ¡°It¡¯s true! No matter how far the Lopez family has fallen, they¡¯re still a powerful family. Can Mr. Wade destroy them just like that? Is that for real?¡± It was a clear provocation from Ian, but Brandon tended to get upset whenever someone spoke negatively about Ashton, so he waspletely unaware that Ian was intentionally provoking him. Brandon seized Ian by the cor and warned, ¡°If you dare to question Mr. Wade again, just wait and see wha I¡¯ll do to you.¡± The top button of Ian¡¯s cor pressed painfully against his neck, and he almost choked. He coughed violently. ¡°Brandon, let go¡­ Just let go first.¡± Brandon was furious and about to unleash more harsh words to teach Ian a lesson when he heard Ian say, ¡°If Mr. Wade is really that powerful, he can¡¯t allow Briar to suffer this time. ¡°Especially¡­ He can¡¯t abandon her! Briar will be heartbroken.¡± Although Ian didn¡¯t know how Zeke had treated Briar during her time with the Grant family, the damning evidence uncovered about Zeke made it clear that Briar had likely endured significant frauma, As the saying went, there was no hate without love. If Briar had felt nothing for Zeke, her smile would not have been so strained. It had always seemed like she was forcing it. Ashton was certainly aware of whatn had noticed. He understood exactly what Briar wanted now, blood for blood, an eye for an eye! Had he not been keeping watch, the Lopez family would have vanished from Shoneport long ago. Nevertheless, there were always reckless individuals who would leap out and stir up trouble. ¡°Perfect. There¡¯s no time like the present. Let¡¯s go now. I¡¯ll personally deliver these twenty explosive devices myself.¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Forsaken 281 Chapter 281 99 56 vouchers Brandon released his grip on Ian¡¯s cor. Afraid that Ashton and Briar might overhear them, he pulledn farther away. ¡°Don¡¯t worry; Mr. Wade is so amodating towards his wife that he wouldn¡¯t retaliate or respond, even if she were aggressive with him.¡± Hearing Brandon¡¯s strange exnation, Ian couldn¡¯t help but twitch the corner of his mouth slightly. By the time they finished whispering, they turned around to find that Briar and Ashton had left the yard. As they looked up, the light in the second¨Cfloor bedroom turned on. ¡®Are they already going to bed? Didn¡¯t they just say they were going after the Lopezs? What happened to their n to take down the Lopezs?¡® Ian wondered. As Ian started to head inside, Brandon pulled him back. ¡°Hey, where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± ¡°Time for bed! Briar had already fallen asleep, so why am I still lingering here?¡± Ian remarked with a shrug, shaking off Brandon¡¯s grip as he walked away. He even raised his noble feet while passing by a group of assassins tied up in the yard. Brandon closed his eyes, at a loss for words. Just as Ian was about to walk through the main gate, Brandon lunged forward and pulled him back. ¡°What does it matter to us that they are resting? You can help me deal with these guys before we sleep.¡± Ian hesitated as Brandon passed his gun to him. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were eager for some action? Here, take the gun. Do as you wish.¡± Ian instantly grabbed Brandon¡¯s gun and found it impossible to let go. It was a custom¨Cmade, limited¨Cedition model that he had admired before and had longed for ever since. But Brandon cherished it and would not allow him to touch it, yet now he was being generous. In the bedroom, Briar lounged against the headboard, tapping her finger against her forehead as she watched Ashton slowly undress, her eyes sparkling. Ashton felt the heat of her gaze on his back. ¡°Honey, if you keep looking at me like that, something¡¯s going to happen.¡± Briar¡¯s mind was inundated with visions of Ashton¡¯s strong, wless physique: broad shoulders, a slender waist, and long legs. When she heard Ashton, she replied impulsively, ¡°What could happen?¡± Ashton finished undressing and slipped into his showy, loose bathrobe. Turning around, he suddenly asked, ¡°Do I look good?¡± Briar struggled to keep from smiling. ¡°You look good.¡± Ashton strode closer, his voiceced with temptation. ¡°Want to touch?¡± Briar nodded instinctively. ¡°I do.¡± In the next moment, Ashton took Briar¡¯s hand and ced it on his abs¨Cthe very ones she had been admiring. The intense heat and perfectly firm texture against her palm made her eyes narrow in pleasure. E 65 voucher ¡°Honey, since you¡¯re already touching it, why not¡­¡± Ashton continued to tempt her. Briar found herself utterly defenseless against any of Ashton¡¯s charms. As his words registered, she slowly lowered her head to kiss his abdomen. Soon, soft amorous sounds filled the quiet bedroom, lingering for what felt like an eternity. As dawn¡¯s first light filtered through the curtains, Briar, exhausted from their wild night, finally drifted into a deep sleep. Ashton gazed down at Briar, who was sleeping peacefully, and tenderly kissed her sweat- dampened forehead while his fingers gently caressed her bare shoulder. For a long time, Ashton watched Briar in silence, making no moves. It wasn¡¯t until his phone screen illuminated that he snapped out of his trance and gentlyid Briar back on the pillow. He quietly slipped out of bed, got dressed, and left the bedroom with his phone. As soon as the door closed, Briar, who was thought to be sound asleep, slowly opened her eyes. She blinked rapidly to shake off the sleepiness, tossed aside the covers, got out of bed, and walked over to the window, Ashton soon appeared in the yard, where Ian and Brandon were already waiting. The five assassins who had been captured and left in the yard the night before had disappeared without a trace. Brandon respectfully called out, ncing past Ashton. ¡°Mr. Wade.¡± It was clear that Brandon was searching for Briar. Ashton waved his hand. ¡°Briar isn¡¯t awake yet. We¡¯ll leave first.¡± Brandon was inwardly surprised but did not let it show. ¡°Alright.¡± Then, he and Ashton drove away. Ian leaned casually against the courtyard gate, one hand in his pocket, while the other twirled a leaf he had picked up. A bright smile lit up his face. Once Ashton¡¯s car was out of sight, he tossed the leaf aside, walked over to the bedroom window, and called out, ¡°Briar, are we going?¡± An arm quickly reached out from the window and waved. Then, Briar¡¯s hoarse voice replied, ¡°We are. Give me twenty minutes.¡± Ian chuckled, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll head home first to see my precious sister.¡± A voice drifted out of the window again, ¡°Go ahead.¡± Ian quickly left the courtyard and made his way to the back of the vi. He had been closely following Briartely and hadn¡¯t spent much quality time with Ellen. As he walked, he wondered how he wouldfort her if she started crying orining. Briar stood in front of the bathroom mirror, gritting her teeth as she examined the hickeys adorning her neck. Ashton would stop at nothing to prevent her from leaving the house. If she weren¡¯t in such great shape, he would have worn her out to the point of exhaustion in bed. He truly believed he could stop her from acting independently simply by tiring her out. Harith, if he were to meet his end, it would be in her hands alone. As Briar angrily dialed a phone number while trying to hide the marks on her neck, Georgiana¡¯s teasing voice greeted her as soon as the call connected. ¡°Well, well! It¡¯s so early, and you¡¯re already awake, Briar. Looks like your man¡¯s stamina could use a little work!¡± Briar was left speechless Georgiana cackled loudly ¡°Silence means you agree! Oh my gosh! I¡¯ve uncovered a 6:03 Sat, Sep 27 : ?? EX 55 vouchers huge secret¨CAshton really can¡¯t perform. George, hurry! This is our chance to make some extra cash!* Briar irritably cut off her nonsense. ¡°Georgiana, be serious. There¡¯s no way my man can¡¯t perform!¡± Georgiana tutted. ¡°Well, who¡¯s to say? It¡¯s not like I¡¯ve tried him myself.¡± George¡¯s voice turned jealous and menacing. ¡°Honey, who are you thinking of trying out? Am I not enough for you?¡± Now it was Georgiana¡¯s turn to be speechless. ¡°Exactly. George is the champion of our Hacker Alliance¡¯s fitness tests.¡± Briar was delighted with George¡¯s perfect assist and generously said, ¡°George, I¡¯ve recently developed a new physical enhancement potion. I¡¯ll send you a few bottles.¡± ¡°Briar is the most generous,¡± George said with a smile, puffing out his chest confidently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ve found Harith. He won¡¯t be getting away.¡± AD Comment Send gift Forsaken 282 Briar had a lot of faith in George¡¯s tracking skills. Hearing this, she sincerely thanked him, ¡°Thanks¡± ¡°We¡¯re friends. Don¡¯t mention it,¡± George said casually. They were all key members of the Hacker Alliance and had heard snippets about the vendetta that Briar was pursuing. However, they had never dared to ask, fearing it might upset her. They genuinely empathized with her. Few could endure more than a decade of relentless pursuit and still retain the determination to stay optimistic and diligent in their studies. That was why, when the leader of the Hacker Alliance recruited Briar five years ago, everyone immediately weed her as one of their own. Although Briar seemed gentle and easygoing, she never disyed any vulnerability. She always investigated her mother¡¯s situation alone and in secrecy. However, this time, she did the unexpected by asking for their help in tracking someone¡¯s whereabouts. When they learned of this, everyone rallied to assist her. After receiving a message from Briar, the group assembled. Despite having limited information, they went all out and located Harith, a rat hiding in the shadows, in under five hours. He was a greedy, cunning, and shameless rogue. Fortunately, the powerful figure he depended on held enough influence. He was also careful enough to evade Briar¡¯s pursuit all these years. However, this time, he had revealed his true self and attempted to kill Briar, so it was understandable that they acted with such ruthlessness. If Briar was unable to handle Harith on this asion, the group had already resolved to intervene and manage the situation personally. Briar hung up the phone with a smile, feeling wonderful. She grabbed her backpack and was about to leave when she turned around and froze. ¡°Alexia? Alex?¡± At the courtyard gate, two figures stood with their arms crossed: Alexia and Alex. With a bright smile, Alexia opened her arms, approached Briar, and pulled her into a warm embrace. ¡°Briar! Are you surprised? I bet you didn¡¯t see thising!¡± Briar¡¯s heart filled with pleasant warmth. ¡°I¡¯m very surprised, and this ispletely unexpected.¡± Ian returned at that moment and was shocked to see the two of them at the door. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ Aren¡¯t you from the Hacker Alliance?¡± Alex waved to Ian. ¡°Hi. I¡¯m Alex from the Hacker Alliance.¡± With an arm around Briar¡¯s shoulder, Alexia waved ton as well. ¡°Alexia, from the Hacker Alliance.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Ian circled them. ¡°You¡¯re here to see Briar now¡­ Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯vee to cheer her on?¡± Alexia chuckled. ¡°Of course! We couldn¡¯t miss a rare opportunity to see Briar in action. We had to witness it with our own eyes!¡± As a member of the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base,n was well acquainted with the workings of the Hacker Alliance. This powerful and enigmatic hacker organization was not known for 6:03 Sat, Sep 27 114 voucher interfering in others¡® affairs or getting involved without cause. They had traveled all the way from Qathana to Dasmieca specifically to support Briar. ¡®Wait? To support Briar?¡® Ian thought. ¡°Briar, didn¡¯t you say you were just an ordinary hacker in the Hacker Alliance?¡± Ian asked in surprise. ¡°Looks like the internationally renowned Ian is a bit slow on the uptake!¡± Alexughed. Ian was at a loss for words. Alexia brought Briar over to him and asked, ¡°Did you really think that a major figure like the legendary hacker Bree would be just an ordinary hacker in our Hacker Alliance? Imagine how powerful our Hacker Alliance would have to be then!¡± Ian was at a loss for words, realizing how naive he had been. Given Briar¡¯s position at the DDC Vanguard Base, it made no sense for her to settle as just an ordinary hacker in the Hacker Alliance. ¡°Briar, with all of us here to help, how have you managed to do it alone for all these years?¡± Ian asked curiously. Briar replied calmly, ¡°These are my personal matters. I didn¡¯t want to involve you in them.¡± Had Ashton, that powerful and dominant man, not forced his way into her life, she likely would have kept her affairs hidden from them to this day. Alexia red at Briar, dissatisfied. ¡°What are you saying? After all our years of friendship, who would be afraid of getting dragged into your problems? No matter how skilled you are, can you really aplish more alone than with ourbined strength?¡± They hadn¡¯t known how to help Briar before, but now that she was finally giving them an opportunity, they were determined to back her up, no matter what. ¡°Tha-¡± Before Briar could finish her ¡°thank you,¡± Alexia cut her off. ¡°Hey, hold on! No need for all that sentimental stuff! Let¡¯s go¨Cwe¡¯ve got people to catch!¡± Ian eagerly trotted off to retrieve the car. The vehicle was a modified ck G¨CWagon that Ashton had parked. in the courtyard. While it appeared ordinary, every aspect¨Cfrom its windows to its tires¨Cwas bulletproof and st¨Cproof. ording to Brandon, Ashton had this car custom¨Cmade for Briar. He was so worried about her being in danger when she went out alone that he had it armed to the teeth. The four of them quickly left the vi in the car. Inside, Briar sat in the passenger seat, focused on a miniatureputer that disyed real¨Ctime traffic footage from various road surveince cameras. ¡°Briar, Harith has hidden from you for many years, suggesting he has strong protection. Why would he suddenly act so recklessly? Could this be a trap? Is he intentionally using himself as bait to draw you in?¡± Hackers are a cunning lot, so it made sense for Alexia to think that way. Briar shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not that he¡¯s being reckless. The people behind him don¡¯t want me to investigate any further.¡± Alexia and Alex exchanged a look, seeing the surprise and worry in each other¡¯s eyes. Alexia sighed. ¡°So. you¡¯ve noticed it too, Briar!¡± 6:03 Sat, Sep 27 ?? The reason they rushed to support Briar was not to see her perform her magic; rather, the more they investigated, the more rmed they became. They uncovered too many hidden secrets surrounding Rosalia¡¯s death. The individuals involved in these secrets were either high¨Cranking officials or influential figures. They feared that Briar would be a target for the masterminds, so they hurried to assist her. ¡°It wasn¡¯t hard to figure out,¡± a cold smirk crossed Briar¡¯s lips. ¡°If you could sense something was off within a day, how could I not have realized it after years of investigation?¡± That was why she was so moved by what Alexia and Alex had done. As for Ashton, he thought he was doing her a favor by exhausting her and pursuing the culprits on his own. He had no way of knowing that she couldn¡¯t bear the thought of Ashton going on a dangerous mission alone. No matter how skilled Ashton was, he remained at a disadvantage against scoundrels who didn¡¯t y by the rules. Ian gritted his teeth. ¡°Is that person really so terrifying?¡± Forsaken 283 Chapter 283 ¡°Harith isn¡¯t scary, nor is he hard to kill, but the person behind him is quite powerful¡± Alexia¡¯s simple statement made Ian immediately grasp the gravity of their situation. ¡°So, that¡¯s why Mr. Wade didn¡¯t take you with him to make the arrest?¡± Ian looked at Briar, his eyes filled with awe and shock. ¡°Briar, Mr. Wade is really in love with you!¡± Briar was speechless. A singlement fromn shattered the tense atmosphere. Alexia also looked at Briar and teasingly nudged her with a fist. ¡°Well, well! We were just wondering why we didn¡¯t see Mr. Wade at the door today. It turns out he had already left.¡± Briar red at Ian and dodged Alexia¡¯s yful punch. ¡°Are we going or not?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go! The car is moving!¡± Knowing when to stop, Alexia didn¡¯t tease Briar any further. A little lightheartedness was fine, but too much would backfire. The journey was smooth and uneventful. Their car entered the city, swiftly traversed through it, and reached a winding road leading to a picturesque mountain vi. At a bend in the road, a ck BMW was parked boldly, with a person leaning casually against its door. Squinting, he realized it was Brandon. Ian ran a hand through his hair, stopped the car, and turned to Briar. ¡°Briar, Brandon is waiting over there. I think Mr. Wade sent him to stop us. What should we do?¡± Briar¡¯s face was expressionless, her eyes cold and brimming with killing intent. ¡°Drive.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Ian silently pitied Brandon. ¡®Briar was about to lose it!¡® he thought. As their car neared the ck BMW, Brandon, who had been leaning against the door, stepped into the middle of the road. He stood straight and looked at them apologetically. Ian had already slowed down. With Brandon standing in the middle of the road, he couldn¡¯t simply press gas and run him over. Even if he could, he didn¡¯t dare to do so. After all, this was Brandon¨CAshton¡¯s most capable right¨Chand man. If he hurt him, Ashton would surelye after him personally. ¡°Briar, what are we going to do? I can¡¯t hit him!¡± Ian eximed in panic as the car inched closer to Brandon. yet Briar still hadn¡¯t told him to stop. Briar took a deep breath. ¡°Stop.¡± the With a screech, the car skidded to a stop mere inches from Brandon¡¯s feet. Briar unfastened her seatbelt and stepped out of the car, her face expressionless. As Briar approached, Brandon greeted, ¡°Mrs. Wade, Mr. Wade says it¡¯s too dangerous ahead. He wants you to wait here. He¡¯ll find the person you¡¯re looking for and bring them out.¡± Briar stopped an arm¡¯s length from Brandon, her right hand behind her back. With a piercing gaze, she said, ¡°Get out of the way.¡± Brandon looked conflicted ¡°Mrs Wade you know I can¡¯t disobey an order from Mr. Wade. Not unless you defeat me.¡± A ¡°Fine, let¡¯s fight.¡± Briar gave Brandon no chance for further talk, striking at him with a left¨Chanded chop. Not willing to confront Briar directly, Brandon quickly stepped back to avoid the blow. However, Briar continued aggressively,unching a leaping 270¨Cdegree roundhouse kick aimed at Brandon¡¯s face. A roundhouse kick like that required incredible explosive force in both speed and power. It could instantly incapacitate an opponent, leaving them dizzy or, at the very least, unsteady on their feet. It was hard to believe that such a powerful move, packed with explosive force, came from such a slender girl. Briar¡¯s roundhouse kick was so impressive that Brandon couldn¡¯t dodge it; he could only raise his arms to shield his face. With a loud thud, he felt the full force of the kick. Brandon let out a muffled grunt and staggered back a couple of steps before barely managing to regain his bnce. However, upon closer examination, Brandon¡¯s arms, having absorbed the kick from Briar, were trembling slightly. It was evident just how much force Briar had put into that kick. Brandon knew that if he fought Briar head¨Con, he would be instantly knocked to the ground. He was both worried and secretly rmed. Her skills were terrifyingly powerful. The eight instructors from the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base certainly lived up to their reputation. What was even more terrifying was that Briar¡¯s current skills were not her peak, and she was only 18. A woman¡¯s physical abilities typically peak between the ages of 20 and 28. In other words, with her current skills, she would reach an entirely new level once she entered her physical prime after turning 20. At that rate, even Ashton would likely struggle to overpower Briar, especially considering he was much older than her. In the vi, Ashton was in a standoff with Harith, who was surrounded by a group of bodyguards in ck. when he suddenly sneezed. ¡®Who is cursing me at such a critical moment?¡® Reeceughed and said, ¡°Ashton, could it be that Briar got here, was stopped by Brandon, and is now cursing you out of frustration?¡± Hamish casually shifted his position on the sofa and chimed in, ¡°I bet. But I¡¯m curious if Brandon can stop Briar on his own. I heard the eight instructors from the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base are all exceptionally skilled.¡± Reece said dismissively, ¡°I don¡¯t know about that. I mean, look atn.¡± ¡°Ian is clearly not on the same level as Briar!¡± Hamish shrugged. The two sat on the sofa chatting as if no one else was there. Theypletely ignored Harith, who red at them from the other end, infuriating him. But he didn¡¯t dare to confront them again. He wasn¡¯t sure whether the eight instructors from the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base were devils, but Ashton was the most devilish of them all. Ashton had been hiding in this mountain¨Cview vi for years, which undoubtedly had the best security in all of Shoneport. Yet, he brazenly barged in with Reece and Hamish, Without a single bodyguard, the three of them fought their way from the foot of the mountain into his house in less than half an hour. 6:00 Sat, Sep 27 F:. 290 They dragged him from upstairs study down to the living room like a helpless chick. If Adhon hard tray intended to kill him right away, he wouldn¡¯t will be sitting here, staring them doren Ashton pressed his index finger to his forehead, his eyes filled with mockery as he looked at Harsh. The you hear that? My wife is about to storm in, and the¡¯s not as easy to deal with as I am¡± Harith was so furious at Ashton¡¯s words that he felt as if he might cough up Blood So Briar init easy to deall with? And you, Ashton, are? he thought He had more than a hundred bodyguards stationed around his vi, yet in under half an hour, the three d them had neutralized all but twelve of the guards will on duty. After giving him such a fright. Akson was too behaving reasonably and appeared ready to have a proper conversation with him. AD Forsaken 284 12-65 voucheren Harith red at Ashton from behind his bodyguards, scoffing inwardly at his words. However, he knew that Ashton hade prepared. Even though there were only three of them, Harith was certain he wouldn¡¯t be able to get rid of these unwee guests without making some form of concession. He might even be taken out by a sniper lurking in an unseen corner. Hamish, Reece, and Ashton were the three rulers of Shoneport. Although Harith led a reclusive life, he was keenly aware of the chaos they caused in the city. There was no one they hesitated to provoke and nothing they refused to do. With their influential families and personal prowess, they carried themselves with natural confidence. Hamish stood for the Parkinson family, Reece for the Goodwin family, and Ashton for the Wade family. These three families dominated most of Shoneport¡¯s industries and undergroundworks, leaving ordinary people too intimidated to cross them. Although Harith was no ordinary man, he would not have been afraid to confront them under normal circumstances. At the very least, he could use the opportunity to put them in their ce. It would be like freeing Shoneport from a menace. They were informed that they could not intimidate everyone and that Shoneport was not a ce for them to act recklessly. However, this time, they had note to cause trouble; instead, they sought revenge for Briar. Harith felt a wave of guilt, realizing he couldn¡¯t allow them to have their way. He understood that he couldn¡¯t sumb to the whims of that little lunatic, Briar. Briar was far more difficult to handle than Edgar and Rosalia. ¡®When that little lunatic loses her temper, she truly goes off the deep end!¡® he thought. Harith felt a shiver run through his scalp whenever he recalled how five¨Cyear¨Cold Briar had boldly taken down their assassin using just a fruit knife. It wasn¡¯t fear. Throughout his life, many people and situations frightened him. But what he felt for Briar was panic. Briar was like a sponge, constantly absorbing everything around her. Her remarkable learning ability made it impossible to regard her as an ordinary person. Perhaps Briar realized from the first assassination attempt that to survive, she needed to prove her worth to the mastermind pursuing her, just like her mother had done. Rosalia¡¯s worth was measured by her body and blood, making her a test subject for numerous experiments in theirboratory. Meanwhile, Briar¡¯s individuality had already piqued the interest of the mastermind. Over the years of hunting Briar, they not only attempted every conceivable method to assassinate her but also had toe up with ways to collect her blood. Briar defended herself so effectively that, after many years, they managed to collect less than 50 of her blood. If they had not sent so many assassins, they probably would not have been able to collect even that small amount of blood. Now that almost all the key members of the Lopez family¡¯sb had fallen into Briar¡¯s hands, he couldn¡¯t let Ashton and the others capture him. ? (?9 ) 65 vouchers Hamish clicked his tongue. ¡°Ashton, why are you even talking to him? Do you think he¡¯ll cooperate? Just grab him.¡± Reece wasn¡¯t a patient person either. Hearing this, he started to move forward to grab the man. ¡°Exactly. Why waste our breath on someone like him? Let¡¯s just get it over with.¡± The two of them moved threateningly toward Harith, who let out a strange cry of fear and continued hiding behind his bodyguards. In his panic, he blurted out, ¡°W¨Cwhat are you trying to do? I work for that person. You can¡¯t arrest me¡­¡± Hamish and Reece paused and turned to look at Ashton. Hamish asked, ¡°Ashton, who is ¡®that person¡®?¡± Reece gritted his teeth. ¡°It couldn¡¯t be the one we¡¯re thinking of, could it?¡± Ashton said grimly, ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Ernest.¡± Hamish and Reece exchanged a look, seeing the shock and excitement in each other¡¯s eyes. Hamish licked his lips. ¡°Reece, what do you think? Do you still dare to capture them?¡± Many fleeting thoughts shed through Reece¡¯s mind, but the one he held onto made him suppress the excitement in his voice. ¡°Ashton brought us here today for something big. If we don¡¯t capture him, how can we make a scene?¡± ¡°Capture him?¡± ¡°Capture him!¡± Under the astonished gaze of Harith and his bodyguards, the two men shouted and lunged at them. Their rapid movements suggested they intended to devour rather than merely capture them. Harith never imagined that invoking that person¡¯s name would not only fail to intimidate them but would instead awaken their primal instincts. They attacked like ravenous wolves, overwhelming him and his bodyguards before binding them all together. Tossed into the middle of the living room, they looked as pitiful as a bundle of trussed¨Cup parcels. Just then, the front door was kicked open from the outside, and Briar stood in the doorway like a queen, looking down on Harith from above. Briar maintained a calm and detached expression as she scanned the room. Her gaze finally settled on Harith, who was tied up among his bodyguards. Her hair, pulled back, flowed softly in the wind, and her entire presence radiated a striking blend of intensity and chilling coldness, When Harith met Briar¡¯s cold and sinister gaze, a chill ran down his spine. He wanted to threaten her, but Hamish had stuffed a kitchen rag in his mouth, leaving him only able to produce whimpering sounds. Briar clearly hadn¡¯t anticipated walking in on such a scene. Her lips formed a thin line as she stared coldly at Harith for a few moments before demanding, ¡°Who¡¯s going to exin this?¡± She directed her gaze toward Ashton, who was seated on the sofa, sipping coffee from a delicate, light blue, floral coffee cup. It was evident that she was awaiting an exnation from him. 6:03 Sat, Sep 27 2 X 65¨Cvouchers Hamish and Reece exchanged another nce, quietly pulled back their feet, and casually settled into the farthest corner of the sofa, pretending they weren¡¯t there. Ashton lowered his head, took a gentle sip of tea, and said softly, ¡°Honey, you must be thirsty after your trip Have some coffee to soothe your throat.¡± However, he was internally startled by the force with which Briar had kicked open the door, and a wave of panic washed over him. Briar radiated an aura reminiscent of a demon, as if she had actually beaten Brandon to death in her fury. The bright sunlight from outside illuminated her silhouette, casting a soft yellow halo that sharpened the tense anger etched on her face. ¡°Ashton Wade, I¡¯m really furious right now. Don¡¯t push me.¡± Ashton nodded slightly, yielding with practiced ease. ¡°Okay, Honey. I was wrong.¡± She called him by his full name, which meant she was genuinely angry. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Forsaken 285 : 65 vouchs Hamish and Reece almost burst outughing. It was the first time they had seen Ashton back down so quickly. Looking at Briar¡¯s nk expression, they naturally thought that Briar was trying to save face for Ashton since others were watching. Otherwise, they were sure that Briar would have said instead, ¡°I¡¯m very angry right now. Don¡¯t force me to p you!¡± The more they thought about it, the funnier it got. Hamish and Reece once again turned away in unison, silently holding back theirughter. After all, they had to protect their good friend¡¯s pride. Briar¡¯s arrival not only turned Ashton from cold and ruthless to fawning, but it also made Harith¡¯s heart sinkpletely. At this point, Harith was sure that he was done for. If he had fallen into the hands of Ashton and his twopanions, he would at most be extorted for some resources and business deals. At least ¡®that person¡® could still find a way to bail him out. Harith knew that it was different for Briar, though. If Briar took him, ¡®that person¡® likely wouldn¡¯t try to bail him out. Instead, they would be plotting how to eliminate him. After all, Harith was the one who knew the most about that incident. Once he was dead, there was nothing Briar could do, even if she had caught him. It was the only way the full truth of that incident would remain unknown. Just like Zeke, Harith was old now, so it was time for him to die. But Harith didn¡¯t want to die. He had helped ¡®that person¡® and the Lopez family earn so many benefits. He hadn¡¯t even had the chance to enjoy his fortune yet. Harith¡¯s eyes were filled with a desperate will to live as Briar grabbed him by the cor and dragged him out. However, no one present saw his intense will to live. Or if they did, they didn¡¯t care. Even if they did see it, no one would take pity on him. Especially not Briar, since Harith was the man who murdered her mother. The bodyguards were stunned and watched helplessly as Ashton and his men dragged their boss away like a dead dog. After exchanging nces for a while, one bodyguard timidly asked, ¡°¡­.Ashton and his men took the boss, What should we do? Will they kill us?¡± 6:03 Sat, Sep 27 There was no way that Harith¡¯s bodyguards were clueless. 99 55 vouchers Even if they didn¡¯t know how Harith, an insignificant member of the Lopez family, was connected to a powerful figure like Len, they knew that they would face dire consequences if anything happened to Harith. ¡°The boss was taken on our watch. The higher¨Cups¡­will definitely not spare us,¡± a bodyguard said in horror. The bodyguards knew very well that the higher¨Cups would not ask why they had failed to protect Harith. The higher¨Cups only cared about the fact that Harith was taken away on their watch, and that it meant that the bodyguards were ipetent. It was their strong belief that a bodyguard would have no reason to exist if they could not even protect their employer. ¡°Then what should we do? Why don¡¯t we go rescue the boss?¡± A bodyguard timidly suggested. ¡°If you want to save him, go do it yourself! Even with all of us together, we are no match for Ashton and the other two. Besides, they have Briar now!¡± An objection sounded amongst the bodyguards. ¡°That¡¯s right! Have you forgotten how many assassins Briar has killed, both openly and secretly, over the years?¡± A bodyguard added. None of the bodyguards dared to provoke a monster like Briar. ¡°Then what should we do? What if¡­what if we send a message to ¡®that person¡®?¡± A suggestion sounded. Instantly, murmurs of understanding sounded. It was as if someone had finally said what everyone was thinking. Stepping out of the courtyard, Ashton immediately saw Brandon waiting by the car with his face bruised and swollen. Brandon met Ashton¡¯s teasing gaze and bowed awkwardly. ¡°Mr. Wade, I¡­I couldn¡¯t stop the young madam.¡± Hamish and Reece burst outughing at the sight. They walked over to Brandon, intrigued, and circled him twice. Their gawking made Brandon wish the ground would open up and swallow him. It was extremely embarrassing. It was the first time in Brandon¡¯s life that he had been beaten up so badly. Hamish even reached out and poked Brandon¡¯s highly swollen cheek. ¡°Hey, Brandon, have you been too busy improving your rtionship with Xaviontely? You got beaten up pretty badly.¡± Reece nced from Briar to Brandon¡¯s horribly battered face. Enjoying the drama, Reece egged Hamish on, ¡°Yeah, a face like that won¡¯t heal for at least a week or two. Tsk, tsk. Watch out. If Xavion finds out, he might dump you for being too ugly.¡± 6:03 Sat, Sep 27 55 vouchers It wasmon knowledge that Brandon had won Xavion over with his handsome face and strong, powerful physique. Yet, Brandon had lost to a girl and had his face beaten to a pulp. Brandon¡¯s face was a swollen mess, and he couldn¡¯t manage a smile. ¡°Hamish, Reece, stop teasing me. Our young mistress¡¯s fighting skills are off the charts. I bet the two of you together couldn¡¯t beat her. ¡®Ha, I can also stir up trouble!¡® Brandon thought triumphantly. When Reece heard this, he got excited. ¡°Seriously? Briar, are you really that skilled?¡± Reece and Hamish were both strong enough together that they had few rivals in Shoneport. Even among international mercenary organizations, they were considered top¨Ctier. Briar was an instructor at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base, and her formidable skills were world¨Crenowned. But it was still doubtful that Briar could take both of them on at once. Hearing this, Briar simply lifted an eyelid, her tone t. ¡°What? You want to fight me, too? That¡¯s fine. I¡¯m in a foul mood today, and I could use another fight to blow off some steam.¡± As she finished speaking, her entire demeanor shifted, bing menacing and sharp. She looked even more. intimidating than she had just moments before. Having been on the battlefield and killed people themselves, Reece and Hamish instantly knew what this change in Briar meant. Reece quickly waved his hand and let out a boomingugh. ¡°Haha¡­I was just kidding, Briar. Don¡¯t take it so seriously. Come on, this isn¡¯t the ce to talk. Let¡¯s get out of here.¡± With that, he was the first one in the car, mming the door shut. Hamish was stunned. ¡®Did Reece run away because he knew he couldn¡¯t win? Out of everything, why did he have to pick up cowardly ways?¡® Hamish thought, disappointed. Briar turned to Hamish. ¡°What about you, Hamish?¡± Hamish also opened a car door. ¡°I think Reece is right. This isn¡¯t the ce to talk. We should get going.¡± Ashton¡¯s ¡®Ha! Never mind if they could beat Briar. What makes anyone think we were going to fight Ashton¡¯s woman in front of Ashton? It¡¯s not as if Ashton were dead. If the fight really happened, Reece and I would likely be facing a joint attack from both Ashton and Brair,¡® Hamish thought. Briar¡¯s fighting ability was unpredictable enough. Hamish did not know what to expect if they added the fiercely skilled and agile Ashton to the mix. Hamish valued his pride above all else. If he ended up with a swollen face like Brandon¡¯s, he would never be able to show himself in public. Forsaken 286 Just like that, the group left brazenly with the tightly bound Harith. 20 EL 65 vouchers They didn¡¯t even bother to hide from surveince cameras as their car drove down the road. They moved openly, in full view of the cameras. This infuriated the people watching from behind the monitors. In the presidential suite of a hotel, an elderly man with graying hair sat on the living room sofa, his face darkening visibly as he watched the real¨Ctime surveince footage on aptop on the coffee table. A furious roar immediately followed, along with the sound of a shattering cup. ¡°This is a provocation! A tant provocation!¡± Four bodyguards in ck stood beside the elderly man, their heads bowed, silent and too scared to breathe. They all knew that Ashton, the young master from a powerful family, was incredibly bold. But they never imagined that Ashton would dare to bring the two troublemakers from the Goodwin and Parkinson families, storm the vi, and brazenly take Harith away. This infuriated the elderly man who was constantly monitoring Harith. If Ashton and his group had secretly kidnapped and snuck Harith away, they would have had every reason to intercept them and seize the opportunity to rescue him. But Ashton had chosen to capture him openly. There was no denying that it was a brilliant idea. Seizing someone secretly would give their opponents leverage and an opportunity to exploit the situation. But by seizing Harith openly, people like them who hid in the shadows couldn¡¯t intervene to save Harith, even if they witnessed the capture. Otherwise, the bodyguards tasked with protecting Harith in secret would be exposed. It also gave Ashton an opportunity to bring the matter into the open. Now, they knew where Ashton and his men had taken Harith, yet they were powerless to do anything but watch. This frustrating and powerless feeling was likely Ashton¡¯s first disy of dominance over them. After an outburst, the old man barely suppressed his anger. He sighed and ordered one of the bodyguards, ¡°Contact Len immediately, and make a copy of the surveince footage.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± One of the bodyguards acknowledged the order, picked up aptop, and quickly left the living room. After a moment of thought, the old man, still worried, instructed the other three bodyguards, ¡°None of you is to make any rash moves until you receive the next instructions from Len.¡± 6:04 Sat, Sep 27 ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the three bodyguards answered respectfully. : They wouldn¡¯t have dared to make a move even without the old man¡¯s warning. 99 65 vouchers Their opponent was Ashton. Even if the three of them teamed up for a surprise attack, they couldn¡¯t possibly take him down. It would be suicide to confront Ashton at such a critical moment. The prestigious families in Shoneport might not have known how ruthless Ashton¡¯s methods are, but the bodyguards knew all too well. In recent years, those once internationally renowned mercenaries had all mysteriously disappeared. Themon thread in their disappearances was that they had all either offended Ashton or stolen business from the 121 Overseas Mercenary Organization. There are many ways to make a person disappear. However, besides government agencies, no private organization in the world could make someone disappear so wlessly without raising the slightest suspicion. The DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base was an exception. As was the 121 Overseas Mercenary Organization. And the people who took Harith were Ashton, the leader of the 121 Overseas Mercenary Organization, and Briar, one of the eight instructors from the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base. This was also why the old man mmed his coffeecup in anger but didn¡¯t dare to send people to pursue and intercept them. Everyone in the roombined was no match for Ashton and Briar. ***** Ashton and his group returned to Moonspring Estate safely. As soon as the car stopped, Brandon, whose face was swollen like a pig¡¯s head, quickly hustled Harith into the vi. He gave no opportunities for any assassins, possibly lurking around the vi, to assassinate Harith Only after Brandon had safely escorted Harith into the vi did Ashton and the others get out of the car one after another. As for the assassins lurking in the shadows, it was not a big stretch to bet that they would not dare to kill Ashton and Briar, or even Reece and Hamish. Killing Harith was meant to help Len clean up a mess. But killing any of the other four wouldn¡¯t be cleaning up a mess for Len. Instead, it would be creating irreversible trouble and immeasurable losses for him. The ones who would die the most gruesome deaths then would not be Harith, but the assassins themselves. Back at the vi, Hamish and Reece sat on the sofa with their legs crossed. 6:04 Sat, Sep 27 : ¡°Alright, she¡¯s home safe now, so we¡¯ll get going,¡± Hamish said. Despite saying so, neither of them moved. They calmly held their cups and sipped their coffee. 99 65 vouchers Their eyes kept drifting toward Briar. It was clear that they were eager to see how Briar would tame her man. Ashton red furiously at them as he questioned why he was friends with them. But Reece and Hamish were not intimidated by Ashton¡¯s cold re and continued tough. If they weren¡¯t afraid Ashton would hold a grudge, they would have posted about it on social media. Seeing Reece and Hamish¡¯s increasingly smugughter, Ashton gritted his teeth. ¡°You two better hope I never get any dirt on you, or else¡­ha!¡± The threat in Ashton¡¯s final huff was unmistakable. Reece looked up at the sky and Hamish looked down at the ground, both pretending not to understand the threat in Ashton¡¯s words. They didn¡¯t care about the threat. The thrill of seeing Ashton frustrated was far more exciting than the fear of future retaliation. As soon as she got home, Briar opened herptop. With her head down, she was so focused on typing that shepletely missed the silent war of res between Ashton and the other two men. Ian watched every move of Ashton and the other two men, wary of them as if they were thieves, and preventing them from peeping. Being stared down by Ian, Ashton, and the other two finally stopped their bickering. Reece awkwardly changed the subject, ¡°¡­So, what do you think? Will those people try to assassinate us tonight?¡± Hamish nced at Briar, who was still focused on herptop, and shrugged. ¡°Who knows? Those people never y fair. They might just show up tonight with explosives, ready to take everyone down with them.¡± Ian scoffed. ¡°In their dreams. With Briar here, they might not survive attacking us.¡± Alexia and Alex, who had been quiet in the background since they arrived, heard this and nodded eagerly. ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right! Briar¡¯sbat skills are definitely top¨Ctier. It won¡¯t be easy to kill her!¡± AD Comment Forsaken 287 Ashton and the other twoughed. 65 vouchers Their admiration was both reasonable and exaggerated. But they had to admit, ever since Briar had returned. no one had really managed to harm her. Just then, Briar pressed the Enter button and calmly said, ¡°Done.¡± Ashton and the others all looked over. Hamish asked, ¡°Briar, what¡¯s done? You¡¯ve been fiddling with that ever since you got back. What exactly have you been up to?¡± Briar turned the screen of herptop to face everyone and pointed to a shing red dot. ¡°This is the signal source from thetest model of tracker I¡¯ve detected inside Harith¡¯s body.¡± ¡°What? There¡¯s a tracker in Harith¡¯s body?¡± Reece was stunned. He shot to his feet, about to rush to the basement. Hamish grabbed him. ¡°Calm down. Since Briar found the tracker inside Harith, she must have already engaged with the people on the other end. Let¡¯s hear what she has to say first.¡± Reece finally sat back down on the sofa and looked at Briar. ¡°Briar, hurry and tell us what happened. We all inspected Harith¡¯s body but didn¡¯t find any tracker on him!¡± Briar looked at the silent, frowning Ashton. ¡°Ashton, what do you think?¡± Ashton pressed the space between his eyebrows. ¡°If none of us found it then, the tracker must be embedded in Harith¡¯s internal organs.¡± They had been careless. A tracker¡¯s purpose isn¡¯t just to track someone¡¯s movements. A modified one can also work as a listening device. Their ability to capture Harith so smoothly didn¡¯t rule out the possibility that someone had deliberately let them take him. ¡®What would the purpose be?¡® Ashton wondered. Ashton looked at the calm andposed Briar. Her eyes were resolute and indifferent, as if she had everything under control. ¡°Inside his organs?¡± Ashton¡¯s question made Reece furrow his brow. ¡°Imnted in his heart?¡± Hamish stroked his chin thoughtfully. ¡°It¡¯s very likely. The Lopez family made their fortune through human experimentation, so imnting a listening device into a heart wouldn¡¯t be difficult for them.¡± Briar nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s in the heart, and it¡¯s synchronized with Harith¡¯s heart rate. If his heartbeat bes irregr, their people will detect it immediately.¡± 6:04 Sat, Sep 27 99 155 vouchers Alexia couldn¡¯t help but scoff. ¡°Why do these people always misapply their talents? If they sold this heart- imnt technology to the Hacker Alliance, it would be so much better! Think of all the time we could save digging up intel, oh!¡± Before Alexia could finish her thought, Alex mped a hand over her mouth. ¡°Sorry, everyone. What she just said was her personal opinion and does not represent the principles of the Hacker Alliance!¡± Alexia and the others were momentarily speechless. It was a ssic case of talking too much. Nobody believed Alex. ¡®Since when does the Hacker Alliance have principles? Hasn¡¯t the Hacker Alliance¡¯s way always been that whoever pays is God?¡® Alexia wondered. Ashton steered the conversation away from the controversial topic raised by Alexia and the others, refocusing everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Was the bug nted in Harith just in case he got caughtter?¡± Reece scoffed, ¡°In my opinion, those people are all incredibly cunning. This matter isn¡¯t that simple.¡± ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t tell me¡­¡± Hamish chimed in, ¡°This bug doesn¡¯t have an explosive function, does it?¡± The words had barely left Hamish¡¯s mouth when a sharp emergency alert red from Briar¡¯sptop. Briar turned back to herptop, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she said with a grim look. This is bad. It¡¯s a time bomb countdown.¡± Everyone else shot usatory res at Hamish. ¡°¡­I was just making a randomment.¡± Hamish felt incredibly guilty. It almost felt like he jinxed it. Ashton picked up the phone and called Brandon, telling him to evacuate everyone else from the basement in case the bomb detonated and hurt innocent people. When Brandon received Ashton¡¯s call and learned that a bug with a timed self¨Cdestruct feature had been activated inside Harith¡¯s body, he was so enraged that he gave Harith two more hard kicks ¡®Damn it, no wonder the guy was so tight¨Clipped! He was prepared to be a human bomb all along¡± Brandon thought angrily. ¡°Ashton, can Briar stop the countdown?¡± It was clear Brandon had great faith in Briar. He calmed down quickly after his outburst. Ashton noted Briar¡¯s grim butposed expression and said, ¡°I¡¯m sendingn down to help you with the interrogation. Get the information we need as quickly as possible.¡± Ian nced at Briar. After she nodded, he turned and headed for the basement. ¡°Briar, are you confident you can handle this? How powerful is the explosion from the bug?¡± Hamish leaned close to Briar, watching the constantly updating data as he asked with a mix of nervousness and anticipation. 6:04 Sat, Sep 27 ¡°It¡¯s not very powerful. It just ensures the bug¡¯s carrier is blown beyond all recognition Briar mumbled. Briar looked up at Hamish for a moment and smiled. ¡°Hamish, you and your big mouth. I¡¯m not confident can stop the bomb, but I can dy it by half an hour.¡± Hamish let out a couple of awkwardughs. ¡°Haha, dying the time bomb by half an hour is already impressive.¡± ¡°I got you half an hour of interrogation time. Is that enough?¡± Ashton, still on the phone, asked Brandon andn at the other end of the line. Brandon and Ian replied in unison, ¡°More than enough.¡± ¡°Stay safe. Get the people out of the basement as soon as the time is up.¡± Ashton then hung up the phone. Alexia and Alex watched Briar anxiously. Alex said with a hint of regret, ¡°Briar, it¡¯s a shame to just let him get blown up like that. Why don¡¯t you dissect him instead?¡± At this, Alexia¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Yeah! Can¡¯t we just keep Harith¡¯s heart? Briar, I thought you loved dissecting men Dissect him and make him your 38th skeletal lover!¡± The moment Alexia finished speaking, the living room became so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Briar¡¯s hand froze over the keyboard. She could feel a burning, scrutinizing gaze on the back of her head. Without even turning around, Briar knew exactly who was staring at her. It has to be Ashton¡¯s cold, deep, dark eyes, fixed firmly on her. Clearing her throat awkwardly, Briar guiltily touched her nose and continued to tap on her keyboard, but her speed was noticeably slower than before. She didn¡¯t dare to turn around and tried to exin seriously, ¡°Ashton, don¡¯t get the wrong idea. The person I¡¯ve wanted to dissect the most is you.¡± AD Forsaken 288 Ô”ÁÐ Reece and Hamish had just lifted their cup, ready to take a sip, when the words reached their ears. The sex that went down almost came right back up. Coughing, Hamish shot Briar a thumbs¨Cup, his admiration sincere. ¡°Priar, your love for Ashton is truly one of a kind!¡± Reece, meanwhile, cast Ashton a look that hovered somewhere between envy and pity. ¡°Ashton, it looks Per Briar will love you deeply for the rest of her life. And when you die, she¡¯ll love you even more Reece and Hamish thought, ¡®Of course she would. She would love Ashton enough to split open extract the bones one by one, and carefully preserve them as a specimen. his corpse ¡®Maybe she¡¯d even hang the skeleton in her bedroom, and talk to it every day. ¡®Hiss¨Cjust imagining it was enough to make one¡¯s scalp prickle! Completely unaware of the scenes they had conjured in their minds, Briar remained utterly absorbed in the data scrolling across her microputer screen. Their conversation washed over her as though it didn¡¯t exist at all. But only Briar knew how distracting Ashton¡¯s searing, probing gaze had be. In the end, she could only hesitate, then reluctantly turned her head to meet Ashton¡¯s eyes. ¡°Hubby, don¡¯t look at me like that.¡± The corner of Ashton Wade¡¯s eye twitched violently. She had called him ¡°hubby¡± in front of everyone. It seemed that the girl was truly flustered. Ashton pondered, ¡®Was she afraid I¡¯d press for details? That¡¯s very interesting Ashton felt a pang of jealousy, wondering what kind of dazzlingly handsome men those thirty¨Cseven skeletons Briar had hidden away once belonged to. Yet, in the end, Ashton said nothing. He only reached out, pulled her into his arms, and lowered his head so that his cheek brushed lightly against the curve of Briar¡¯s neck. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t ask anymore.¡± ¡®Not asking didn¡¯t mean I couldn¡¯t investigate in secret! Ashton thought. Briar remained expressionless, enduring the teasing, knowing nces that used them of shamelessly unting their affection. Even Alexia and Alex, the bona fide young lovers in the group, couldn¡¯t bear to watch and scooted a little farther away. Briar was speechless as she thought, ¡®If it weren¡¯t just to shut Ashton up, I would never lower myself to such humiliating public disys of affection. Half an hour slipped by in no time. 6:04 Sat, Sep 27 : 99 125 Vouchers In the final minute before the explosion, Brandon and fan dragged Harith Lopez out, battered, broken, and unconscious. Without hesitation, they tossed him into the open ground outside the courtyard. The area had already been cleared, so when Hairth¡¯s body exploded in front of everyone, it didn¡¯t cause much of amotion, aside from the unpleasant sight of flesh and blood scattering in all directions. Reece volunteered to handle the aftermath. He pulled out his phone and instructed his men to call a cleaning crew. Brandon, meanwhile, removed the memory card from the camera and handed it to Briar. ¡°Young Madam, this contains the full record of Harith Lopez¡¯s interrogation. Please review it.¡± In truth, everyone had already watched the full interrogation of Harith Lopez on Briar¡¯s miniputer. Watching it again was less about curiosity and more about the slim hope of uncovering some overlooked detail. ¡°Alright, good work.¡± Briar took the memory card, inserted it into herputer, and pulled up the footage. She set the device on the low table in the centre of the room so that everyone could see. The image was crystal clear. Too clear. The scenes were brutal, the sounds raw and bloody. Yet no one looked away. This was their only path to any real clue from Harith. Unfortunately, despite Brandon and Ian¡¯s seamless, merciless interrogation, Harith had little to reveal. As for the true mastermind behind him, the hidden boss, he had chosen silence. Silence to the death. ¡°Damn it! How is this bastard so tight¨Clipped? He¡¯s still not talking?¡± Reece eximed. Even after watching the footage twice, Reece, who was no stranger to ruthlessness, felt his skin crawl at the interrogation methods he had just witnessed. And yet, Harith had endured it all, giving up nothing. Not a single word. That alone, Reece had to admit, deserved a measure of respect. Hamish stroked his chin thoughtfully. ¡°If Harith refused to reveal the mastermind¡¯s identity even at that point, doesn¡¯t that in itself suggest just how powerful the man must be? ¡°Powerful enough that even on the brink of death, he wouldn¡¯t dare utter a single word.¡± Reece nodded, conceding the logic. Ashton also agreed, ¡°Exactly. For someone to terrify a man as fearless as Harith, what level of power do you think they have?¡± No one needed further exnation. Everyone present was a veteran at reading between the lines. They immediately understood the implication of Ashton¡¯s words. Alexia nced worriedly at Briar before asking Ashton, ¡°If this man is really that formidable, then what do we do? If we can¡¯t beat him, won¡¯t he simply turn the tables and wipe us out?¡± It hasn¡¯t been easy for Briar to make it this far. If Ashton¡¯s suspicion was right, that the mastermind was truly too exalted to touch, then the consequences for 6:04 Sat, Sep 27 A Briar would be devastating. Briar scoffed nonchntly. ¡°Kill me? They¡¯ll never get the chance. ??? 1266 vouchers Her words,ced with cold indifference and quiet arrogance, left a faint unease in the hearts of those present Ashton pulled Briar closer into his arms, his gaze softening with warmth as he murmured, ¡°You¡¯re right. They¡¯ll never have that chance.¡± Before, Ashton had been unsure who Briar¡¯s true enemy was¨Cthe one who had killed her mother. That uncertainty had left her vulnerable. But now that the target was clear, there was no reason to hold back His father¡¯s warning had not only guided him toward where to dig, but also reminded him of something deeper¨Ct -the unshakable stance of the Wade family. Ashton¡¯s words might have been few, but the meaning beneath them was unmistakable. He would protect Briar to the very end. Hamish and Reece exchanged a nce, and in each other¡¯s eyes, they saw a knowing smile. To shield his beloved, even to the point of angering all under heaven¨Cthis was Ashton. Hamish chuckled, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, with the Wade family¡¯s ce in Shoneport, even the highest powers in Dasma wouldn¡¯t dare cross them directly.¡± Reece chimed in with confidence, ¡°Exactly. Not to mention, you¡¯ll have the support of both my family and Hamish¡¯s. Rest assured, this won¡¯t be hard to handle.¡± Jan leaned back against the sofa with his arms crossed, his face solemn. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, we can get revenge for Briar soon! Right, Ashton?¡± But his words had a disingenuous tone. Ashton nced atn briefly. Just as he was about to speak, the sound of engines rumbled through the courtyard. Shouts and cries erupted one after another. His gaze shifted,nding squarely on Reece. ¡°Have your men gotten this timid?¡± Reece¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°After a st like that, who wouldn¡¯t be shaken by the sight?¡± With that, he rose, straightened his jacket, and strode toward the door. ¡°I¡¯ll go supervise them myself. You all continue.¡± Forsaken 289 Chapter 289
  1. 2.
12:55 vouchers Upon hearing Reece¡¯s words, the others quickly got up and headed for the door one after another. Soon after, only Ashton and Briar were left in the living room. Still in Ashton¡¯s arms, Briar watched the others disappear before her gaze fell to his arms, which were tightening even more firmly around her. ¡°Um, Ashton, I¡¯d like to go see, too. Could you let me go?¡± Briar asked hesitantly. ¡°What do you think?¡± Ashton chuckled softly as he noticed Briar¡¯s face filled with guilt. ¡°Babe, you can run, but you can¡¯t hide. There are some things I still want to hear from you.¡± ¡°Say what?¡± Briar asked. ¡°Harith Lopez is dead, and we watched him blow up with our own eyes. Surely you have other thoughts?¡± Ashton pressed, not giving Briar a chance to beat around the bush. Briar pressed her lips together, about to deny it, but she faltered under his knowing gaze. ¡°Alright, I do have other ns.¡± Knowing she couldn¡¯t hide it from Ashton, she gave up and lowered her head in admission. Ashton ced his hand on Briar¡¯s head, and she immediately felt the warmth from hisrge palm. ¡°Briar, we¡¯re legally married now. If you dare ditch me and go off on your own again, I¡¯ll have to enforce some family rules.¡± Ashton¡¯s tone was fierce and threatening, but the tenderness in his eyes was almost tangible, enveloping Briar. ¡®It was another tant use of his good looks. What else could I say?¡® Briar thought. She nodded obediently. ¡°Okay, I get it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my girl.¡± Ashton was extremely pleased. He lifted Briar¡¯s chin in one hand slowly and leaned down to give her a rewarding kiss. Briar tilted her head back, surrendering to Ashton¡¯s passionate kiss. But in an instant, her eyes widened, and she struggled to break free from his embrace. ¡°K¨Ckissing is fine, but don¡¯t be a rascal!¡± Briar ced her palms on Ashton¡¯s arms, trying to force her way out Ashton chuckled, grabbing Briar¡¯s hand with one hand to stop her from fleeing. ¡°We¡¯re legally married. This shouldn¡¯t be a word between spouses.¡± Ashton smiled slyly, ¡®It¡¯s called emotionalmunication.¡± ¡°You rascal!¡± Briar eximed. Ashton held her soft hand to prevent her from pulling away, while she struggled desperately to do so. She was 6:04 Sat, Sep 27 : clearly no match for Ashton¡¯s strength, and their position was far too intimate. 55 chec However, Briar¡¯s struggles seemed like a token resistance, as though she was ying hard to get, especially in the eyes of Ashton. ¡°Mmph¡­ This is the living room!¡± Briar eximed in surprise when she felt Ashton¡¯s actions getting bolder. ¡°Yes, just like that, Briar. Hold on tight and don¡¯t let go.¡± Ashton whispered into Briar¡¯s ear. Strange rustling and intimate, hesitant whispers echoed through the spacious living room. Ashton had her pinned to the sofa, neglecting the fact that there was a group of friends outside who could burst in at any moment, doing as he pleased. Briar was feeling thrilled, excited, nervous, and shy altogether, and was so exasperated with this shameless man, who seemed to get turned on anytime and anywhere, that she couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡®Ashton really knows me well. Especially when he had his suspicions that I might try to escape, he would shamelessly use any means necessary to make me submit to him. Briar thought. Briar found herself swept into Ashton¡¯s relentless embrace, caught between resistance and surrender as his affection consumed every corner of her world. From one end of the sofa to the other, from the stairs to thending, he gave her no escape. Her breathless pleas only carried them further¨Cto the bedroom atst¡ªyet the moment the door closed behind them. Ashton cast aside all restraint. Everywhere became his territory: the door against her back, the carpet beneath her knees, the wide sill of the window, even the marble counter of the bathroom. There was nowhere untouched, no surface that hadn¡¯t borne witness to his unyielding devotion. Time blurred. Day dissolved into night, rooms melted into one another. Briar no longer remembered how many times he had imed her¨Conly the dizzy sway of ceilings and curtains, the trembling of ss and water, the tremor that left her pleading for mercy. Her lips were parched, her body aching, her strength undone. She could not recall when exhaustion overtook her¨Conly that, in the end, she was carried back to bed. The instant her cheek touched the pillow, memory dissolved into darkness. This time, she was exhausted beyond thought¨Ctoo drained to scheme, too weary to repeat what had happened before, when Ashton had barely stepped away and she had gone chasing after him again. ¡®Ashton, that damned man¡­ that brute!¡® Briar thought. When Briar stirred awake the next morning, bleary¨Ceyed and aching, it was barely half past five. The bedroom door creaked open, just a sliver, and half a head poked in. ¡°Briar, you¡¯re awake?¡± It was Alexia, grinning from ear to ear. Briar didn¡¯t answer and shifted ufortably, wincing as she sat up, exposing the skin along her arm and corbone. 6:04 Sat, Sep 27 : 210, pirk It was a patchwork of red and purple, bruises scattered like confessions¨Cevidence enough of just how fierce the battle had been the night before. Alexia, unfazed by Briar¡¯s frosty silence, walked in with all smiles, leaned toward the bed, reached for the quilt and was eager to tug it back. She wanted to see if Briar was still dressed beneath the covers, and also wanted a glimpse of just how thorough Ashton had been in his conquest the night before. But before she could peel back the quilt, Briar¡¯s hand shot out and pressed it firmly down and warned, ¡°Get that filthy nonsense out of your head.¡± Alexia only chuckled. ¡°Heh,e on¨Cwe¡¯re both women. What¡¯s wrong with looking? I¡¯ll even let you look at mine. See? Don¡¯t you think my chest has gotten bigger?¡± With an exaggerated motion, she puffed out her chest, the curves beneath her clothes swaying provocatively. Almost against her will, Briar¡¯s gaze dropped. No wonder Alex couldn¡¯t keep his hands off them. They were truly eye¨Ccatching. ¡°You didn¡¯te all the way here this early just to show off your chest, did you?¡± Briar snapped herself back to reality and asked, her face set in a stern expression. ¡°Of course not!¡± Alexia suddenly remembered why she hade¨Cthis wasn¡¯t a social visit. ¡°Last night, while you and your man were busy having fun, something big happened in Shoneport¡­¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Briar asked, still weak in her limbs from just waking, too groggy even to check her phone for messages. Alexia lowered her voice, her eyes glinting with secrecy. ¡°Mountain View Vis¨Cyou know, the one Harith Lopez lives in? There was a sudden firest night. The mes devoured most of the mountainside, and Harith¡¯s vi, it¡¯s gone. Reduced to ashes.¡± Briar narrowed her eyes, quickly piecing together the implication behind the news. ¡°It was reported that he died in the fire?¡± AD Comment Forsaken 290 Chapter 290 Alexia snapped her fingers. ¡°Congrattions! You got it right.¡± Briar¡¯s face hardened in an instant. ¡°When did the news break?¡± She bared her teeth and twisted to reach for the phone on the bedside table. Her phone had an rm set, bur it was on silent. Calls and messages poured in, all from Alexia and Ian. Memphis had called her, too. When she didn¡¯t pick up, he¡¯d assumed she couldn¡¯t answer and sent a message summarizing the morning¡¯s report. Alexia added, ¡°They timed it to go out before five¨Cthirty this morning, on purpose.¡± Briar nodded. ¡°Got it. Where¡¯s Ashton?¡± ¡°Your man left the moment the news broke, and he took my man with him as well,¡± Alexia pouted, with a sulky expression as if she¡¯d been cheated on. Briar rubbed her tired eyes, ignoring the implication in Alexia¡¯s words. She switched to a safer topic, n didn¡¯t go?¡± ¡°No. Your man doesn¡¯t think Ian Lyddon is smart enough,¡± Alexia continued to badmouth Ashton. In front of Alexia, Briar started a video call with Ashton. The call was answered almost immediately. Even after a night of intense activity, he looked impossiblyposed ¨C handsome in that calm,zy way that made everything else seem irrelevant. The morning¡¯s scandal hadn¡¯t touched him. Ashton looked warmly at Briar through the screen. ¡°Honey, you¡¯re awake? Are you hungry? I left your favorite seafood congee in the kitchen. Remember to eat someter.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Briar nodded as she got out of bed, put on her slippers, and walked toward the bathroom. ¡°Have you found out who leaked the news?¡± Briar¡¯s question was a little vague. Her question trailed off, half¨Cformed. However, Alexia on the phone, as well as Ashton and Alex on the video call, all understood what she meant. Ashton narrowed his eyes slightly, ncing almost imperceptibly to the side before he answered. ¡°We traced it. It was Manny and Emily.¡± When he said Emily Wade¡¯s name, Ashton¡¯s voice was tinged with a hint of resentment. He was deeply disappointed in her. Briar was stunned. ¡°Members of the Wade family were involved, too? Or was it just the second branch?¡± Ashton nodded, his voice cool. ¡°Only the second branch.¡± If the entire Wade family had been involved, he wouldn¡¯t have hesitated to sweep out the rot ¨C even if it meant bloodshed. He tolerated a lot from the various branches as long as they didn¡¯t cross his bottom line. Once crossed, he would show no mercy. 6:04 Sat, Sep 27 A EL 50¨Cvouches The coldness in Briar¡¯s eyes finally faded a little. ¡°Good. At least it won¡¯t be too much trouble for you to purge the family.¡± Her words had barely left her mouth when a muffled, angry voice bellowed from the other end of the line- something like a string of curses, but the speaker¡¯s mouth had been stuffed so the words were indistinct. It was clearly a woman. Briar paused, toothbrush in hand, and looked at the screen, asking with her eyes who that was. A flicker of displeasure crossed Ashton¡¯s dark eyes. Whether he was annoyed because their chat had been interrupted or because the woman wouldn¡¯t keep quiet even with her mouth blocked, it was impossible to say. Seeing this, Brandon, who stood behind Ashton, didn¡¯t hesitate. He walked over and kicked the still¨Cstruggling Emily, who was squatting on the ground. The force was measured, not cruel, but enough to ck her out. Ashton smiled, faintly and with control, and aimed the camera at her. ¡°It¡¯s Emily. I¡¯ve already had her tied up. We¡¯re bringing her back to the Wade family to be dealt with ording to the family rules.¡± Briar went back to brushing, but his answer satisfied her. They spoke a little longer before ending the call. Alexia immediately crowded in, grinning like a mischievous child. ¡°Well, Briar, your man is really something! The way he¡¯s handling this to make sure you¡¯re okay. He¡¯s so worried about your feelings.¡± Briar shoved the intruding face away and washed her face. ¡°Of course. Too many people are involved, and the impact is too great. For the Wade family to get involved now is a death wish.¡± Unfazed by the push, Alexia leaned in again. ¡°Oh,e on. Your man¡¯s definitely trying everything to win you over, and you¡¯re secretly thrilled.¡± ¡°Hey, tell me honestly¨Cwhere did you learn all these ¡®husband¨Ctaming¡® tricks? Teach me.¡± Briar ignored her, treating Alexia like an invisible breeze. After tidying up, she headed down to the kitchen. Sure enough, steaming seafood congee waited on the stove. She asked if Alexia had eaten, thendled a bowl for each of them and sat at the dining table. ¡°I¡¯ve said so much, Briar. At least acknowledge me!¡± Alexia suddenly cried, heartbroken by the silence, and grabbed Briar¡¯s hand. Briar sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t have any ¡®husband¨Ctaming¡® tricks.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t buy it.¡± Alexia pouted. ¡°We both know Ashton¡¯s reputation. A man like him wouldn¡¯t submit to anyone unless that person was special ¨C unless they¡¯d actually outmatched him somehow.¡± Briar set her spoon down, thought for a moment, then said seriously, ¡°Would running away from home count as a way to tame a husband?¡± Alexia remained quiet, as if in doubt. ¡°Really. I left without a word once. That¡¯s when Ashton started behaving like this.¡± Briar Jennings exined earnestly to Alexia. 6:04 Sat, Sep 27 Alexia only believed when the details made sense. As Briar painted the scene with specifics, Alexia¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Wow¨Cso it actually works? I¡¯m going to try it someday!¡± That eager expression left Briar speechless. She tucked back into her congee, praying silently that if Alexis ever did vanish on purpose and Alex went searching the world for his wife, he wouldn¡¯t me her for it At that moment,n walked in. Hearing their conversation, he asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s there to try? Is it fun! Count me in!¡± Alexia froze, and Briar hurried to cut off any loose lips. ¡°Did Ashton call you? They caught Emily and are heading back to the Wade family estate. It looks like we¡¯ll have to get Manny ourselves¡± Jan¡¯s interest piqued immediately. ¡°Caught? Great! Let¡¯s go find Mannyter. That woman really stirred things
  1. up.
Wait till I get my hands on her.¡± Briar motioned for Alexia to quickly finish her seafood congee. ¡°Yes, she¡¯s the only one from the Garzas still running free. If she won¡¯t behave, we¡¯ll just send her back to her family.¡± Ian Lyddon grinned and gave an ¡°OK¡± sign. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she won¡¯t get away.¡± Forsaken 291 Chapter 291 After breakfast, Briar and Alexia drove out. Their goal today was simple¨Cto capture Manny. 10 vouchers N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on F¦ÉndNovel Ian had said that Manny could not escape¨Cand he was right. He had Manny¡¯s every move under control. ¡°Briar, look. Manny has a suitcase. She can¡¯t still be nning to leave the country, can she?¡± Ian mocked, gesturing toward the sneaky figure in the distance. Alexia peeked out to look. ¡°Wow¡­ only now she decides to bolt? A littlete for that, isn¡¯t it?¡± Ian slowly pulled into an inconspicuous temporary parking spot on the roadside, calmly watching Manny. Manny was not driving her own car; instead, she stood by the road in a hat and mask, waiting for a ride¨Cshare. ¡°What do you say we hack the ride¨Cshare driver¡¯s info, pose as him to pick her up, and then, once we have Manny in the car¡­¡± Ian made a throat¨Cslitting gesture. Alexia¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°I think that¡¯ll work. Give me 30 seconds, and I¡¯ll tamper with the ride¨Chailing car¡¯s owner information.¡± As she spoke, Alexia pulled out her phone and began working at such speed that even if Briar had wanted to stop her, she would not have had the chance. Briar stared at Alexia speechlessly. Actually, Briar wanted to say that catching Manny did not have to be soplicated. They had already found Manny. All they had to do was step out and haul her into the car. Now jittery and skittish, Manny would not dare put up a real fight. She would have no choice but to obediently climb into their vehicle. Briar sat aside with a deadpan expression, watching as Alexia and Ian took the long and unnecessary route of hacking the ride¨Chailing car¡¯s owner information. Then, they started the car and drove toward Manny. Alexia and Briar were seated in the back. Manny peered into the car through the windshield. From that angle, she could not see the back seats, much less realize there were already two people waiting inside. So when a white Porsche slid to a stop in front of her, suspicion flickered in Manny¡¯s eyes as she quickly checked her rideshare app. Seeing that the rideshare app showed the driver¡¯s info matching the Porsche¡¯s license te, Manny opened the passenger door and slid inside without a second thought. The moment the door shut, the locks clicked into ce. The driver started the engine and said in a chilling tone, ¡°Manny, where exactly were you nning to run off to?¡± At his words, the onceposed Manny turned pale with shock. She turned to look at the driver and realized 13:27 Sun, Sep 28 N he looked familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before. $77 10 vouchers Then, Manny¡¯s eyes widened, and she pointed at the driver in a panic. ¡°Y¨Cyou¡­ you¡¯re that ruthless mercenary,n?¡± Ian grinned. ¡°Bingo! That¡¯s me¡ªyou¡¯ve got sharp eyes. You¡¯re quite the VIP, Manny. Not only did Ie personally to pick you up, but Briar is even waiting here just for you.¡± As he spoke, Ian gestured toward the back seat, prompting Manny to look back. Manny stiffly turned her head. Manny¡¯s blood ran cold when she saw Briar in the back seat with her arms crossed and a smirk on her face. ¡°B¨CBriar¡­ You¡­ how did you know where I¡¯d be?¡± Manny¡¯s body began to tremble. Panic and fear welled up inside her. Manny had gone to great lengths to disguise herself, all to avoid Briar and the others¨Cafter all, she was the one who had leaked the news of Harith¡¯s death to the press. But whether Harith burned to death in the fire or died another way¨Conly Manny and the powerful figure who fed her the intel knew for sure. Harith¡¯s death brought immeasurable loss to that powerful man and the forces behind him¨Cand to Manny, it was both a crushing blow and a looming threat. Now that Harith was dead, Manny had be the easiest target in Shoneport for Briar and Ashton. Therefore, Manny was terrified of running into Briar or Ashton, which was why she packed her bags, nning to flee the country andy low before Briar and her team could find her. But despite her caution, Manny was still caught by Briar¡¯s people. ¡°Well! Why the tears? Weren¡¯t you so arrogant and bold before? What is there to cry about?¡± Alexia clicked her tongue as she saw Manny on the verge of tears. ¡°Cry while you still can. Because once we reach our destination, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t even have the strength to shed a tear.¡± Ian was kind enough to pull out a tissue and hand it to Manny. As Manny looked at the tissue Ian handed her, her tears dried up. ¡°Please¡­ spare me. I was only following orders. I had no choice.¡± Manny¡¯s tearful plea did not move Briar in the slightest. Briar watched Manny coldly. ¡°No choice? Following orders? So when you teamed up with the Lopezs to use my mother¡¯s blood as a medicinal ingredient, was that also because you had no choice?¡± Briar said. Manny¡¯s lips parted, but not a single word came out. ¡®The idea of using Rosalia¡¯s blood as a medicinal catalyst came from my father. Since Briar can track me down, she must have already uncovered everything my family has done,¡® she thought. 13:27 Sun, Sep 28 N*** 200 Alexia added fuel to the fire. ¡°Oh, and I heardst year there were experimental drugs being sold on the international ck market. That was your family¡¯s doing, wasn¡¯t it?¡± One had to admire their ruthlessness. Knowing that no one would willingly volunteer to be a guinea pig forb experiments anymore, the Garzas simply released the drugs onto the ck market, letting unsuspecting people looking for a bargain be their free test subjects. It was an incredibly cunning n. But that one move proved to be their downfall, giving Briar the lead she needed to trace everything back to Dasmieca. Briar had been nning sincest year to use her identity as a member of the Jennings family to return to Dasmieca and investigate in secret. Manny¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°I¡­ I¡­ I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about¡­¡± She did not even dare to look into Briar¡¯s eyes. Manny had done plenty of bad things before; it was she who had used Rosalia¡¯s blood as a catalyst in experiments, and she was the first to develop thetest batch of drugs. Of course, Manny would never dare say such a thing at this moment. She feared that if she did, Briar might kill her on the spot. ¡°You don¡¯t know what we¡¯re talking about?¡± Briar scoffed. ¡°Do you think we can¡¯t find out the role the Garzas yed in this just because you won¡¯t admit it? ¡°You¡¯re the only one left of the Garzas who¡¯s still out and about. If I were to send you to meet your family, do you think they would be happy?¡± ¡°No! Please don¡¯t send me to my parents. They¡¯ll kill me!¡± Manny¡¯s panic deepened. Manny was aware that her entire family was slowly being captured by Briar and Ashton. She had gotten desperate calls from the Garzas, but she had ignored every single one. AD Comment Send gift Forsaken 292 Manny did not dare think about rescuing anyone. 10 vouchers Never mind the blood feud between Briar and the Garza family over Rosalia¡¯s murder. Ashton¡¯s terrifying power and methods alone were enough to ensure that even if Manny wanted to save them, she could never find anyone to help. No matter how much money Manny offered, no one would be foolish enough to go on a suicide mission. But regardless of whether Manny could have saved them, she refused to act when her family reached out for help, without the slightest hesitation. Manny knew that her family must loathe her now. If Briar locked her up with them, her own family would beat her to death before Briar and her people even had to lift a finger. Manny did not have to guess what her grandfather would say¡ªBen would use her of being ungrateful and cruel. Briar paid no mind to Manny¡¯s inner turmoil or reluctance. She gave Ian a look, and their car headed toward a vi near Ashton¡¯spany. The most dangerous ce was also the safest¨Cthe Garzas were locked in the basement. Now, Briar was about to deliver Manny straight to them, reuniting the family ¡°in perfect order.¡± ¡®And what will the Garzas do when theyy eyes on Manny? Heh, that¡¯s Manny¡¯s problem, not mine, Briar thought. ¡°No¡­ Don¡¯t do this¡­¡± Manny wed at the basement door, crying and screaming, refusing to go in. Tears and snot ran freely down Manny¡¯s face as she thrashed,pletely shattering the image of the confident, unstoppable woman she usually projected. But Ian was not the kind of man to go easy on a woman. He was the epitome of a ruthless and cold¨Cblooded mercenary. Seeing her stubborn defiance, Ian mercilessly kicked Manny¨Chard, square in the lower back¨Csending her crashing into the basement. Manny¡¯s face twisted in agony. Manny hit the basement floor with a heavy thud, and a scream of agony escaped her lips. Then, a chorus of shouts and pained cries erupted from the basement. Sure enough, it was just as Manny had guessed. The moment Manny appeared, the Garzas attacked like she were their mortal enemy. Fists and kicks rained 13:27 Sun, Sep 28 N down on her without the slightest hesitation or mercy. 77 10 vouchers With their flushed faces and savage expressions, they looked more like sworn enemies than family. Fortunately, the Garzas had been locked in the basement for several days with only one meal and a bottle of water per day. They were physically and mentally drained, so their attacks were weak. Even when they ganged up on Manny, they only beat her until she copsed, curling up on the floor¨Cnever enough to actually kill her. Even so, it was enough to terrify Manny. ¡®Hah, these are the people I¡¯m supposed to call family, Manny thought. Thispletely shattered any sense of belonging she felt toward the Garzas. The moment Briar appeared, Manny threw herself at her feet as if she were a lifeline, clinging to her leg and refusing to let go. ¡°Briar, I was wrong! I¡¯ll tell you everything. Don¡¯t lock me in here with them. I¡¯ll tell you everything I know¡­ everything!¡± Manny said. Manny wanted nothing more than to kneel before Briar right there, sincerely crying and begging for leniency in exchange for full confession. The Garzas watched speechlessly. A sh of murderous intent appeared on Ben¡¯s face. If Manny were not clinging to Briar¡¯s leg and if Briar¡¯s people were not watching so closely, Ben would have killed Manny on the spot. ¡®Useless¡­ utterly useless. A few hits and Manny¡¯s ready to betray her whole family in revenge, Ben thought angrily. Qeturah had not expected Manny to do this either. With bloodshot eyes, he started to rush forward, but was pulled back by Hayden. ¡°Dad, don¡¯t,¡± Hayden said. Manny knew that as long as she stayed by Briar¡¯s side, the Garzas could do nothing to her. Qeturah was furious. ¡°If I¡¯d known she was such a cold¨Chearted, ruthless creature, I should¡¯ve killed her before they captured us!¡± He fumed inwardly, ¡®We¡¯ve endured this long without Briar and Ashton handing us over to the cops¨Cwhy? Because our secrets haven¡¯t been fully uncovered yet. But now, with Manny suddenly wanting toe clean, everything we¡¯d fought to hold together these past days would be nothing but a joke!¡® Manny did not care how the Garzas reacted. She just wanted to save her own life, as survival was the most important thing. ¡®Do they really think that staying silent would keep Ashton and Briar from uncovering the truth? No matter how deep they buried the truth, it would only be a matter of time before Ashton and Briar uncovered it. In that case, I might as well confess early and see if I can negotiate some terms to my advantage, Manny 13:27 Sun, Sep 28 M thought. At the very least, she could trade the old secrets for her own life. ¡®As for the rest of the Garza family¡­ let them die!¡® Manny thought. After all, at home, the only resources she ever got were leftovers from Hayden. Since the Garzas did not value her, there was no reason why she should risk herself for them. We in vouchers Ian whistled. ¡°Huh, so this is how a low¨Ctier rich family behaves? Never seen anything like it. Eye¨Copening, for sure. Manny was left speechless. Briar shook off Manny, who was clinging to her leg, and looked at Ian. ¡°Since she¡¯s crying and begging to confess, she¡¯s all yours. Interrogate her thoroughly. If she dares to hide anything or doesn¡¯te clean, just Read full story at F¦ÉndNovel kill her.¡± After saying that, Briar walked away without looking back. She left Ian behind, who grinned sinisterly as he cracked his knuckles. ¡°Come on, Manny. You only get one chance¨Cbetter make it count!¡± Ian said. He was going to interrogate her here, in front of the Garzas. Talk about twisting the knife. ¡®If Manny confesses everything, how will the Garzas react? Their continued refusal to confess would be both foolish and deadly,¡® Ian thought. ¡®By then, another dog¨Ceat¨Cdog scene is bound to unfold.¡¯ Alexia trailed behind Briar as they left the basement, her smile twisted and sinister. ¡°Briar, you¡¯re truly devious! You¡¯re deliberately setting the Garzas against each other!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t me me for this.¡± Briar shrugged, looking innocent. ¡°It was their choice.¡± Briar wondered if Ben really believed that keeping his family silent would render her powerless. The Garza family ended up in this situation because of their internal strife and disunity. If Hayden saw for himself that Manny could get a chance to live by confessing, he would surely be tempted. Hayden was Ben¡¯s most cherished grandson, and he knew far more secrets than Manny ever could. Whatever Hayden revealed would outweigh anything Manny could say. Ben would definitely be driven insane if he saw his grandchildren fighting or scrambling to confess just for a chance to survive. 13:27 Sun, Sep 28 N Forsaken 293 News of Briar taking Manny away quickly reached Ashton. He returned just before lunch. However, Briar was not at this vi. She had returned to Moonspring Estate alone. E While wiping the blood from his hands, Ian whispered to Ashton, ¡°After we captured Manny this morning, the Garzas started fighting among themselves and revealed a lot. Briar was there the whole time, so after she heard everything¡­¡± Ian sighed before taking the cigarette Ashton offered. ¡°Briar¡¯s been through so much. She¡¯s only 18, but the hardships she¡¯s endured in the past ten years¡­ It¡¯s more than most could imagine.¡± Ian exhaled a cloud of smoke, the thin mist blurring his eyes and hiding the moisture within. ¡°Ashton, you are aware of the massive explosion at the underground ck market in Qathana five years ago, right?¡± Ashton nodded. The cigarette in his hand was unlit, and he just twirled it between his fingers. ¡°I know. I experienced that explosion firsthand as well.¡± Ian was stunned. ¡°Holy crap!¡± Ashton¡¯s gaze was distant as he gestured for Ian to continue speaking. The shock in Ian¡¯s eyes was almost palpable. He lowered his gaze, took a deeper drag from his cigarette, and paused for several seconds before speaking. ¡°In that explosion, three of Briar¡¯s friends and five of herrades died. I also heard a man was shot dead while saving her¡­¡± A thought suddenly struck Ian, and he said, ¡°Ashton, you just said you personally experienced that explosion¡­ Don¡¯t tell me, the man who was shot¡­ was¡­¡± The spection was terrifying¨Cso much so that Ian did not dare voice it. Ashton¡¯s eyes darkened, but he still nodded slightly. ¡°That man was me.¡± Ian was frozen in ce, utterly speechless, the shock leaving him momentarily paralyzed. His first instinct was to pull out his phone and tell Briar this earth¨Cshattering news. But Ashton grabbed him. ¡°I hope you won¡¯t tell Briar about this yet.¡± ¡°Why, Ashton?¡± Ian blinked several times, his face puzzled. ¡°Do you know that Briar has been looking for you for the past five years? Although we all thought you had been blown to ashes, she never found your body in the rubble, so she was convinced you didn¡¯t die.¡± Ashton¡¯s chest tightened, and the hand holding his cigarette began to shake. The news pierced his heart like an arrow, bringing both warmth and a surge of panic. Ashton said, ¡°I know now, but I hope you won¡¯t tell her yet. At least, not until I find the mastermind behind 13:27 Sun, Sep 28 N¡­ 10 vouchers this. Don¡¯t let her know that man was me.¡± Ashton¡¯s voice carried none of his usualzy ease; his dark eyes were filled only with coldness and killing intent. But since Ashton had put it that way, there was nothing else he could say. Ian nodded. ¡°Alright, Ashton, I can only promise to keep this a secret for a while. You know I¡¯m always on Briar¡¯s side.¡± Ashton concealed the murderous intent in his eyes and pattedn¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Thank you. I know it won¡¯t be long before the truthes to light.¡± Ian smiled and took two quick drags on his cigarette. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll continue, then. ¡°Hayden and Manny are at each other¡¯s throats, and a lot hase to light in their dogfight. To begin with, those so¨Ccalled wonder drugs that caused a sensation in Qathana¡¯s underground ck market five years ago- turns out they came straight out of theirb. ¡°Also, they teamed up with the Garzas to kill the original leader of the underground ck market and reced him with a Dasmiecian. It was that same Dasmiecian who secretly nted 4000 pounds of explosives underground, causing the sensational bombing that year.¡± When Ian mentioned the Dasmiecian, he failed to notice the brief flicker of remorse and guilt in Ashton¡¯s gaze. Neither Ian nor Briar¡¯s team knew that the Dasmiecian sent by the Lopez family was actually someone Ashton had personally trained¨Cthe only one, in all these years, to betray Ashton and flee the country. Because of Ashton¡¯s negligence, by the time he received news of the defector, it was already toote to stop the explosion. When Ashton rushed to the underground ck market, he only managed to have half of the explosives removed. He could only watch as the remaining thousands of pounds detonated, reducing the entire market to rubble. ording to the conspirators¡® n, they had intended to destroy not just the ck market but half the city above it as well. However, Ashton¡¯s men intercepted the bombing n, promptly contacted the local authorities, and evacuated tens of thousands of residents, preventing a greater, irreversible disaster. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? f¦É¦Ídn¦Ïvel But the biggest victim turned out to be Briar. The explosion not only left Briar bedridden for six months but also cost her more than half of the subordinates she had trained. At the time, Ashton and Briar had only met a few times, so Briar bore little personal hatred toward him. 13:27 Sun, Sep 28 N 10 vouchers Still, Ashton would never dare let Briar know that he had indirectly caused the explosion¨Cat least, not before he identified the mastermind behind it. Ian ryed the details of Hayden and Manny¡¯s interrogations to Ashton, just as Briar had instructed. Since they were both working on the same case, sharing information was only natural. ¡°Are you alright?¡±n asked, seeing the grim look on Ashton¡¯s face. He could not tell if Ashton was displeased with their interrogation results or just lost in thought. Ashton waved his hand dismissively. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Keep interrogating them for now. I¡¯m heading back to Moonspring Estate.¡± Ashton drove off alone. When Ashton arrived at Moonspring Estate, he stood in front of Briar¡¯s vi. After a moment¡¯s thought, instead of knocking, he vaulted the wall and jumped into the yard. A few secondster, Briar appeared at a second¨Cfloor window. Ashton looked up, smiling at Briar in the window. ¡°Honey, I don¡¯t have the key.¡± Hiszy, indulgent grin carried a hint of yfulness. The wind tousled his hair, yet his dark, shining eyes were impossible to ignore. Briar, in her pajamas, gave a helpless smile. ¡°You want the key to my ce, huh?¡± Seeing Ashton nod, she opened the window. ¡°Come on up.¡± Without a word, Ashton climbed the wall with practiced ease, slipping through the window. Secondster, hended steadily inside. However, before Briar could speak, Ashton pulled her into his arms, holding her incredibly tight. Ashton rested his chin on Briar¡¯s head, nuzzling her gently. ¡°Honey, I missed you.¡± Briar rxed into Ashton¡¯s embrace. Although she could not see Ashton¡¯s face, she immediately sensed his mood. Briar jabbed Ashton¡¯s side with a finger. ¡°Honey, why are you being so affectionate all of a sudden? Did you do something wrong? Fess up!¡± Forsaken 294 Chapter 294 Briar had always been perceptive. She quickly sensed the shift in Ashton¡¯s mood. A $ vouchers However, after thinking it over, she couldn¡¯t figure out who had upset him, so she decided to probe him. Ashton buried his face in Briar¡¯s slender, soft neck, where the intimate and intense marks of their lovemaking from the night before still lingered. It was like his love for Briar¨Cso fiery that no one could match it, and nothing could stand in its way. ¡°No. I just missed you,¡± said Ashton. His lips lingered on Briar¡¯s corbone. His voice was tinged with faint hoarseness. It might have sounded like the hoarseness of desire, but Briar could tell Ashton was hiding something from her. And her intuition told her it was something big¨Csomething that concerned her. ¡°Honey, you know I don¡¯t like it when people lie to me. The consequences are dire¡­ very dire¡­¡± Briar smiled and tilted her head back, fully exposing her neck to Ashton as if inviting him to do as he pleased. For more chapters visit findnovel Ashton froze mid¨Ckiss on Briar¡¯s neck. Then, he fiercely left a new mark on her skin. ¡°Hiss!¡± Briar yelped, stung by his kiss. She pushed Ashton away, ring. ¡°That hurts.¡± Ashton smiled and looked down. From his perspective, he could see Briar¡¯s curledshes and soft, pink lips. Despite her fierce words, Briar now looked gentle and sweet. She possessed a delicate beauty, exquisite from head to toe. It made his heart tremble, stirring something deep within him¡­ With a p, Briar hit Ashton hard on his butt. ¡°Kisses are enough. Don¡¯t even dream of any strenuous exercise in broad daylight.¡± Ashton shifted awkwardly, moving his arousal from between Briar¡¯s legs. ¡°Honey, you know it never has any self¨Ccontrol around you.¡± Briar was unmoved. ¡°Don¡¯t think your roguish behavior can hide the fact that you¡¯re holding something back. You¡¯d better spit it out while I¡¯m still willing to listen.¡± Ashton lowered his gaze, cupped Briar¡¯s face, and looked at her quietly and seriously for a long moment. He even stole several kisses from her red lips before finally smiling. ¡°Honey, whether it¡¯s about the past or the future, you can¡¯t leave me if I do something wrong. Deal?¡± Briar narrowed her eyes and said, ¡°Ashton, something¡¯s not right with you. What are you afraid of?¡± Under Briar¡¯s stare, Ashton¡¯s heart felt as if it were being crushed, only to be heartlessly pieced back together by her. The feeling was a painful ache. Still, he shook his head and said, ¡°I can¡¯t tell you yet. Just wait a bit longer, okay?¡± Briar said helplessly. ¡°Fine. Just tell me when you¡¯re ready to talk Upon seeing Ashton so conflicted and miserable, Briar¡¯s heart ached for him. 230 ¡°Thank you, honey. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll tell you everything once I have fully investigated the matter. I won¡¯t hide a single word,¡± Ashton vowed. ¡°You¡¯d better, Briar said irritably. Ashton leaned closer. ¡°So, honey, can you promise me you won¡¯t get mad when I tell you everythingter?¡± The anger Briar had just suppressed suddenly red up again. Quickly, Ashton leaned down and pressed his lips against hers, silencing her rising anger. By the time Briar and Ashton reappeared, it was already after two in the afternoon. It was unclear what they had been up to, but Briar looked utterly drained and listless, as if all her vitality had been sapped. ¡°Are you okay, Briar?¡± Alexia walked over worriedly and shot a discreet re at Ashton. She thought Ashton had gotten intimate with Briar again. Honestly, Ashton didn¡¯t know how to treat ady, and Briar was still so young! Could she handle such frequent and strenuous activity? Briar clearly looked like she hadn¡¯t gotten enough sleep. Ashton lookedpletely baffled by Alexia¡¯s re. ¡°¡­¡± Briar covered her mouth, trying to suppress a smile. It was true she hadn¡¯t gotten enough sleep, but it wasn¡¯t Ashton¡¯s fault. While Briar and Ashton were getting cozy, her uncle called and gave her an update on the investigation from the past two days. She became so anxious and angry that she couldn¡¯t sleep and only napped for less than half an hour. However, she had arranged to meet Ian that afternoon to personally interrogate the Garzas, so she showed up looking exhausted. Ashton didn¡¯t want her toe, but he gave in to her persistence and drove her here himself. Given her condition, there was no way Ashton would let her drive there alone. 70 5 vouchers Alexia was about to say something more, but Briar stopped her and whispered a brief exnation in her ear. That calmed Alexia¡¯s anger, and she gave Ashton an embarrassed smile. Alex was busy typing on hisputer. Once he saw they were finished talking, he waved to Briar. ¡°Briar,e here. I have something fun to show you.¡± Briar walked over and asked curiously, ¡°What is it¡­?¡± However, Briar¡¯s expression instantly turned cold when she saw the photos and addresses on Alex¡¯sputer screen. ¡°Don¡¯t get angry yet, there¡¯s more!¡± Upon seeing the change in Briar¡¯s expression, Alex opened several other files and showed them to her page by page. ¡°So? Do you feel the urge to kill someone? Ouch¡­¡± Alexia pped him as soon as Alex said that. ¡°Stop provoking her! Briar is too gentle to go on a killing spree,¡± said Alexia. They might have been ruthless when they were abroad, but this was in Dasmieca. Hadn¡¯t anyone noticed that even when Ashton wanted someone dead, he didn¡¯t do it himself? They had to be extra cautious, especially since their investigation was linked to the senior leaders of Dasmieca. Otherwise, they would be vulnerable to ckmail. They could be framed with fabricated charges, making it nearly impossible for them to leave Dasmieca. Alex was speechless. Ian also came closer to see what could make Briar¡¯s expression change. A few secondster, Ian cursed, ¡°Damn it! These bastards have no humanity at all!¡± Standing behind Briar with his arms crossed, Ashton also saw what was on Alex¡¯sputer. His expression was also grim. The photos on theputer were horrific, showing dismembered limbs and the grotesque results of failed. experiments that used live humans as test subjects. The bodies were not only those of Briar¡¯s former battle buddies but also many ordinary civilians¡­ The sheer number and brutality of the images were appalling. That was only part of the information Hayden and Manny revealed about thebs¡® internal operations. In other words, even if the Garzas were arrested and the Lopez family fell, theboratories hidden around the world would still operate normally. Therefore, arresting the Garzas and the Lopezs would not affect normal research in thebs. pg dn 200 ording to Hayden, the experimental drug they were frantically researching was a longevity medicine that could extend life¡­ Forsaken 295 Chapter 295 Longevity has always been highly sought after. : $700 The source of th?s content is f?ndnovel youcher In particr, there were more wealthy and powerful people in today¡¯s society. They coveted power and adored money. Who among them would not want to live as long as possible? Otherwise, why would the underground market trade in human organs be so rampant? Once the longevity drug became avable, the wealthy and powerful were likely to be the first to wee it. Therefore, theboratories could still operate even if the Garzas and Lopezs were to fall one after another. Ashton looked at Briar and said, ¡°Thesebs are still operational because of the hidden force behind them. It seems we not only have to find him¡­¡± ¡°And kill him,¡± said Briar, sneering. Alexia and Alex exchanged a look, not daring to speak a word. They thought, ¡®Ashton and Briar, the couple, yed off each other perfectly. They made stirring up trouble sound so easy!¡® Ian happily raised his hand and said, ¡°Briar, take me with you! Take me with you!¡± He loved nothing more than murder and arson. Besides, those bastards had captured their battle buddies from the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base for experiments. A warrior can be killed but not humiliated! It was unforgivable, whatever justifiable reasons they had. Briar nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll get your share.¡± The interrogation of Hayden and Manny wasn¡¯t over. Since they had provided such useful information, they wouldn¡¯t be let off the hook easily. Briar didn¡¯t even have to lift a finger. Eagerly, Brandon and Ian rolled up their sleeves and returned to the basement to torture Hayden and Manny. The matter was significant, and the locations of theseboratories still needed to be scouted. So, after discussing it with Briar, Ashton decided to send his 121 Overseas Mercenary Organization to scout ahead first. To ensure nothing went wrong, Ashton decided Connor would personally lead the scouting team. Upon receiving Ashton¡¯s orders, Connor immediately assembled a team of mercenaries and set out. For their 12:48 Mon, Sep 29 7 25 vouchers safety, the mission was ssified as top secret. Watching from the sidelines, Alexia grew excited and was eager to join. She became anxious when Ashton finished assigning tasks without calling on her or Alex. ¡°Ashton, what about us?¡± asked Alexia. Ashton looked at Alexia, then turned to Alex. ¡°How skilled is your wife?¡± Alex shrugged and said, ¡°My wife is the ssic ¡®all enthusiasm, no skill¡® type. Ashton, just ignore her.¡± Ashton nodded and told Alexia regretfully, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. This mission is too dangerous. For your safety, I suggest you stay here and don¡¯t wander off.¡± Alexia was momentarily speechless. Furious, Alexia lunged at Alex and grabbed his neck. ¡°How am I unskilled? Tell me how! Have you forgotten the time you almost got your head blown off? I was the one who saved you!¡± Alex didn¡¯t dare to fight back, letting Alexia grow more agitated until she tackled him onto the sofa, straddling him yfully. Just then, Reece and Hamish walked in. Upon seeing Alex and Alexia wrestling on the sofa, they asked in shock, ¡°What¡¯s going on with these two?¡± Briar smiled, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t mind them. They¡¯re just being their usual crazy selves.¡± Reece nodded and walked over calmly, ignoring the two on the sofa. He handed a file to Ashton. ¡°Here,¡± said Reece. ¡°This is the list you wanted of people who have secretly left the country in recent years.¡± Although Reece handed the file to Ashton, he kept signaling to Briar with his eyes, urging her to take a close look. Briar nodded in understanding and went to Ashton¡¯s side. They looked over the file with the list of names together. The list covered a wide range of people, but it confirmed what they had suspected: they were all wealthy and powerful tycoons and aristocrats. ¡°Aren¡¯t Shoneport¡¯s border controls supposed to be the strictest in all of Dasmieca?¡± Briar asked with a pout after reading the list. ¡°This is as leaky as a sieve, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡®At least a dozen people secretly leave Dasmieca in groups every month, and no one knows?¡® thought Briar. ¡°An inside job,¡± said Ashton. Hamish found an armchair that Alexia and Alex hadn¡¯t wrecked and sat down, draping an arm over the back. He said, ¡°We had no idea until we investigated. Reece and I were both shocked.¡± It was worse than being leaky as a sieve. It was as if an opening was deliberately ripped for those people, 12:48 Mon, Sep 29 allowing them toe and go freely. Apparently, some of the top leaders in Shoneport weren¡¯t as incorruptible as they had imagined. It was truly disappointing. ¡°Ashton, what are you going to do?¡± Reece asked Ashton, whose expression was grim. vouchers The list included not only some senior leaders but also members from a third of Shoneport¡¯s wealthy families. A major purge would be unimaginably difficult. Now that they had a taste of the benefits, they would probably fight tooth and nail if one tried to make them give it all back. Ashton said coldly, ¡°Kill who must be killed, and arrest who must be arrested. The current leaders of Dasmieca are exceptional.¡± Reece¡¯s and Hamish¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Alright. Just make the arrangements, and we¡¯ll be ready to assist you.¡± While they were discussing matters, a bodyguard hurried in. ¡°Mr. Wade, it is bad. A group of people has arrived outside. They say Edgar sent them to find Mrs. Wade¡­¡± Reece furrowed his brow and said in exasperation, ¡°Why is the Jennings family causing trouble at a time like this?¡± Considering what the Jennings family did to Briar, they should be grateful that Ashton even spared their lives. ¡°They¡¯re probably learning from Emily,¡± Hamish remarked drily. ¡°They forget the pain quickly once the scar has healed. So what if they have another leg broken? They¡¯ll just rest up and be lively as ever.¡± Briar told the bodyguard at the door, ¡°Tell them to get lost if they don¡¯t want to die. Otherwise, I don¡¯t mind paying the Jennings family a personal visit and riddling each of them with bullets.¡± The bodyguard looked at Ashton, who nodded and said, ¡°Do as she says.¡± ¡°Yes, Mrs. Wade.¡± The bodyguard¡¯s face broke into a grin. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mrs. Wade. We¡¯re experts at this sort of thing. Leave it to us.¡± Then, he turned and rushed off. Briar was speechless. She thought, ¡®How does Ashton train his bodyguards? ¡®Why does every one of them seem to thrive in chaos, as if they can¡¯t wait for Ashton to lead them into daily brawls?¡® Hamish helpfully exined to Briar, ¡°Briar, you probably don¡¯t know this, but Ashton reced all his previous bodyguards before you came back. The current bodyguards are the same crew that used to stir up 12:48 Mon, Sep 29 trouble with him overseas.¡± Briar nodded. ¡°That exins it.¡± 4: 2.00 ¡®No wonder their smiles look so vicious. They have all seen blood before, thought Briar. Ashton felt a little awkward under Briar¡¯s gaze. ¡°I was afraid you¡¯d go off and do something big again without saying a word, so I had to take precautions in advance.¡± AD Forsaken 296 No Ads 12:48 Mon, Sep 29 Briar thought, ¡®Precautions in advance? ¡®Precautions against what? ¡°To stop her from getting addicted to killing and losing control? Or to prevent her from going on a killing spree that would be difficult to clean up?¡® Briar gave Ashton a slight smile but said nothing, pretending not to understand the hidden meaning in his words. Reece, who loved watching drama unfold, chimed in, ¡°Briar, you can¡¯t me Ashton. You are one of the eight instructors at the renowned DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base. Ashton¡­ is scared!¡± Hamish coughed lightly, reminding Reece not to be so obvious about sowing discord, or Ashton would make them pay. Ashton was not the type to take a loss lying down. Reece snuck a nce at Ashton. Upon seeing the smile on his lips and that he didn¡¯t seem angry, Reece grew bolder, saying, ¡°Ashton, don¡¯t you agree? I was putting in a good word for you and Briar out of brotherly love.¡± Ashton smiled. ¡°Excellent. You¡¯re a true friend. Thank you.¡± Reece waved his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. It¡¯s the least I could do¡­ Ouch, holy crap!¡± Before he could finish his words, Reece saw Ashton take a gun from a nearby bodyguard and cock it. Terrified, Reece bolted. Hamish shook his head helplessly and thought, ¡®Why did Reece have to go and provoke Ashton, the cunning fox? Ashton doesn¡¯t wait long to get his revenge. Checktest chapters at findnovel Reece bolted toward the door, and Ashton chased him out, looking like they were ready for a hard fight. Briar only nced over for a moment before looking away. She turned to Hamish and asked, ¡°Hamish, is there something you want to tell me?¡± Hamish paused, surprised, then smiled. ¡°It seems Reece and I fooled Ashton with our performance, but we couldn¡¯t fool you.¡± Briar told Alexia and Alex, who had finished theirmotion, ¡°You two can leave us. Go and guard the door. Don¡¯t let Ashton in.¡± Alexia and Alex gave Briar an ¡°OK¡± sign, headed for the main entrance, and thoughtfully closed the door for them. As for the bodyguards in the living room, they had already followed them out when Ashton chased after Reece. 12:48 Mon, Sep 29 Only Briar and Hamish were left in the living room. P: Briar smiled at Hamish. ¡°Hamish, if you have something to say, just say it.¡± ? 70 #5 vouchers ¡°Alright, Reece can¡¯t hold Ashton off for long, so I¡¯ll make this quick,¡± said Hamish, nodding. ¡°Ashton isn¡¯t actually Griffin¡¯s grandson¡­ Briar, did you know it?¡± Briar¡¯s calm expression froze. ¡°What? Does Ashton himself know about it?¡± Hamish smiled wryly. ¡°A man as shrewd as Ashton? Of course, he knows. He¡¯s known for a long time. Why else do you think he went abroad with his men to start from scratch?¡± Briar¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°So he didn¡¯t want to use the Wade family¡¯s resources and power, wanting to rely on his own abilities instead¡­¡± Hamish said, ¡°Exactly! Reece and I both relied on our families¡® resources for our current sess. But Ashton, everything he has now, he earned himself.¡± Briar looked at Hamish and asked earnestly, ¡°Hamish, you¡¯re telling me all this¡­ What do you want me to do?¡± Afraid Briar might get the wrong idea, Hamish smiled and said, ¡°Briar, don¡¯t misunderstand. Reece and I aren¡¯t here to interfere with your ns for revenge. We want to offer our connections and resources to help you.¡± Briar said, ¡°Hamish, I¡¯m touched that you¡¯re doing this for Ashton. But I think you and Ashton are both underestimating me.¡± Briar had guessed why Reece and Hamish were doing this. They knew it was not easy for Ashton to get where he was today. They did not want Ashton to suffer a major setback over this incident. After all, the list of people Ashton intended to take down this time included members of the Wade family. If Ashton turned on certain members of the Wade family for Briar, there was no guarantee they wouldn¡¯t use the fact that Ashton was not a true Wade to cause trouble. Then, if Ashton exposed all of his resources and was cornered by the Wade family, many of his businesses could copse overnight. It would be a devastating blow for Ashton. How could someone as proud and strong¨Cwilled as Ashton handle that? Briar looked at Hamish and, without even raising her eyes, rattled off the business projects she owned, which left Hamishpletely dumbfounded. Hamish almost fell off the sofa in shock when he heard Briar say she was the head instructor for one¨Cthird of the world¡¯s mercenaries. ¡°Wait, Briar, what did you just say? You trained over three thousand mercenaries when you were 12?¡± Hamish couldn¡¯t believe his cars. Three thousand mercenaries in a single year? 4:5 Briar was now 18. At a rate of three thousand mercenaries a year, she would have trained and sent out nearly twenty thousand mercenaries in the six years from age 12 to 18. Twenty thousand mercenaries. What did that even mean? To put it into perspective, there were about fifty to sixty thousand mercenaries in total among the world¡¯s underground forces. However, fewer than forty thousand of them had received formal, hellish, andprehensive training The rest were frencers and stragglers, destined to be nothing more than cannon fodder on a life¨Cor¨Cdeath battlefield. Of those fewer than forty thousand true mercenaries, half were soldiers trained under Briar. Good heavens! Although mercenaries were ruthless and murderous characters, they were also the most reputable and loyal, especially for the instructors who were stronger than them¡­ That was all particrly respectful. If¡­ If he meant if! If Briar summoned and issued a bounty warrant, ask those mercenaries to chase and assassinate a certain national leader together¡­ That momentum, that consequence¡­ One couldn¡¯t imagine it at all. Therefore, Ashton¡¯s worries werepletely unnecessary. His wife¡¯s strength and ferocity were not inferior to thebined power of the three of them! At that time, Ashton would provide arms, and Briar would gather people. Would those bastards hiding in the gutter have a way to survive, apart from fleeing everywhere and surrendering voluntarily? Hamish even felt that if Briar hadn¡¯t returned to Dasmieca and met Ashton, and then they were together again, she would have done something earth¨Cshattering. They were the ones holding Briar back from reaching her full potential! Hamish suddenly felt a sting of pain. What was he to do? At 12 years old, Briar was already bing an instructor for mercenaries. And what were they doing when they were 12? pg up pg dn 12:48 Mon, Sep 29 They were wreaking havoc and stirring up all kinds of trouble in Shoneport¡­ A 10 vouchers AD Forsaken 297 bg up pg dn 200 Comparing people would be a waste of time. It was pointless. While they were not as influential as Briar, they were notpletely useless. Aside from the one at the very top, the three great families wielded the most power in Shoneport. With the Wade family at the helm, supported by the Goodwin and Parkinson families, the three great families both kept each other in check and helped one another thrive. But after the incident, the Wade family¡¯s power seemed to weaken. Given the behavior of some members of the Wade family, no one could guess what Ashton would do. Griffin treasured his family ties. If he learned about such a sordid affair within the Wade family, he would not be able to bear it. It was unknown if Ashton would show mercy and let certain people off the hook for Griffin¡¯s sake. As Hamish¡¯s thoughts raced, Ashton had already passed Alexia and Alex, striding into the room. Sensing the strange and tense atmosphere between Hamish and Briar, his face showed little emotion, but his eyes held a sharp look. Seeing the displeasure on Ashton¡¯s face and fearing a misunderstanding, Hamish quickly raised his hands to defend himself. ¡°Hey, Ashton, don¡¯t get the wrong idea. I wasn¡¯t harming Briar. Besides, with her skills, I couldn¡¯t have harmed her in this short amount of time anyway.¡± Only then did Ashton soften slightly. However, he still walked hastily to Briar¡¯s side. He pulled her close and asked in a low voice, ¡°Honey, what¡¯s wrong? You look a little upset.¡± Hamish was at a loss for words. ¡°Tsk! When ites to being protective, you¡¯re in a league of your own.¡± Ashton¡¯s voice was low, but loud enough for Hamish to hear, making it clear that if Briar nodded, Ashton would turn on him immediately. Hamish shook his head and walked away. ¡®Forget it. A newlywed who¡¯s madly in love is not someone you can reason with. Best not to provoke him.¡¯ Amused, Briar watched Hamish sneak away and Ashton look at her with a straight face. She gave Ashton a gentle push. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Stop scaring Hamish.¡± Ashton agreed, pulling Briar onto the sofa and dropping the tedious conversation. He then asked seriously, ¡°Are you going to destroy those undergroundbs yourself, or will you have Connor and his team do it?¡± Briar thought for a moment before replying, ¡°Let¡¯s have Connor and his team handle it for now. I¡¯ll get Alexia and Alex to help them in a little while.¡± Briar was actually dying to handle it herself. They had collected so much from that one secretb in the deserted mountain pass. She could only imagine what a living hell the other undergroundbs must be. But if she left Shoneport, the people hiding in the city would probably flee even faster. Capture the king to vanquish his underlings. Only by seizing the mastermind could the undergroundbs be destroyed for good. oment¡¯s thought. Ashton asked, ¡°And what pg up pg dn 12:48 Mon, Sep 29 about the Jennings family? What are you going to do with them?¡± A 10 voucher Ashton¡¯s men had just taught the Jennings family¡¯s bodyguards a harsh lesson, and they scurried away in disgrace. But if Briar insisted on investigating the secrets of the live¨Csubjectboratory with them, Edgar probably would not give up so easily. He would harass Briar again. Briar scoffed, toying with Ashton¡¯s fingers with one hand while twirling a handgun that had appeared out of nowhere in the other. ¡°If Edgar dares to stop me, I don¡¯t mind killing him myself.¡± Briar¡¯s voice was steady but filled with murderous intent. ¡°He killed my mother. He¡¯s lucky to have lived this long.¡± Briar was going after Edgar¡¯s head. Hearing this, Ashton nodded without any attempt to talk her out of it. ¡°Alright. But a man like Edgar isn¡¯t worth getting your hands dirty. Just let Brandon and his team handle him.¡± Edgar was still Briar¡¯s father, and Ashton was worried that killing Edgar would give Briar a bad rep. His woman should remain pure and untainted. Briar looked up, met Ashton¡¯s gaze, and suddenly smiled. ¡°Ashton, it¡¯s okay. I have no qualms about killing Edgar. He should have died long ago.¡± Ashton raised his hand to ruffle Briar¡¯s hair, messing it up as he smiled along with her. ¡°I know. You¡¯re the most skilled mercenary instructor in the world, after all.¡± Briar was speechless. ¡®Is heplimenting, or just teasing me?¡® He reminded her again that she had deliberately kept her identity as an instructor at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base a secret. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so petty! Are you still holding a grudge?¡± Ashton didn¡¯t answer, simply holding her close and refusing to let go. In reality, Ashton wasn¡¯t being petty. He was just worried that with such a capable wife, there would be countless days ahead where she might disappear. For an unknown reason, Ashton suddenly asked, ¡°Honey, are you sure you¡¯re not hiding any other secret identities?¡± Briar¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and her gaze quickly darted away. Fortunately, she was in Ashton¡¯s arms with her face buried in his broad chest. Hence, Ashton didn¡¯t notice her guilty reaction. ¡°Of course not!¡± Briarughed awkwardly. ¡°Even if I were a genius, I would still need time to develop my potential.¡± Ashton had only asked casually and wasn¡¯t expecting to hear some shocking secret from Briar. ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± he said. Hearing the indifference in Ashton¡¯s tone and realizing he wasn¡¯t suspicious, Briar secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn¡¯t expose all of her secret identities at once. But she wouldn¡¯t give herself away before being discovered. I must maintain a little bit of mystery, even in an intimate rtionship/ 220 ¡°Ahem! Excuse me.¡± As the two whispered intimately on the sofa, Alexia¡¯s ill¨Ctimed cough shattered the moment. Briar turned and gave Alexia a dark look. ¡°What is it, now?¡± Original content can be found at find?novel Afraid to look at Ashton after interrupting the couple, Alexia fixed her gaze on Briar. ¡°Briar, uh, are we staying here, or¡­¡± Briar had already told them they could help Connor and his team, name their price, and Ashton would cover it. Ashton didn¡¯t miss the money¨Chungry look on Alexia¡¯s face. Before Briar could answer, Ashton nodded. ¡°Get your things. I¡¯ll send a private jet tonight to take you to Connor.¡± Then, as Alexia watched with eager anticipation, he named a figure, ¡°Themission is 6 million dors cach¡± Alexia¡¯s eyes so rich!¡± lit up, and she epted without hesitation. ¡°Thank you, Ashton! You¡¯re powerful, handsome, and Briar scratched her head while pointing. ¡°Alexia, wipe your drool. Show some restraint!¡± However,posure was impossible as Alexia happily ran off. All she had to do was follow Connor and his team and type on theirputers to earn 40 million. No one would pass on such an opportunity. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Forsaken 298 420 19 vouchers Alexia pulled Alex along as they packed the necessary equipment at top speed. They couldn¡¯t even wait until evening and eagerly urged Ashton to arrange a private jet to send them off. Seeing their excitement, Briar was speechless. As expected, the allure of money is always immense. Ashton was quite cooperative and sent the two of them off. Watching the ne fly farther away, Briar sighed. ¡°Ashton, do you think Alexia and Alex will reach their destination safely?¡± Briar disregarded the fact that Alexia and Alex were in such a hurry to leave Shoneport. They acted so incidents. urgently because they discovered they were being secretly monitored and wanted to prevent any Ashton wrapped an arm around Briar¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Their trip will go smoothly, and they¡¯ll definitely meet up with Connor and his group.¡± Ashton¡¯s expression was so confident and resolute that Briar couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of relief. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s time for us to make our move. Our opponents are already monitoring our doorstep. If we do nothing, we¡¯ll lookpletely useless.¡± ¡°Griffin just called me, asking when I could bring you to the family estate. He wants to see you,¡± Ashton said suddenly as he led Briar back. Briar raised an eyebrow. ¡°Griffin wants to see me?¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°My guess is, it¡¯s not just Griffin who wants to see you. There are probably others, like Mr. Goodwin and Mr. Swift.¡± Ashton had guessed Griffin¡¯s intentions for the invitation, which was why he disagreed immediately and only said he would pass on the message. As for whether Briar would agree to go back, that was entirely up to her. Briar¡¯s face stiffened. Before she could speak, Ashton said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about saving face for me. If you don¡¯t want to go, then don¡¯t.¡± Briar¡¯s sour expression immediately broke into a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Honey. Come home with me.¡± Ashton¡¯s suspicion was likely correct. Mr. Goodwin and Joshua had probably asked Ashton¡¯s grandfather to track him down. They hoped that out of respect for Griffin and Ashton, Briar would return to the Wade family home to meet them. It seemed that ignoring calls from Marvin and Joshua was starting to make some people anxious. So, they sent Marvin and Joshua to sound her out and assess the evidence she had against them. ¡®In that case, I¡¯m eager to see what they were capable of. Ashton stopped and gazed into Briar¡¯s eyes for a few seconds. Seeing her firm resolve, he nodded. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go back. Say if any of those men upset you. I won¡¯t hold back.¡± Briarughed. ¡°If your grandfather heard you weren¡¯t taking his side, he¡¯d chase you with his cane.¡± Ashton chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He can¡¯t catch me, and he can¡¯t hit me.¡± And pg up pg dn ¼Òˆ@ 10 vouchers Briar also chuckled. She agreed to return to the Wade Mansion, and Ashton took her there the next morning. It was a weekday, so aside from the servants and bodyguards, almost no other members of the Wade family were present. Even Ashton¡¯s parents were not there. As soon as their car stopped, bodyguards and a butler came to wee them. ¡°Wee back, Sir. Hello, Madam.¡± The butler greeted Ashton and Briar with a cheerful smile. Ashton said nothing, appearing to have a low opinion of the butler. Seeing this, Briar nodded at the butler in response. ¡°Sir, Mr. Goodwin and Mr. Swift arrived early. Your grandfather is ying chess with them in the courtyard,¡± the butler reported to Ashton and Briar while leading the way. Ashton finally gave the butler a proper look and asked tly, ¡°They arrived early? How long have they been here?¡± The butler looked around and said in a low voice, ¡°They arrived before 8 a.m.¡± ¡®It¡¯s 10 a.m. now. Looks like Mr. Goodwin and Mr. Swift are getting impatient.¡¯ Ashton nodded without another word and exchanged a look with Briar. When they reached the courtyard gate, the butler smiled and called out to the three gentlemen sitting on the stone bench, ¡°Sir, they have arrived.¡± Upon hearing this, Griffin turned, a loving smile already on his face. ¡°Briar, you¡¯re here! Quick,e sit by me.¡± As he spoke, Griffin patted the empty stone bench beside him, motioning for Briar to sit next to him. Briar politely greeted each of them in turn before sitting down beside Griffin as requested. Meanwhile, Ashton followed Briar closely. After she sat down next to Griffin, he stood rigidly behind her like a statue. Hepletely ignored Marvin and Joshua. Marvin and Joshua were speechless. They didn¡¯t know what to say. Realizing he could not get through to Ashton and Briar, Mr. Goodwin turned to Griffin, who was standing behind Briar. ¡°Griffin¡­¡± Griffin snorted and said in a deliberately loud voice, ¡°Let me introduce you two to this wonderful Lady. This is our granddaughter¨Cinw. Briar is the miracle doctor known all over Shoneport.¡± Marvin and Joshua nodded. ¡°She is impressive.¡± Of course, they were jealous. They would reallocate their family¡¯s assets if she were their granddaughter¨Cin-w. They both saw Briar¡¯s skills and abilities. She was not only a little miracle doctor but also an instructor at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base. Her identity as a mercenary instructor was enough to make the higher¨Cups restless. Briar shed a charming smile. ¡°Please don¡¯t praise me. I¡¯m not as capable as you say! I haven¡¯t even fully restored your health yet, have I?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true. I know my own body best. Before your acupuncture treatments, I used to faint constantly Griffin¡¯s admiration for Briar was boundless. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, this old man would be unconscious for a few days every single month!¡± Marvin cleared his throat to remind Griffin to stop the praise. ¡°Ahem¡­ Griffin, we¡¯d like to have a word with Briar.¡± Joshua quickly added, ¡°That¡¯s right. We want to ask Briar a few questions, and we¡¯ll leave right after.¡± Chapters first released on f?ndnovel In other words, there was no need for him to beat around the bush. They knew their ce and would leave as soon as they finished talking. Only then did Griffin nod reluctantly. ¡°Fine, ask your questions quickly. I¡¯m taking Briar to see my prized collection afterward Then, just like Ashton, he nted himself behind Briar, standing like a stoic guardian. AD Forsaken 299 Marvin and Joshua were speechless. They didn¡¯t know what to say. Realizing he could not get through to Ashton and Briar, Mr. Goodwin turned to Griffin, who was standing behind Briar. ¡°Griffin¡­¡± Marvin cleared his throat, braced himself, and got straight to the point. ¡°Ahem! Briar, we actually came to you today to ask about the whereabouts of the Garzas.¡± He knew bringing up this topic would certainly make Briar resent him and Joshua. The reason why Briar had not yet moved against them was that she had no evidence. The second was perhaps because, unlike others, they had not jumped out to get in her way. There was nothing wrong with Briar avenging her mother. Those who openly or covertly tried to stop Briar were all direct or indirect participants from back then. Even if they were not participants, they were beneficiaries of the experimental drugster developed by theb. But those were the very people Briar nned to take revenge on. Seeing them brazenly approaching her to talk about how her mother was skinned and bled to be used as a catalyst for experimental drugs triggered her killing intent. Marvin thought that the only reason Briar hadn¡¯t pulled out a gun and shot them both on the spot was that she was kind¨Chearted. Sure enough, before Marvin could finish speaking, the smile on Briar¡¯s face vanished and was instantly reced by a dark expression. Briar dug a finger in her ear, her voice deceptively light. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Goodwin. I was distracted and didn¡¯t quite hear what you said. Whose whereabouts were you asking about?¡± The strained smile froze on Marvin¡¯s face. He didn¡¯t even dare to look Briar in the eye. He was at a loss for words for a long moment, unable to say anything more. Under Ashton and Griffin¡¯s scrutinizing and critical stares, Joshua struggled to continue where Marvin had left off. ¡°Briar, we¡¯re just acting on someone else¡¯s behalf. We have no other choice. We came to ask about your intention for the Garza family. Can you spare their lives?¡± He managed to ask all his questions in one breath. Joshua wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He never imagined that the cold gaze of someone so young could be so oppressive. Joshua hadn¡¯t felt this oppressed since Ashton caused a huge stir in Shoneport. The intimidating presence Briar exuded was simply overwhelming. Joshua would never have waded into this nerve¨Cwracking mess if his family hadn¡¯t been threatened. The anger on Briar¡¯s face intensified, but a smile spread across her lips. She was smiling with a sweet, beautiful smile. But was that the case? It was so beautiful that as Marvin and Joshua looked at her, they felt as if they were looking past her to the delicate Rosalia from years ago. Suddenly, even though it was broad daylight and they were sitting under the sun, Marvin and Joshua felt a bone¨Cchilling cold creep up from the soles of their feet. 12:49 Mon, Sep 29 It crept up their legs and into their bodies, finally burrowing into their wildly beating hearts, where it coilet impossible to shake off Guilt, distress, panic, nervousness, bewilderment mixed. A wave of strange yet familiar emotions washed over them again. Marvin¡¯s face visibly drained of color. growing paler by the second. Meanwhile, Joshua, who was beside him, was in no better state. Seeing his two friends in such a pathetic state, Griffin was both exasperated and unable to bear it. He rugged on Ashton¡¯s sleeve, signaling for him to step in and smooth things over. He didn¡¯t want to have two corpses in his house. If that happened, even more people would likelye looking for trouble with Briar. Initially, Ashton didn¡¯t want to get involved, but he had to admit his grandfather had a point. So, he said, ¡°Mr. Goodwin, Mr. Swift, you¡¯ve seen for yourselves. My wife is good¨Cnatured and easygoing. The scenario you described could never happen on her watch.¡± Ashton deliberately emphasized hisst sentence, his tone so harsh and sharp it was unnerving to hear. He made it obvious that the issue with those two families had nothing to do with Briar, and they should talk to him if they had a problem. If they could talk to Ashton directly, perhaps their higher¨Cups wouldn¡¯t have to go to such roundabout lengths to have them y the sympathy card with Briar. Even though Ashton was the head of the Wade family, the most powerful of Shoneport¡¯s four great families, he was a total loose cannon. Even more rming was that he retaliated against everyone who had ever offended him. Sometimes, one act of revenge wasn¡¯t enough. Ashton would utterly humiliate his opponents, crushing them repeatedly, just because he felt like it. To make matters worse, no one in the Wade family could control him. Even when Griffin himself intervened, Ashton would sometimes refuse to listen. The higher¨Cups wanted to avoid a confrontation with Ashton, fearing that he¡¯d pull one of his stunts-ughing with them one second and flipping the dinner table the next. Seeing that Ashton intended to protect her, Briar decided not to protest. She shrugged with an innocent look. ¡°I¡¯ll do as Ashton says.¡± Marvin and Joshua were speechless. They didn¡¯t know what to say. Realizing he could not get through to Ashton and Briar, Mr. Goodwin turned to Griffin, who was standing behind Briar. ¡°Griffin¡­¡± ¡°Oh! My head is suddenly hurting. Did I not take my blood pressure medication today?¡± Griffin clutched his head and called out, ¡°Butler? Butler! Did you forget to give me my blood pressure medication today?¡± The butler, waiting just outside the courtyard, was startled for a moment when he heard Griffin. He then quickly put on an anxious expression and hurried over. ¡°Oh, Mr. Wade, how could I have forgotten. You really haven¡¯t taken your blood pressure medication today!¡± As he spoke, he ran to Griffin¡¯s side and took his arm. ¡°Let me help you take your medicine. We can¡¯t be careless about this.¡± 12:49 Mon, Sep 29 70 10 vouchers ¡°Ouch, my head is killing me! How could you forget something so important?¡± Just like that, Griffin and his butler left, perfectly ying their parts. But their acting was hardly acting at all. Anyone could see at a nce how fake and contrived their conversation was. Even Marvin and Joshua were so furious that they almost stomped their feet. ¡®Who was it that said during a previous chess game that he was still the one to call the shots in the Wade family? And what happened? When it was his turn to step up and take charge, he faked a headache. ¡®At that brisk pace, did he look like someone who had forgotten his blood pressure medication?¡® But the man was already gone. Marvin and Joshua couldn¡¯t do a thing. Besides, they could not exactly stop him from taking his blood pressure medication. After all, what if his headache was actually true? Sensing the awkwardness between Marvin and Joshua, Ashton offered them an out. ¡°Mr. Goodwin, Mr. Swift, please continue. We¡¯re listening!¡± AD Comment Send gift Original content can be found at Find?Novel No Ads Forsaken 300 10 vouchers Follow current nov?ls on F¦Énd£Îovel However, it would have been better not to offer them that way out. This gesture left Marvin and Joshua in a bind, unsure whether to ept it or not. Finally, Joshua spoke first. ¡°Ashton, you know us. Our only ability now is to keep our families from falling apart. ¡®So, as long as it doesn¡¯t go against your principles, any small piece of information you can reveal would be helpful. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Marvin chimed in. ¡°We didn¡¯te here willingly, but we had to. Considering our old age and how we¡¯ve always treated you two well, can¡¯t you do us this favor?¡± The two men were on the verge of tears, looking at Ashton and Briar with a mix of agitation and helplessness. ¡°Mr. Goodwin, Mr. Swift, are you trying to have a pity contest with me by making yourselves sound so miserable?¡± At that moment, Briar knew she couldn¡¯t let Ashton continue to shield her. She pulled him to the side, sat him down, and handed him a cup of coffee, letting him sit back and watch the show. Marvin chuckled awkwardly. ¡°Briar, how can you say that? Are we those kinds of people?¡± There was no one more pitiful in that ce than Briar. No one had a more terrible life than hers. Since she was a child, her father never loved her, and her mother died young. Not to mention, she was constantly being hunted. In the end, she discovered that the source of her suffering was her father, her maternal grandfather, and the fanatical researchers whose experiments killed her mother. Briar remained silent, quietly watching Marvin and Joshua until her gaze made them feel guilty again. ¡°Mr. Goodwin, Mr. Swift, I won¡¯t make things difficult for you.¡± After a moment, Briar spoke as if in a sudden fit of generosity. ¡°I can give you the answers you want in a couple of days.¡± Marvin and Joshua exchanged a nce, their brows twitching. Marvin asked tentatively, ¡°Briar, what do you mean by¡­ in a couple of days?¡± An answer in two days made him wonder, ¡®Will the Garza family even be left alive? Don¡¯t tell me they¡¯ll all be dead in two days! Instantly, Marvin and Joshua grew tense as they watched Briar. They were afraid her next sentence would seal their family¡¯s fate. Fortunately, Briar spoke up. ¡°Now that they¡¯re captured, I have to interrogate them first. What¡¯s the point if I can¡¯t get any information out of them?¡± Marvin and Joshua both breathed a sigh of relief. He smiled at Briar and said, ¡°That¡¯s good. You can interrogate them as you wish. Just ensure they¡¯re still alive after those two days.¡± After all, their superior only told them to get the people from Briar and Ashton, and they had to be alive. As 2200 for the secrets held by those two families, it wasn¡¯t their ce to know. This way, they could consider their missionplete. Briar gave a brilliant smile. ¡°Alright. Mr. Goodwin, Mr. Swift, you can send someone to pick them up days. I guarantee they will all be alive and in one piece.¡± in two Marvin and Joshua were stunned by the surprise. However, they didn¡¯t catch the hidden meaning in Briar¡¯s words. What does it mean to be alive? As long as they were still breathing, they were still considered alive. As for not missing any arms or legs? Broken arms and legs wouldn¡¯t mean that Briar had gone back on her word. Briar could guarantee that when she handed them over, they would still be breathing, with their arms and legs properly attached. What happened to them after they were in the other party¡¯s hands had nothing to do with her. After all, she bore no responsibility for the goods once they were sold. As she watched Marvin and Joshua walk away, Ashton brought his cup to Briar¡¯s lips with a smile. ¡°Honey, that was a wicked smile. Mr. Goodwin and Mr. Swift might catch on soon.¡± Briar finished the tea Ashton held for her and said casually, ¡°So what if they realized? What can they do? It¡¯s not like they cane back to negotiate with me again.¡± Even if they wanted to negotiate again, they would have to find her. Ashton took the cup, leaned down, and stole several kisses from Briar¡¯s tea¨Cmoistened lips. ¡°My wife is always right.¡± Briar instinctively tried to pull away, pushing at him in flustered protest, ¡°Shush! Someone will see us.¡± ¡°So what if someone sees us? I¡¯m kissing my wife. It¡¯s not illegal, you know?¡± Ashton not only refused to let her go but deliberately pulled Briar onto hisp. He held her chin and kissed her again and again, hard and deep. He kissed Briar until she had no fight left in her. Finally, as if surrendering, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. Just as they were locked in a passionate kiss in the courtyard, footsteps approached, followed by Griffin¡¯s loud, deliberate cough. Briar reacted quickly, pushing Ashton away and jumping from hisp. ¡°Mr. Wade,e sit here. Let me check your pulse.¡± Meanwhile, Ashton nearly fell off the stone bench. Once he steadied himself, he was met with Griffin¡¯s smug, teasing gaze. Ashton was at a loss for words. Griffin would tease Ashton, but he wouldn¡¯t embarrass the shy Briar. Heplied, sitting down, and extending his hand as he made small talk with her. ¡°Briar, did Mr. Goodwin and Mr. Swift give you a hard time earlier?¡± Briar shook her head. ¡°No, they were very polite to me.¡± Griffin nodded. ¡°Good, as long as they didn¡¯t cause you any trouble.¡± ±ØÁãð^ Seeing the blush fade from Briar¡¯s face, Griffin turned to a more serious topic. ¡°Do whatever you want without worrying about the Wade family. Our family¡¯s position today is not something just anyone can shake¡± Briar looked up, meeting his bright and benevolent eyes. ¡°Mr. Wade¡­ As if guessing what she was about to say, Grillin waved his hand. ¡°There¡¯s no need for formalities. We¡¯re family now. Your concerns are our concerns. Don¡¯t feel burdened.¡± Briar was deeply touched. Although she would never risk Griffin and his entire family, his support still warmed her heart. ¡°Alright.¡± Ashton chimed in, ¡°Grandpa, I recorded what you just said. If anyonees to youiningter, don¡¯t go back on your word.¡± Griffin¡¯s brow twitched. ¡°You brat, what do you mean by that?¡± Griffin had watched Ashton grow up, and he knew that ever since Ashton was a child, he had been mischievous and incredibly shrewd. When others plotted, they already visualized their steps. But Ashton? Before anyone else even took a step, he had already calcted all their possible moves. He was so profoundly calcting that it even scared Griffin. Hearing Ashton¡¯s words just now, Griffin couldn¡¯t help but feel that he was hinting at something. Forsaken 301 Griffin looked at Ashton warily. ¡°Ashton, be honest with me. Is someone from the Wade family involved in this Even though Griffin¡¯s eyesight was failing, his mind and reflexes were still sharp. From Ashton¡¯s behavior alone, he had already suspected that someone from the Wade family might be involved. Ashton didn¡¯t answer directly. He smiled, shook his head, and said, ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re at an age where you shouldn¡¯t trouble yourself with these things. Just stay home, rest, and take care of your health.¡± Seeing that Griffin was about to press the issue, Ashton changed the subject. ¡°Did you forget that you asked me about the wedding banquet? Briar is right here. You should ask her how she wants to n it and where she¡¯d like to have it.¡± Upon hearing that, Griffin pped his thigh. That¡¯s right! If you hadn¡¯t reminded me, I would havepletely forgotten. Briar, this little rascal secretly tricked you into getting a marriage license behind my back, so I never got the chance to give you the present I¡¯ve prepared.¡± With that, Griffin quickly stood up and hurried away. The butler immediately followed with his cane, worried Griffin might stumble and hurt himself. A momentter, Griffin came back holding tworge envelopes. ¡°Come, Briar. I¡¯ve spoiled Ashton rotten. He didn¡¯t even tell me about something as big as getting married. You had no family with you when you registered, and I feel terrible about that. Here, take these.¡± As he spoke, Griffin pressed tworge envelopes into Briar¡¯s hands. Briar held the two thick envelopes, a little stunned. ¡°Mr. Wade, you¡¯re too kind. These are too valuable¡­¡± Briar could guess that the envelopes contained cash, not checks. ¡®How much money would it take to make these tworge envelopes bulge like this?¡± But before Briar could refuse, Ashton took the envelopes for her. ¡°My grandfather gave them to you, so you should ept them.¡± Briar finally smiled and thanked Griffin, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Wade.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it!¡± Griffin beamed, his eyes crinkling as he watched Briar graciously slip the tworge envelopes into her pocket. The situation in the courtyard was, for a moment, enviably warm and pleasant. ¡°Well, well! If it isn¡¯t the jinx from the Jennings family.¡± Suddenly, a sharp, piercing voice rang from outside the courtyard, followed by a man and two women walking in. They were none other than the second branch of the Wade family: Justin, his sharp¨Ctongued wife Henriette, and their stupid,me daughter, Emily. They swaggered into the courtyard, pushing the butler aside, ¡°Dad, you¡¯re looking quite rosy today!¡± Justin said with a smile as he approached Griffin. He acted as if he hadn¡¯t heard the harsh words Henriette had just spoken. Following her parents into the courtyard, Emily politely greeted Griffin and Ashton but pointedly ignored Briar, who was also sitting there. With her parents to back her up, she wasn¡¯t afraid of Briar causing her any 8:39 Tue, Sep 30 trouble. a This text is hosted at F?nd-Novel ¡®So what if Ashton was protecting her? This is my grandpa¡¯s mansion, and an outsider like her must show respect to the Griffin family. Confident that Briar wouldn¡¯t dare cause a scene in front of Griffin, Emily lifted her chin, practically looking down at Briar in a tant disy of provocation. Briar remained seated,pletely unfazed by Emily¡¯s provocation. She slowly drew her hand from her pocket, and a hint of a smile appeared. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve killed anyone. I might be a little rusty.¡± Briar pulled a gun from her pocket. It was small and exquisite, looked perfectly natural in her grasp, and was clearly custom¨Cmade. Ashton¡¯s handsome, aloof face was chillingly cold as he said. ¡°You¡¯ll get the hang of it after you kill a few more people.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Briar turned gracefully toward Emily, who was leaning on a cane and supported by. With her eyes slightly narrowed and her voice calm and steady, she said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll use you for practice.¡± As she spoke, she swiftly raised the gun in her hand and pointed it directly at Emily¡¯s forehead. ¡°How dare you? Stop it!¡± Henriette was both furious and terrified. No matter how mean and vicious she usually was, her conflicts were just petty squabbles among women. For wealthy socialites like them, even when they were at odds with someone, their conflicts were usually limited to verbal attacks. Physical altercations were rare. Besides, what kind of socialite would pull out a gun over a simple disagreement like Briar? Emily was so frightened that she copsed to the floor. Her voice trembled as she asked, ¡°Briar, do you dare to kill me?¡± Justin¡¯s face turned pale. He looked over at Griffin, who calmly looked down and sipped his tea as if he werepletely oblivious to the chaotic scene. He knew Griffin was deliberately staying out of it. Helpless, Justin could only turn to Ashton. ¡°Ashton, are you just going to let an outsider threaten your sister¡¯s life?¡± Ashton scoffed, ¡°The ¡®outsider¡® you speak of is my wife. She¡¯s the one in charge, the one even I listen to. Who do you think you are?¡± Their reactions were exactly as Briar expected. Her gaze fell upon the trembling Emily on the floor. ¡°I¡¯ve recently been learning to control my temper. How about I let you choose your own way to die?¡± Emily was so terrified by the gun¡¯s dark muzzle, its safety disengaged, and Briar¡¯s light words left her almost speechless. ¡°You can¡¯t kill me. I¡¯m from the Wade family. If you kill me, Ashton won¡¯t let you¡­¡± Tired of Emily¡¯s nonsense, Briar pulled the trigger and fired a shot right at her forehead. With a ¡°bang,¡± a sharp scream from Emily tore through the air, as if ripping a bloody wound in the silence. Justin and Henriette lunged toward Emily at the same time. ¡°Emily!¡± 8:39 Tue, Sep ¡°Oh no!¡± El 55 vouchers However, the bloody scene they expected didn¡¯t happen. By the time the two realized something was wrong, they couldn¡¯t stop their momentum and knocked Emily to the ground. Emily let out another sharp scream. ¡°Ah, my foot!¡± A handnded on Briar¡¯s shoulder. Ashton leaned in with a smile on his face. His eyes were filled with sparkling light as he took the gun from her hand and toyed with it. ¡°Briar, nice gun.¡± Briar looked up at Ashton, shing an even brighter smile as she tilted her chin up. ¡°Do you like it? It¡¯s yours if you want.¡± Ashton nodded and kissed Briar¡¯s cheek. ¡°Okay, thanks, Honey!¡± The couple showed their affection as if no one else was around,pletely ignoring the three people yelling in pain on the floor. Meanwhile, Griffin watched from the sidelines, and the corner of his mouth twitched uncontrobly. Forsaken 302 : EL 55 vouchers The family of three was irritated by the arrogant Ashton and Briar right after they got back to their feet. Being held by her parents, Emily had a pale face and shot Briar a venomous look. Recalling Briar¡¯s muzzle against her head, she didn¡¯t dare to lose her temper though she was furious deep down. She expressed her displeasure with a re towards Briar. Briar gave a warning without looking at Emily. ¡°I would keep my head down if I were you. It would help spare you from a bullet in the head at least.¡± Emily was dumbfounded. She couldn¡¯t help but look at Griffin, who was busy studying his coffee, the ground, and the sky, and refused to give her and her family a nce. ¡°Grandpa, she is threatening us. Shouldn¡¯t you do something?¡± she shouted. Griffin slowly turned his head, as if just waking up from his daydream. ¡°Pardon? Emily, what did you say? Why are you so filthy? Go get changed!¡± He impatiently waved Emily and her parents away before she answered. Briar whispered to Ashton, ¡°Your grandpa is good at ying dumb.¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°Quite so. It is his old trick to govern arge family¡­¡± Hearing this, Briar was speechless. Griffin red at Ashton and shouted, ¡°You brat! Watch your tone. Don¡¯t you know why I y dumb?¡± Ashton walked over with a smiling face and pacified Griffin by saying, ¡°Of course. For our good.¡± Pleased, Griffin beckoned Briar over and said, ¡°Briar,e here and take a seat.¡± Briar did what was asked. ¡°Briar, I know that your investigation is dangerous. From today on, none of the Wade family will be in your way. You have my word.¡± Griffin patted his chest to assure Briar. Smiling, Briar nodded. ¡°Thank you, Griffin.¡± Honestly, she was quite touched by Griffin¡¯s support. Few rich and powerful families would risk their future like Griffin did. Briar and Ashton would have been disowned by their family if Griffin weren¡¯t the family head. Briar was going against the former leader of the whole country. Because of this confrontation, assassination attempts on Briar might happen anytime and anywhere. She herself didn¡¯t know when death woulde. Griffin was clear about the risk, but he still supported Ashton and Briar. Part of the reason for his support was Briar¡¯s forgiveness for some stupid members of the Wade family¡­. He wished Briar to show mercy to those fools when the time came. Deep down, he had a soft spot for his offspring anyway. To let those fools get punished but stay alive was his unspoken plea. Briar got the hint, and that was the tacit understanding between her and Griffin. Griffin helped the ingrates anyway. ¡°So, what¡¯s your n now?¡± Griffin asked under his breath after his eyes swept around the yard. Ashton shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know, Grandpa. I am at her mercy. Griffin felt speechless. He felt that Ashton was showing off. Briar said, ¡°Griffin, we will be away in theing days because we are targeted.¡± ¡°Take good care of yourselves. Some people like to y dirty,¡± As an old veteran, Griffin reminded Briar with a straight face. Briar smiled. ¡°Rx, Griffin. Many people want to kill Ashton and me, but none of them seed¡± She sounded confident. Ashton smiled and said nothing. ¡°To y dirty? I can do that too. I wish they were strong enough to withstand our revenge,¡® he thought. It was already past four in the afternoon when Briar and Ashton left Griffin. Griffin invited the Wade couple to stay for dinner, but Ashton said no. Ashton was fearless and not brainless. Griffin¡¯s house was on the hillside, so the Wade couple would drive past a deserted road to their one. The Wade couple would have to drive at night if they stayed for dinner. Night was the best helper to killers, and it was unnecessary for the Wade couple to take the risk. Briar shared the same thought with Ashton. If they had a gunfight against the killers on the road, Thiago. would be alerted for sure. In the car, Briar called Ian and asked, ¡°Did you get anything from the interrogation?¡± On the other end of the line,n seemed to be eating something because his voice was muttled. ¡°Yeah, Briar They¡¯ve spilled everything.¡± This answer didn¡¯t surprise Briar or Ashton because they had foreseen it. Briar changed the subject. ¡°Did anything happen today?¡± Ian chuckled. ¡°Wow, Briar, you are amazing. Brandon and I just drove off two groups of people, and you already got the news. I was about to call you.¡± Briarughed. ¡°Come on! Are they worth the trouble? Didn¡¯t you and Brandon have a good time?¡± Ian responded, ¡°We did.¡± 8:39 Tue, Sep 30 : Get full chapters from find?novel Right then, Ashton joined the conversation. ¡°Any captive?¡± Ian¡¯s tone turned serious because of Ashton. ¡°Mr. Wade, those people are mercenaries, international and professional. They don¡¯t risk their lives for a job.¡± In other words, there was no captive. ¡°Mercenaries?¡± Briar raised her eyebrows. ¡°Any acquaintances?¡± Briar asked. Ianughed over the phone. ¡°Briar,e on! Our acquaintances wouldn¡¯t take the job if they knew that their targets were you and me.¡± Briar snapped, ¡°Why? Don¡¯t they want money?¡± Ian clicked his tongue. ¡°Briar, do you know your nickname among your trainees?¡± After one nce at Ashton, Briar asked, ¡°What is it?¡± Forsaken 303 ¡°Demon!¡± Speaking, Ian felt lucky that Briar was far away, or he would get a hard kick from her. Briar was lost for words. Briar was on speaker, so Ashton heard Ian. There was noughter in the car, but Ashton¡¯s lips were curled into a smile conspicuously. ¡°Briar, you asked me, so don¡¯t be mad at me.¡± Because of Briar¡¯s long silence over the phone, Ian became restless. Briar cleared her throat. ¡°Rx. I have a big heart.¡± Ian didn¡¯t think so. He felt that Briar was mad and concealed her emotion with a smiling face. ¡°Briar¡­ well, I got to go.¡± Scared, he hung up the phone. After the call ended, Ashton spoke, ¡°Honey, I feel that you are quite authoritative in DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base.¡± Hearing this, Briar looked around anxiously. Her reaction was neglected by Ashton because all his attention was on the road. ¡°Well, I am the youngest trainer there, so I have my privilege.¡± Ashton didn¡¯t buy the story. DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base aimed to train cruel mercenaries, so a woman couldn¡¯t get respect there just because of her young age. Briar might get some privilege for her young age, but that couldn¡¯t be the reason for the respect and obedience from Ian and the others. ording to thew of the jungle, the strong would defer to nobody but the stronger. With doubt in his mind, Ashton didn¡¯t pursue the topic since Briar wanted to keep her secret. The car was out of Wade Mansion and soon ran on the deserted road. The Wade couple changed their expression at the same time, and Ashton said, ¡°Honey, ready?¡± Nodding, Briar opened her backpack. ¡°Keep your eyes on the road, and leave the rest to me.¡± Like a powder magazine, her backpack contained a handgun, a sniper rifle, some grenades, and so on¡­ Briar assembled an AK¨C47 in no time. She then unbuckled her seatbelt and moved to the back seat. She did not forget to tell Ashton, ¡°Honey, I am a marksman, in fact Ashton nodded, nced at the two ck cars behind his one, and said, ¡°Briar, I think their weapons are not bad. Be careful.¡± Ashton had faith in Briar, but their tails were professional killers. He believed that there were snipers among the tails since the two cars kept a distance of less than five hundred meters from his one. He was afraid that Briar would get hurt even if she was a marksman. ? () E55 youchen Briar gave Ashton a bright smile. In the backseat, she opened the car window and adjusted her muzzle for a perfect angle. ¡°Honey, please slow down to 80 mph.¡± Ashton did as told and kept the car speed steady. The two ck cars quickly followed suit, but it was toote for the tails to defend themselves. The gunshot broke the silence after Briar pulled her trigger. One bullet prated the left tire of a ck car, so the driver lost control of his car. The car ran towards the bushes, and then a loud bang followed. Two bullets pierced the hood of the other car, and bright sparks came into view within seconds. The car was bound to burst into mes within minutes. As a result, the people in the car desperately ran for their lives. ¡°Damn it! They are awesome. They got rid of us with just three bullets.¡± ¡°Go, find cover! They are marksmen¡­¡± Shouts and curses filled the air. Well¨Ctrained, the assassins quickly found cover for their safety. They began to fight back before Briar shot again. The problem was that they were on their feet while Ashton¡¯s car kept moving at 80 mph. In other words, their bullets couldn¡¯t reach their targets at all. Besides, Ashton¡¯s car was explosion¨Cproof and bulletproof. ¡°Damn it!¡± ¡°Ouch! I¡¯m hit!¡± Briar was as good as her word. All her bullets hit her targets, and she had wounded four killers with four bullets. What a marksman! Scared, the killers hid behind the bushes and abandoned their task temporarily. Briar killed an assassin with thest shot before the car was out of the range of her AK¨C47. ¡°Done.¡± Hearing this, Ashton stepped on the gas and said, ¡°Briar, stay there and keep your head down. By the way, give me one grenade.¡± Briar excitedly moved towards the back of Ashton¡¯s seat. ¡°Obstacles ahead?¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°Yeah, a car is in the way.¡± Briar shoved the grenade into Ashton¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Here you are. Honey, go. Blow it up.¡± Ashton became speechless. Latest content published on findnovel 8:39 Tue, Sep 30 96 13 55 vouchers A ck car was parked in the middle of the road. It must be n B of the assassins who had failed not long ago. Pitifully, these merciless people failed to see that the Wade couple were hard nuts. They blocked the road, but the Wade couple could make a way out anyway. Ashton was confident in his driving skills and his good car. A few gunshots came from the car in the middle of the road. The assassins were aghast when they found that Ashton sped up towards them. They tried to make Ashton stop the car with their bullets. What a pity that their bullets failed to prate the windshield of Ashton¡¯s car! Ashton drove towards the killers at a speed of 300 mph. ¡°Run¡­¡± The men in the ck car got hit and then bombed before they could get out of their car. Ashton fearlessly drove towards the ck car in the middle of the road and then threw a grenade out of his car window. Then, a loud bang followed. Briar burst outughing. ¡°The boss behind the scenes must be mad that we are safe and sound while his helpers are wounded or dead.¡± Forsaken 304 Ashton smiled after the sh of a fierce and devilish look. ¡°I believe so Safe and sound, his car drove forward. There seemed to be no ambushes anymore. 5 vouchers ¡°Hmph, they were lucky,¡± Briar sneered. Without scruple, she and Ashton would have killed all the assassins. ¡°Take it easy. They are our messengers, so their bosses will know that this trick can¡¯t work, Ashton said Speaking, he pulled a chocte bar out of his pocket and offered it to the unhappy Briar as hisfort. Briar took the chocte bar, quickly unwrapped it, and broke it in half. She ate one half and held the other to Ashton¡¯s lips. ¡°Open up, darling. Don¡¯t be mad. They tried to irritate us, and we shouldn¡¯t fall into the trap¡± Ashton hummed in agreement, opened his mouth, and bit the chocte. The sweet vor instantly filled his mouth and his heart. ¡°Now, it¡¯s our turn.¡± Briar crunched on her chocte, pulled out her phone, and quickly tapped on the phone screen. Instantly, Ashton¡¯s temple throbbed. ¡°Honey, what are you doing? Don¡¯t act alone. We are husband and wife So¡­¡± Briarughed after her fingers paused on her phone screen. ¡°Ashton, you sound like a whiny wife who will soon be abandoned.¡± A whiny wife? To be abandoned? Ashton¡¯s face darkened. Suppressing his anger, Ashtonined, ¡°Babe. we just got married¡­¡± Briar zipped her lips as her response. Helpless, Ashton continued the old topic. ¡°Do you n to teach them a lesson?¡± ¡°A lesson? It¡¯s revenge,¡± Briar corrected. ¡°Okay,¡± Ashton agreed. ¡°So, what is your n? We were ambushed on the road, and this may happen again.¡± ¡°Tit for tat. We shouldn¡¯t wait for our doom,¡± Briar answered with a smile. Ashton nodded. It wasn¡¯t his style to wait for his doom. ¡°When?¡± ¡°No time to lose. What do you think of a surprise attack tonight?¡± It was a question, but Ashton was clear that he would have a lonely night if his answer was negative. Ashton nodded cooperatively. ¡°Great. A surprise tonight. Just the two of us?¡± Briar thought for a moment. ¡°Yes. Arge group of people will draw attention, and our enemies don¡¯t expect us to take the risk alone.¡± ?? (96 55 vouchers Ashton showed no objections. In fact, he was a little excited. This would be his first operation with his dear wife. How significant! ¡°Can asked. you find out where they are? If they are in the military region, I will contact Reece and Hamish¡­¡± Ashto ¡°You don¡¯t have to,¡± Briar interrupted Ashton and showed him the two red dots on her phone screen. ¡°They aren¡¯t in the military region but Summit One.¡± Summit One was the best neighbourhood in Shoneport, and the houses there were costly. Its residents were powerful. Even a billionaire couldn¡¯t get a house there if he didn¡¯t have enough influence. Therefore, Summit One was the safest neighborhood in Shoneport. Its security guards were veterans who had been good soldiers, and nobody had seeded in breaking into it. Ashton raised his eyebrows. ¡°Summit One? What a challenge!¡± Briar noticed Ashton¡¯s knitted eyebrows and teased, ¡°Well, are you afraid, Mr. Wade? Come on! Can¡¯t you break into Summit One?¡± ¡°Babe, you want to make me aughingstock, don¡¯t you?¡± Ashton felt helpless. Only 18 years, his wife naive and reckless. Briar smiled sheepishly. ¡°Is that obvious?¡± Ashton collected his thoughts. When he waited at a stoplight, he helped Briar move to the passenger seat. calmly looked at her, and asked, ¡°You tell me.¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll drop the act.¡± Briar stuck out her tongue. ¡°Yes, I do want to see you in trouble because you always look confident.¡± The green light was on, so Ashton drove on. He held Briar¡¯s hand, pulled it to his lips, and kissed it. ¡°I am sorry that you will be disappointed again. It is a piece of cake for me to get into Summit One.¡± Briar giggled at the tingling sensation from her fingers. ¡°Don¡¯t. Don¡¯t bite. It tickles.¡± ¡°To make me aughingstock?¡± Ashton stuffed two of Briar¡¯s fingers into his mouth and licked them with his tongue. Instantly, Briar groaned with pleasure. ¡°No, I won¡¯t¡­ Honey, let go.¡± Briar was quickly softened by the caress. Ashton was a good husband. After he got married to Briar, he made good use of every chance to familiarize himself with her body and quickly made a list of her sensitive spots. Because he kissed and licked her index finger and middle one, her face now became scarlet red. In sex, Briar was never a match for Ashton, who could bring her joys of heaven with only one tongue. She once had doubts about the written description of sexual pleasure, but the happiness from herter 8:39 Tue, Sep 30 personal experience was beyond words. Briar¡¯s fingers didn¡¯t regain their freedom till Ashton stopped the car in his garage. With her wet fingers, Briar nestled in the passenger seat breathlessly. ¡°Ashton, you¡­ It is so embarrassing for me to get out of the car now.¡± Ashton straightened his clothes and became the noble and decent Mr. Wade in an instant. Fresh chapters posted on f?ndnovel He tilted his head, looked at Briar, whose lips were red and slightly parted, and nodded. You do look a bit tempting. Let¡¯s stay here till you collect yourself, huh?¡± Forsaken 305 ¡®Slow down? My ass! Who knew what uncontroble things might happen if they stayed in the car any longer? With Ashton¡¯s current lecherous demeanor, Briar didn¡¯t dare let her guard down. 55 vouchers: They were right at her doorstep. If she let herself be bewitched by Ashton¡¯s good looks and did something shameful, she would be too mortified to ever face anyone again. Briar red at a mischievously smiling Ashton, eagerly opened the car door, and jumped out. Her legs felt like jelly, causing her to stagger and nearly fall. Briar¡¯s face was nk. But inwardly, she was cursing Ashton from head to toe. Seeing the car pull in, Brandon and Ian rushed out to greet them. When they witnessed the scene, they were both startled. ¡°Be careful, Mrs. Wade!¡± ¡°Briar, be careful!¡± They both moved to help her at the same time, but Ashton was quicker. Ashton, who had been casually getting out of the car, saw Briar stumble and was at her side in an instant. Perhaps out of consideration that Briar might be embarrassed in front of others, he didn¡¯t scoop her up directly but simply held her steady in his arms. ¡°Honey, are you okay?¡± Ashton¡¯s voice was filled with concern, and he looked every bit the doting husband. If he weren¡¯t the very culprit behind her weak legs, Briar might have actually been touched by his concern. But now¡­ Briar kept a nk face and said nothing. Ashton didn¡¯t let go, still holding her close as they walked into the house. While walking, he exined to the two worried faces, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, maybe just exhaustion. On our way we were attacked by two waves of assassins¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± Brandon andn were both shocked. ¡®Attacked by assassins? Two groups? back, ¡°Damn it! We haven¡¯t even gone after them yet, and they¡¯re already making the first move?¡±n flew into a rage. ¡°Briar, are you okay? Are you hurt? Those bastards. I¡¯m gathering my men to go after them right now.¡± Briar turned to the furiousn. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Those assassins weren¡¯t very capable. We wiped them out without much effort.¡± Ian calmed down a little at hearing she wasn¡¯t hurt. ¡°Good. But we can¡¯t just let this slide, right?¡± Brandon also looked furious. ¡°Mr. Wade, we still have dozens of mercenaries under Connor that haven¡¯t been dispatched. Should I summon them back?¡± Ashton escorted Briar to the living room sofa, sat her down, and even stuffed some snacks into her hand. He said, ¡°No need. You don¡¯t have to make a move. We¡¯ll handle it ourselves.¡± Brandon was speechless. Ian was confused. Neither of them understood what Ashton meant by ¡°we¡¯ll handle it ourselves.¡± Butn, noticing the calm Briar munching on snacks, reacted faster. ¡°Mr. Wade, you mean the two of you will take care of it? Just you two?¡± He wasn¡¯t trying to undermine them. Briar and Ashton might be strong, but the enemy had numbers on their side. Those bastards wouldn¡¯t y fair. They¡¯d use every dirty trick in the book. Brandon caught on too. ¡°Mr. Wade, this is too dangerous! They must be on high alert now. If it¡¯s just the ro of you, won¡¯t you risk being¡­¡± The words ¡°killed¡± lingered on his lips, but he swallowed them back down. He soon found his concern ridiculous. These two were among the very best of the best. If even they might get taken out, then what business did the rest of them have bragging? ¡°Rx. I¡¯ll protect Mr. Wade.¡± Briar said lightly, crunching on chips. Ian snuck a nce at Ashton, worried he might be offended. Then he edged closer to Briar and whispered ¡°Briar, aren¡¯t you worried this makes your husband lose face?¡± The mighty Ashton, needing his wife to protect him. If word got out, people wouldugh themselves silly. It would make him sound like he was living off his woman. To his surprise, Ashton actually looked pleased, even chiming in with a smile, ¡°My wife treats me the best.¡± Brandon was at a loss for words. He was unsettled. It was one thing for Briar to joke like that, but for Ashton to go along, it really did give off a ¡®proud to live off his wife¡± vibe. At that moment, a sharp screech of brakes sounded from outside the courtyard. Everyone turned toward the gate. Soon, Frank hurried in, clutching a document in his hand. He walked in hurriedly, holding a document. When he saw Ashton, his tense expression softened slightly. He first greeted them respectfully, ¡°Ashton, Briar.¡± Ashton nced at Frank. ¡°What¡¯s the rush? What happened?¡± Frank quickly handed over the document. ¡°Ashton, take a look at this¡­¡± Ashton skimmed through it, brows lifting slightly. ¡°This? And you¡¯re this upset over it?¡± This update is avable on find?novel Frank was stunned. ¡°Ashton¡­ you don¡¯t think this is enough to be angry about?¡± The others, puzzled by his odd reaction, leaned in. Briar, Brandon, and Jan all gathered around to peek at the file. Ashton casually handed the document to Briar. ¡°Honey, take a look.¡± Briar took it and read it with Ian and Brandon. Then, she also raised an eyebrow, her reaction as nonchnt as Ashton¡¯s. ¡°This is it?¡± However, Ian and Brandon had a strong reaction. Ian stammered, ¡°Mr. Wade, you¡­ It says here that you¡¯re not¡­ not part of the Wade family?¡± Brandon was also a little shaken. ¡°Mr. Wade, this DNA test report is fake, right?¡± ¡°No! It¡¯s real!¡± Frank grew agitated. ¡°It¡¯s because it¡¯s real that I¡¯m so anxious! Ashton, do you understand how serious this is?¡± Briar handed the file back, settled on the sofa, arms folded, and went back to her snacks. ¡°How serious can it be?¡± Ashton also looked unconcerned. ¡°Exactly, how serious can it be?¡± Frank said, ¡°Ashton, you¡¯re smart. You must have realized that this test report will allow the first and second branches of the family to team up with other shareholders and force you out of your position as head of the Wade family! Isn¡¯t that¡­ serious enough?¡± But Ashton still looked unfazed. ¡°Kick me out as head of the family? They¡¯d better actually try Hearing this, Frank was dumbfounded. ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡± Brandon, who had been worried a moment ago, suddenly calmed down upon hearing that. Ian blinked too. ¡°Mr. Wade, don¡¯t tell me you already knew? Was this within your expectations?¡± Ashton, the heir to the Wade family, the most prominent of Shoneport¡¯s four great families, was not actually a member of the Wade family. Once this news got out, it would surely stir up countless schemers lurking in the shadows. Forsaken 306 Frank froze for a moment atn¡¯s question, then suddenly seemed to realize something. He quickly asked, ¡°Ashton, could it be that this whole thing was deliberately exposed by those people?¡± Although Frank had not seen much of Briar recently, he knew a great deal about her, mostly from what he had heard from Connor. He knew Briar was not only an unfathomably powerful figure but also had a tragically pitiful backstory. Just hearing about it had made him furious. How could a man as protective as Ashton possibly stand idly by? Of course, the Wade family¡¯s resources in Shoneport were ced unconditionally at Briar¡¯s disposal. But there might be traitors within the Wade family. Those parasites wouldn¡¯t just sit by and watch Ashton use the Wade family¡¯s resources, only for the final result to be the crushing of other Wade family members. Exposing Ashton as not being a blood member of the Wade family was a way to muddy the waters and give those people a chance to slip away unnoticed. What a clever scheme. These two matters seemedpletely unrted, but once they seeded in their disruption, Ashton we lose his power in the Wade family. Even if Briar tracked down the masterminds of theb incident, she wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything to them. It was a vicious scheme. Seeing that Frank had figured out the key point, Ashton just smiled and patted his shoulder. ¡°Looks like our little Frank has grown up.¡± Frank was speechless. He was 22 years old. How was he still little? Still, he frowned and asked, ¡°Ashton, you¡¯re just going to let them take shots at the Wade family like this? You¡¯re not angry?¡± The smile in Ashton¡¯s eyes faded, his gaze turning deep as he looked out toward the courtyard. ¡°Why should I be angry? If anything, what they¡¯ve done only helped me make my decision.¡± ¡®What decision?¡® Frank looked curious. But seeing Ashton clearly didn¡¯t want to say more, he wisely kept quiet. Frank turned to Briar, who was calmly crunching on chips on the sofa. He leaned in closer. Ashton is getting bullied. You really have nothing to say?¡± Briar offered him the half¨Ceaten box of chips. Seeing that he didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and just grabbed a handful, she grinned. ¡°What should I say? Maybe wish them a smooth journey?¡± Brandon, who knew Ashton had everything under control, had just raised his cup for a sip. When he heard what Briar said, he spat out his coffee. Ian, quick on his feet, dodged in time. ¡°Damn it, Brandon! Was that really necessary?¡± 2200 Brandon wiped his mouth with a tissue and waved apologetically at fan. ¡°Sorry, I was so happy I conada¡¯s help it He wasn¡¯t exaggerating. Briar¡¯s words were exactly what he had been thinking, Some of the Wade family members had simply lived toofortably for too long, never having sufferer real hardship, which made them think managing a giant like the Wade Group would be easy. So they schemed and plotted endlessly to take Ashton down and take his ce. But from the very first day he took over the Wade Group, Ashton had expected that the family wouldn¡¯t give up so easily. That was why he spent over half a year kicking every Wade family member out of thepany¡¯s senior management positions. Except for Jalen, all other Wade family members were relegated to mid¨Clevel management roles. What they didn¡¯t know was that the majority of thepany¡¯s business was nowpletely in Ashton¡¯s hands, with two¨Cthirds of its contractsing from his private ventures. If Ashton ever stepped down as CEO, many of those projects would either be suspended or outright terminated. At that point, the Wade Group would face massive penalty fees for breach of contract, causing a cash flow crisis. Whether thepany could even continue to operate would depend entirely on Ashton¡¯s mood This was Ashton, ruthless and cruel, even to the point of sabotaging himself. Ian was also curious. ¡°Mr. Wade, can you give me a hint? How are you nning to deal with those rats? Ashton nced at Ian with amusement. ¡°What? Aren¡¯t the people from theb incident enough for you to deal with? You want to get involved in the Wade family¡¯s business too?¡± Ashton¡¯s ambiguous smile maden squirm. He then caught a secret re from Briar, making him worry that his good intentions would bepletely unappreciated. He quickly exined, ¡°No, Mr. Wade. Don¡¯t get me wrong. I¡¯m not interested in your family¡¯s internal affairs. I just want to help Briar get some payback.¡± Ashton knewn didn¡¯t have the guts to interfere in the Wade family¡¯s business. His question had just been a gentle warning. ¡°The Wade family¡¯s matter¡­ You and the people behind you had better stay out of them. Otherwise, don¡¯t me me if you get bitten.¡± That was already a pretty heavy warning. But anyone who understood the situation should get the message loud and clear. A chill ran down Ian¡¯s spine, and a fierce glint shed in his eyes. ¡°Mr. Wade, does this mean there¡¯s a traitor among our people?¡± Ashton neither confirmed nor denied, simply changing the subject. ¡°Brandon, it¡¯s gettingte. Have someone prepare dinner.¡± Brandon stood up. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll have dinner sent over right away.¡± a Jan nced down at his watch. It wasn¡¯t even five o¡¯clock yet, but he knew he wouldn¡¯t get the answers he wanted from Ashton. So he sidled back over to Briar and asked quietly, ¡°Briar, if we really do have a traitor among us, what do we do?¡± Briar chuckled, ¡°Do what we should do, of course. You need me to teach you that?¡± ¡°No, but aren¡¯t you worried at all?¡±n¡¯s heart was itching with impatience. Briar just shrugged. ¡°What¡¯s the rush? We¡¯re not the ones who should be nervous. Once tonight is over, you can check everyst one of them if you want.¡± Jan¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Briar¡­ you¡¯re not seriously nning to post tonight¡¯s assassination op in our internal group chat, are you?¡± ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find(?)ovel He thought, ¡®Wow, this is getting out of hand!¡± Briar shed a mysterious smile. ¡°It¡¯s fun, isn¡¯t it?¡± Ian fumed inwardly. ¡®Fun? My ass!¡® If the traitor Ashton mentioned really turned out to be one of the eight instructors from DDC Vanguar Mercenary Special Operations Base, it wouldn¡¯t just shock them. It might lead to the entire base being pur in blood. And Briar wasn¡¯t afraid of Louieing after her over this. Purging traitors from the DDC Vanguard was one of the duties of the three main instructors anyway. Jan silently prayed for the traitor. Of all the people they could have betrayed, they had to betray Briar and Ashton. It was a pure death wish, and they even dug their own grave to bury themselves. When tonight was over, he just hoped that the traitor could at least lie in peace. Briar had been so busy these past few days tracking down the people behind theboratory incident that she¡¯d been barely eating. Ashton had noticed. So he had Brandon prepare avish dinner in advance, personally supervising to make sure Briar ate. Only after she¡¯d finished her food did he finally let her go. Slumped in her chair, Briar rubbed her full stomach. ¡°I¡¯m stuffed. What if I can¡¯t runter?¡± Ashton replied, ¡°What are you worried about? I¡¯ll carry you.¡± Forsaken 307 : Briar rolled her eyes at Ashton. ¡°Am I supposed to thank you?¡± Ashton put on a gentle, loving expression. ¡°You¡¯re wee. It¡¯s my duty.¡± 96 Est 55 youchers Briar couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. She snatched a grape from the table and tossed it at Ashton. ¡°Have some shame, Ashton.¡± Ashton deftly caught the grape, peeled it, and held it to Briar¡¯s lips. ¡°Don¡¯t be mad. Come on, open up. Exasperated by Ashton¡¯s roguish teasing, Briar¡¯s anger dissipated. She opened her mouth, took the grape, and ate it. The others at the table exchanged nces, then quietly stood up and left. They were already full and had no appetite for the couple¡¯s public disy of affection. ***** By 7:00 pm, it was already dark outside. Dressed head to toe in ck, with a cap pulled low, Briar came down the stairs with a cold,manding presence that instantly caught the attention of those waiting below. Frank had insisted on staying after learning that Briar and Ashton had big business to handle tonight. His eyes lit up when he saw Briar¡¯s unusual attire. Right in front of Ashton, he whistled at her and eximed ¡°Wow! Briar, you look so damn cool!¡± Although Frank was a skilled fighter, he had the features of a pretty boy. No matter how hard he tried to look fierce, he couldn¡¯t muster a sinister and intimidating aura. Of course, Frank knew this wasn¡¯t by ident. Connor had deliberately raised him to keep that innocent temperament. But still, he was jealous. He was envious of Briar. One look was all it took to know she was not someone to be trifled with. Ashton shot Frank a look, and Frank immediately quieted down. Ashton picked up the car keys, got up from the sofa, and walked toward the main entrance with Briar. At the door, Ashton paused, then turned to Frank. ¡°If you can promise to behave and not wander off, I¡¯ll give you three minutes.¡± Frank¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. After a moment, he pointed to himself and asked, ¡°Ashton, are you saying you¡¯re actually taking me along, the dead weight and all?¡± ¡°At least you¡¯re self¨Caware.¡± Ashton smiled as he nced at his watch. ¡°One minute left.¡± Checktest chapters at Find[?]ovel Frank sprang to his feet and rushed to Brandon. ¡°Brandon, quick! Give me a gun and a box of those gourd bombs¡­¡± Brandonughed and shook his head. He wanted to say that with Ashton and Briar around, Frank likely wouldn¡¯t get a chance to make a move, but he still did as asked and got him the equipment. As he helped Frank load the gear into the car, he couldn¡¯t help but add, ¡°Stay safe, and don¡¯t wander off Frank nimbly climbed into the back seat and gave Brandon an ¡°OK¡± sign. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t wander off After all, he was with Ashton this time, not Connor. With Connor, he¡¯d be caught if he took even one step our of line. Ashton only had eyes for Briar. If there were any danger, he would protect her first. Once the door was shut, Ashton drove off with an impassive Briar and an ecstatic Frank. ** Meanwhile, at Summit One. Building One was the crown jewel of the Summit Vis. Residents here were of the highest status, shrouded in secrecy. All anyone knew was that it housed a figure no one dared offend. Many residents had no idea of this mysterious person¡¯s true identity. That was just how people were. The more mysterious and unknown someone was, the more others would try to get close and find out more. Because of this, security at Building One was no joke. Not just the vi¡¯s own security system, but also the private guards of the ¡°important figure,¡± who patrolled daily. ¡°The internal security for Building One switches posts every thirty minutes, with a one¨Cminute handover gap They also have passcode verification during the swap. Getting close with normal methods is impossible¡± Ashton parked the car in a small wooded area about a mile away. Briar looked down, summarizing the security situation for Summit One while typing on a miniatureputer. Sitting in the back seat, Frank grew restless and asked anxiously, ¡°Ashton, does that mean we can¡¯t sneak in! Did we make this trip for nothing?¡± Ashton stayed calm, giving Frank a reassuring look. ¡°What¡¯s the rush? If such a small obstacle can scare you off, you¡¯ve got no business talking about following Connor to the border someday.¡± Frank scratched his head, embarrassed. ¡°So what do we do? There¡¯s only a one¨Cminute gap during the handover. Even if we run at full speed, they¡¯ll still spot us.¡± For normal people, yes. Charging in would definitely get them caught. But Briar and Ashton were not ordinary people. 8:40 Tue, Sep 30 Still typing, Briar hit the final Enter key. ¡°Done. Sync your watches¡± 220 She raised her wrist to check her watch. ¡°It¡¯s 20:45 Shoneport time. In five minutes, we¡¯re going over thepound wall at the southwest corner Ashton and Frank both checked their watches, syncing the time. ¡°Okay, Ashton said simply Only Frank was stillpletely bewildered. ¡°Wait, Briar. We¡¯re just going to climb over the wall? ht that too dangerous?¡± Briar handed him the miniputer, not bothering to exin. ¡°See for yourself¡± Frank took the miniputer. After a moment, a sleazy smile appeared on his face. ¡°Isn¡¯t this Len Ernest? This old guy is still so wild at his age?¡± When Briar handed him the miniputer, he must have identally touched something, because the surveince feed switched from the corner of the wall to the interior of a certain room. Inside, two stunning foreign women were wrapped around an old man with snow¨Cwhite hair. The white¨Chaired old man was none other than the former leader of Dasmieca and the current head of the Ernest family, Len. Ashton¡¯s face darkened instantly as soon as he heard Frank¡¯s tone. He snatched the miniputer from his hand and switched the feed back. Ashton cursed under his breath, switched the screen back, and warned Frank irritably, ¡°Don¡¯t look at things you¡¯re not supposed to see.¡± Frank replied with an innocent look, ¡°Oh, got it.¡± It was not what he wanted to see anyway. But Frank seemed to think of something and asked, ¡°Hey, Ashton. Don¡¯t you think those two women looked a little familiar?¡± Ashton nced at Briar and answered hesitantly, ¡°They do look¡­ a little familiar¡­ Frank, not noticing Ashton¡¯s suddenly awkward expression, pped his thigh after a moment of thought. ¡°I remember now! Weren¡¯t those two foreign women the ones Uncle tried to send to your bed a while ago Ashton, you¡­¡± Finally realizing the tense atmosphere in the car, Frank slowly looked up at Briar, who was radiating a cold aura. He gulped nervously. ¡°Briar, Ashton didn¡¯t agree. You have to believe¡­¡± Briar said coldly, ¡°Frank, get out of the car. I need to talk to your brother.¡± Frank only had time to shoot Ashton a sympathetic look before he scrambled out. Forsaken 308 Ashton wanted to strangle Frank. He fumed. ¡°That brat! Of all the things to say, why did he have to bring that up?¡± But for now, the most important thing was to calm down a furious Briar. 55 voucher He stered on a charming smile, even leaning his handsome face closer to hers, hoping that she¡¯d forgive him for the sake of his good looks. ¡°Briar, just let me exin¡­¡± But sometimes, using the same trick too many times would lose its effect. In the dimly lit car, with Briar still seething with anger, the moment she heard him try to dodge the question, she didn¡¯t hesitate. She clenched her fist and swung. Five minutester, the car door opened. Briar stepped out of the passenger seat, looking refreshed, hands casually tucked in her pockets. She gestured for the anxious, pacing Frank to follow. Frank snuck a nce at Briar¡¯s expression. She didn¡¯t seem as angry as before. Then he turned his head toward Ashton, who had just stepped out of the car. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find¡¤novel In the next instant, Frank¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and he grew pale. ¡°Ash¨CAshton, your eye¡­¡± Even in the dim light of the woods, he could still see that Ashton¡¯s left eye was bruised ck and blue, and his lip was swollen. Ashton hissed and snapped, ¡°This is all thanks to your big mouth!¡± It really hurt. His lip was split so badly it hurt to even talk, and his left eye stung enough to bring tears. If not for his pride, Ashton would have buried his face in his hands and cried. He knew if they did not have a mission tonight, he would have been hit more than just twice. Frank didn¡¯t dare say another word, afraid Ashton would take it out on him. He hurried a few steps to catch up with Briar. ¡°Briar, you¡¯ve got to protect me!¡± Briar stopped and pointed to a corner of a courtyard wall hidden in the shadows. In a hushed voice, she said, ¡°Wait. I¡¯ll go in first. You stay below the wall and keep your head down.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not taking me with you to charge in?¡± Frank was stunned. So he was not the one leading the charge after all. Seeing Frank¡¯s reluctance, Briar patted his shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re the lookout. That is a more important job than us charging in.¡± 8:40 Tue, Sep 30 ¡°Really?¡± Frank asked doubtfully. :. ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡± Briar nodded seriously. ¡°If you don¡¯t, go ask him yourself.¡± Frank turned to look at Ashton, who had a ck eye. ¡°Ashton, is what she said true?¡± 96 EL 59 vouchers With Briar still fuming, Ashton didn¡¯t dare contradict her and just nodded. ¡°Okay, you stay put. If you hear an explosion inside, run back and bring the car over.¡± Since Ashton had said so, Frank had no choice but to obey. ¡°Alright, I get it.¡± The three of them ran forward in silence until they reached the corner of the wall Briar had pointed out earlier. Just as Briar had predicted, there were no guards posted at this corner of the wall, only a security camera. This was the only weak point in the vi¡¯s defenses. Briar and Ashton exchanged a nce, and both stepped back. Then, as Frank watched in shock and envy, they took a running start and scaled the wall with their bare hands. Frank was no stranger to Ashton¡¯s incredible skills, so he wasn¡¯t overly shocked. But Briar was different. Frank had never truly seen Briar in action. He watched in awe as she scaled the 25¨Cfoot¨Chigh wall in perfect sync with Ashton. He muttered, ¡°Connor wasn¡¯t kidding when he said everyone from the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base is a powerhouse. With skills like Briar¡¯s, I bet even Ashton couldn¡¯t win against her.¡± ¡°Frank, what are you muttering about down there?¡± Ashton¡¯s voice came through his earpiece. ¡°Hurry and hide. Don¡¯t get spotted.¡± Frank snapped out of it and whispered back, ¡°Got it, Ashton. You and Briar be careful too.¡± His only reply was the sound of Briar¡¯s and Ashton¡¯s steady breathing through the earpiece as they ran. After dropping over the wall, Briar immediately ducked into the shadows. Her eyes scanned the area before she gave Ashton the all¨Cclear signal. Silently and swiftly, they both dashed toward the greenhouse window on the vi¡¯s first floor. The greenhouse was situated directly below the third¨Cfloor bedroom. If they could reach the back of the greenhouse undetected, they could use its roof for cover to climb upstairs. Briar and Ashton worked in perfect sync, covering for each other. They seized the one¨Cminute gap during the security shift change and easily climbed through a half¨Copen window on the third floor. ***** Inside the third¨Cfloor bedroom. A woman¡¯s coquettishughter mingled with heavy panting. 8:40 Tue, Sep 30 This was the most critical moment. 420 255 vouchers But Len was old, after all. Despite the help of experimental drugs, he still couldn¡¯tpare to a young man. When it came to sexual matters, he was much less impressive at the crucial moment. Just then, two people quietly slipped into the bedroom. Len knew that after stepping down from power, he would be a thorn in many people¡¯s sides. Therefore, he lived under almost constant surveince to prevent assassination. Over the years, his bodyguards had been reced many times, but there had never been a single incident. This led Len to trust his bodyguardspletely, allowing him to get carried away with the foreign woman. But Len never expected that Briar would defeat the security system he had paid a fortune to customize. Len usually paid close attention to his health and fitness. But when a woman suddenly pinned him down, he couldn¡¯t catch his breath and was nearly crushed to death. He coughed violently. ¡°Who are you? Do you know where you are?¡± After a struggle, Len pushed the woman off him. He was horrified when he finally saw who had broken into his bedroom. ¡°Guards!¡± After they entered the bedroom, Ashton covered Briar¡¯s eyes. Ashton would not let her see such a graphic, R¨Crated scene. So when Len finally recognized them, Ashton kindly kicked a pair of pants over to him. ¡°Put them on.¡± Len¡¯s expression was grim. Seeing that Ashton did not make a move immediately, he assumed they were there to negotiate, not to assassinate him. He thought it must be because he had Justin reveal this afternoon that Ashton was not part of the Wade family. That must be why Ashton felt threatened and came to beg for mercy. Ìï Forsaken 309 : 96 G 55 vouchers Len pulled on his pants, ignoring the throbbing ache in his body. Hands sped behind his back, he stood on the other side of the bed. ¡°What now? Justin leaked the news just this afternoon, and youe running here at night to negotiate?¡± Ashton nced sideways at Len. Only after confirming his pants were secure and he would not expose himself did Ashton remove his hand from Briar¡¯s eyes. ¡°Mr. Ernest, do you really think I¡¯m nothing without the Wade family?¡± Once her vision was clear, Briar ignored the ¡°negotiation¡± between Ashton and Len and began to stroll casually around the bedroom. With incredible strength, she lifted two armchairs to barricade the door. She then walked over to the two unconscious foreign women, grabbed one in each hand, dragged them to the doorway, and piled them up to block the entrance. She did all this with an ease and naturalness that suggested she had done it hundreds of times before. Ashton watched Briar from the corner of his eye with a faint smile. But when he looked at Len, his expression turned cold and menacing. Len was startled by Ashton¡¯s oppressive presence, but he was unwilling to admit he was intimidated by someone so much younger. He deliberately tilted his chin and sneered. ¡°Ashton, don¡¯t tell me you really think you¡¯ve ruled Shoneport for so many years on your own skill?¡± After finishing her work, Briar returned to Ashton¡¯s side. Hearing Len¡¯s gratingugh, she murmured, ¡°Honey, hisugh is awful. I want to punch him.¡± Ashton patted her head soothingly. ¡°Now, now. We¡¯re civilized people. We can¡¯t just hit someone without a very good reason.¡± Briar had a realization. ¡°Is being too ugly a good enough reason?¡± Ashton nodded and removed his hand from Briar¡¯s head. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Go ahead.¡± The moment Ashton finished speaking, Briar shot forward like an arrow, moving so fast that Len didn¡¯t even have time to react. Len¡¯s pupils constricted sharply. His body sensed the danger before his mind could. But he was too old and too slow to move. Before he could turn to dodge, Briar kicked him against the wall. He then slid down and hit the floor hard. Len screamed, his face contorted in pain. Since retiring from power, he had indulged himself more and more, relying on the leverage he held over others to live out every decadent fantasy. # 40 Tue, Sep 30 Especially after moving into Summit One, Len partied every night for his own are contently indulging in a wide array of new and different pleasures. For an extra thrill, he hadid a thick, shag carpet on his bedroom floor, so that even if something beery crashed down, very little sound would escape the room. At that moment, Len was filled with regret. If he had known Ashton would bring his fierce wife over songs, The would have had the shag carpet removed. Now that no sound could escape, no one would ever discover it, even if he were beaten to death in this very FOOML Len was certain they had turned his bedroom surveince against him. Otherwise, his men would have immediately noticed something was amiss. Len struggled to get up from the floor. ¡°What¡­ What do you want? If you kill me, you will be hunted by all of Dasma,¡± ¡°Kill you? In your dreams!¡± Briar cracked her knuckles. As Len stared in terror, she produced several gold needles with a demonic smile. ¡°I love nothing more than to watch my enemies suffer a fate worse than death Content originallyes from find¡¤novel Len¡¯s voice trembled as he stared at the golden needles in Briar¡¯s hand. ¡°Stay away! If you dare use the Golden 81 Needles on me, I¡¯ll make Tristan suffer a hundred, a thousand times more.¡± Len blurted out Tristan¡¯s name out of anxiety. Len shouldn¡¯t have mentioned Tristan. The moment he did, Briar¡¯s fury skyrocketed. ¡°So my mentor and the others really are connected to you. Perfect. That saves me the trouble of tracking him down.¡± Len frowned, ¡®What¡¯s going on? Hadn¡¯t Tristan said that Briar waspletely obedient to him as her mentor? Why isn¡¯t bringing up Tristan having any effect?¡® But Len didn¡¯t know that after Briar discovered Zeke and the other old men¡¯s involvement in Rosalia¡¯s experiment, Tristan had secretly fled from his secluded ind hideout. Just as Zeke understood Briar, Tristan also knew her temperament perfectly. Once she learned of his role in her mother¡¯s tragedy, she¡¯de for him without mercy. Instead of waiting for Briar to skin him alive, it was better to find a new hiding ce right away. For his own safety, Tristan did not tell anyone that he was running away. Therefore, Len had no idea that Tristan¡¯s escape had already enraged Briar. Ashton stood beside Len with his arms crossed, blocking him from crawling away. Then, he calmly watched Briar at work. Like a demon conducting a ritual, Briar used her needles to turn Len from a screaming, iling man into a drooling wreck, twitching uncontrobly with his mouth twisted and his eye skewed. ¡°Honey, we¡¯re out of time.¡± Ashton nced at his watch. They had been in the room for five and a half minutes. 8:40 Tue, Sep 30 :. Their system override could only loop the security footage for six minutes. After that, it would cut back to live feed. And no matter how vigorous Len¡¯s nightly entertainment was, there was no way the guards would believe he could keep going for more than six minutes straight. Therefore, they had to rush to safely leave the bedroom within five and a half minutes. Thirty more seconds to retreat from the third floor to the conservatory, then slip away from here unnoticed. ¡°Alright, this is thest one,¡± Briar said without looking up, as she inserted the final needle into Len¡¯s head. Len, whose face was already contorted, wentpletely ck. In an instant, his eyes zed over as he began to drool uncontrobly like a stroke victim, a grotesque sight to behold. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± After stowing away the golden needles, Briar and Ashton quickly left the bedroom. Following the same route they had climbed, they silently jumped onto the conservatory roof. Just as theynded on the conservatory roof, a shrill rm red from the third floor. ¡°Quick! Something¡¯s happened to Mr. Ernest!¡± Ashton and Briar exchanged a look, pulled out the small, gourd¨Cshaped time bombs they carried, and threw them as they retreated until they leaped onto the courtyard wall. Ashton activated the timer, took Briar¡¯s hand, and jumped down with her. They sprinted toward their car at top speed. Frank was already in the driver¡¯s seat. When he saw the two of them rush out safely, he immediately started the car and opened the doors to pick them up. Once Ashton and Briar jumped into the back seat, Frank stepped on the gas, and the car sped off. Just as their car cleared the st zone, a massive explosion reduced the courtyard wall they had just climbed to rubble. Forsaken 310 12 55 wit The massive explosion rocked the entire Summit One vi district, startling every resident awake. Everyone rushed out of their homes to see where the massive explosion hade from. They discovered the explosion hade from Building One. The residents, all powerful and influential people in Shoneport, realized the situation was serious and did not immediately call the police. Instead, they contacted their ownworks, eager to get insider information before the authorities did. As for the life and property of the residents of Building One, they stayed out of it. Whoever managed to bypass the patrols, slip past the tight security, and set off a st like this clearly wasn¡¯t ordinary, All they could do was watch over their families and warn them to stay away from Building One until the situation was clear. This was to avoid being caught in the crossfire and attracting unnecessary trouble. It wasn¡¯t that they were cold¨Chearted and standing by idly. The person in Building One probably didn¡¯t want them to interfere. Because of the impact and severe consequences of the explosion, no one dared to wander near Building One. As a result, by the time the bodyguards inspected the explosion site, confirmed it was safe, and called for help, Len had missed the best opportunity for treatment. He was paralyzed, and his condition was incurable. Even Tristan would be powerless to help. Themotion at Summit One spread throughout elite social circles within just two hours. Although no one yet knew who was behind the explosion, some people were already terrified by their own suspicions. When Joshua received a call from Marvin, Marvin¡¯s anxious voice came over the line before he could even speak. ¡°Josh, something¡¯s happened¡­¡± When Joshua heard the full story from Marvin, he waspletely shaken. Joshua asked, ¡°Marvin, do you suspect Ashton and Briar were behind the explosion targeting Len?¡± Marvin replied helplessly, ¡°Besides those two, who else in all of Shoneport would be so bold?¡± Joshua sounded even more helpless. ¡°Marvin, you¡¯ll need evidence for that. Otherwise, Griffin will surelye after you.¡± 8:40 Tue, Sep 30 : They both knew how fiercely protective Griffin was of his own. G 55 vouchers Griffin might not even believe solid evidence against Ashton, let alone their baseless spection. Marvin sighed, his voice tinged withint. ¡°I¡¯m only discussing this with you. I would never dare to say anything bad about Ashton in front of him.¡± Joshua recalled what happened earlier that day. He asked, ¡°Hey, do you think the explosion at Len¡¯s could be rted to the second branch of the Wade family, revealing today that Ashton isn¡¯t a real member of the family?¡± Marvin quickly chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I was worried about, which is why I called you. If that¡¯s true, then it¡¯s not just Len who¡¯s in trouble. I¡¯m afraid the Wade family is as well.¡± The two men sighed to each other over the phone, but theirmenting was pointless. The situation had already escted far beyond their predictions. They knew full well they were probably already on Ashton¡¯s cklist. No amount of talking would change what wasing. Finally, the more rational Joshua suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s first try to contact Len to see what the situation is, and then we can decide what to do.¡± ********* In the middle of the night, Griffin also received the news. After hearing Magnus¡¯s report, he sat silently in his study until dawn. When Magnus returned to urge him to rest, Griffin sighed. ¡°I¡¯m afraid the Wade family will be ruined by that group of useless people.¡± Magnusforted Griffin, ¡°Sir, you don¡¯t have to be so pessimistic. Mr. Ashton Wade is exceptionally capable. Even without the Wade family¡¯s businesses, he is still the most powerful one in the family.¡± Griffin¡¯s steps grew even more unsteady. ¡°But you know perfectly well that Ashton is not a true member of the Wade family!¡± The actual members of the Wade family failed to manage their vast businesses and influence. Instead, it all grewrger and stronger in the hands of an outsider like Ashton. ¡°In your heart, have you ever really thought of Mr. Ashton Wade as an outsider?¡± Magnus chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re the only one who understands,¡± Griffin said irritably. By making Ashton the head of the Wade family, Griffin showed that he never saw him as an outsider. In Griffin¡¯s mind, it didn¡¯t matter who Ashton¡¯s parents were. Once he took the Wade surname, he became a member of the Wade family. Most importantly, the Wade family¡¯s continued sess depended on Ashton. Read full story at FindN0vel 8:40 Tue, Sep 30 ?. 56 voutters Among the other branches of the family, those who weren¡¯t disinterested, like Jalen or Frank, spent their time scheming against one another, fighting for scraps. Griffin could not entrust such arge family and its assets into their hands. Still smiling, Magnus helped Griffin into his room and helped him get into bed. He then reassured Griffin, ¡°Just rest easy. Mr. Ashton Wade and Mrs. Briar Wade are handling everything now.¡± Griffin sighed silently and closed his eyes. They returned to the vi safely. Frank jumped out of the car, spinning around excitedly. ¡°Wow! That was so thrilling! I still can¡¯t believe it.¡± Brandon and Ian were speechless. Ian grabbed the spinning Frank. ¡°Stop spinning! Tell us about the mission tonight. How did it go? Was it a sess?¡± Seeing how excited Frank was, the mission must have gone smoothly. Frank grabbed Ian¡¯s hand. ¡°Of course, it was a sess! You guys should¡¯ve seen it. The moment the explosion went off, Ashton and Briar ran out of the ze¡­¡± The scene Frank described made Brandon¡¯s heart pound. He pressed, ¡°And then?¡± Frank eximed, ¡°It was epic! Absolutely badass!¡± Brandon and Ian went speechless. This kid was way too hyped to be coherent. They had him dragged off to calm down, then went to where Ashton and Briar were leaning casually against the car, looking as rxed as if they¡¯d just gone for a walk. Ian couldn¡¯t help but urge, ¡°Briar, hurry up and tell us. How did it go?¡± Briar looked to Ashton, who nodded. ¡°Go on and tell them. They¡¯ll hear about it through the grapevine by tomorrow morning anyway.¡± ¡°It went smoothly.¡± Briar began, briefly recounting their entire operation from that night. As they listened, Brandon andn were leftpletely stunned and in awe. Brandon shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve seen some borate schemes, but never one this borate and reckless.¡± Ian clicked his tongue in amazement. ¡°Yeah, installing surveince in his own bedroom? Isn¡¯t that just serving himself up on a up on a tter?¡± He added, ¡°He probably never imagined that one day, people as audacious as Mr. Wade and Briar would show up in his bedroom to assassinate him, right? Forsaken 311 €20 65 vouchers Brandon andn had their heads together whispering for a long while,pletely unaware that Ashton had already taken Briar upstairs. ¡°Why are you in such a hurry to go upstairs?¡± Briar asked curiously. Ashton was walking so fast that Briar could barely keep up with him. Ashton said mysteriously, ¡°Honey, I have something amazing to show you.¡± Briar was confused. She followed him into the bedroom, and after he closed the door and pinned her against it, sheughed in exasperation. She asked, ¡°So, the amazing thing you wanted to show me is just yourself?¡± Ashton¡¯s eyes twinkled. ¡°I know that old creep really disgusted you tonight. Come on, honey, take it all out on me. I¡¯ll give you something much better to look at.¡± ¡°Shameless.¡± Briar gave him a yful scolding. ¡°Hurry up and show me the real good thing.¡± Ashton finally dropped the teasing look on his face. He pulled his phone from his pocket, yed a video for Briar, and said, ¡°Here, see who Connor and his men found abroad¡­¡± Briar¡¯s gaze fell on the phone screen, and her expression instantly sharpened. ¡°Where did Connor and his team find him?¡± The person captured in the video was none other than Tristan, who had snuck off the nameless ind. He was the miracle doctor and Briar¡¯s mentor. Ashton slid his hand to Briar¡¯s waist, soothing her tense body. He said, ¡°On their way to investigate the undergroundb, they passed through a small, quiet town. They were just nning to stay the night when they identally spotted him.¡± Briar nodded and asked, ¡°Did Connor and the others get him?¡± Ashton put his phone away, picked up the girl who was shivering with cold, and carried her toward the bathroom. He said, ¡°No, we¡¯re waiting for your order. If you say the word, we¡¯ll get him. If not, we¡¯ll pretend we never saw him.¡± Briar was so preupied with whether to capture Tristan that she didn¡¯t even notice Ashton had stripped her naked and ced her in the bathtub. She didn¡¯t snap out of it until the warm water surrounded her body. ¡°Ashton! You undressed me while I was spacing out again!¡± Ashton spread his arms and spun around under Briar¡¯s shocked and indignant gaze. ¡°I¡¯m naked too, honey. ; You¡¯re not at a disadvantage.¡± Briar turned away indignantly. ¡°Have some shame!¡± When it came to romance, Briar always seemed to get the short end of the stick. Ashton squeezed out some shower gel, worked it into a richther, and then reached for Briar. 55 vouchers He said, ¡°Darling, we¡¯ve seen each other naked so many times. Why are you still so shy? Come on, open your hands. Let me wash you up.¡± Briar tried to get away, but Ashton blocked her every move. In the end, with some coaxing from him, she relented, and they finished their bath together. When Ashton carried her out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, Briar was flushed pink from head to toe. She was annoyed because Ashton had used bathing her as an excuse to get his hands all over her. She was also embarrassed because the shameless man insisted that since he had washed her, she had to return the favor. She had blushed more during that bath than in her entire lifebined. Briar never even realized that Ashton was such a shameless exhibitionist. If it weren¡¯t for her strong self¨Ccontrol, she feared she would have given in to him right there in the bathroom. ¡°We have important things to do. You can¡¯t touch me again tonight.¡± The moment she was on the bed, Briar broke free from Ashton¡¯s embrace and dove under the covers. Ashton yed dumb. ¡°Haven¡¯t we already taken care of our business for tonight?¡± ¡°Ashton, you¡¯ll die from exhaustion if you keep this up every day.¡± Briar clutched a corner of the nket, refusing to let him get under. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. My wife is a miracle doctor. She¡¯ll take good care of us,¡± Ashton continued, acting shamelessly. Flushed and furious, Briar couldn¡¯t take it anymore and roared, ¡°Your wife is about to be worn out by you! How is she supposed to take care of you then?¡± Ashton was at a loss for words. He was afraid that if he pushed it any further, she would get genuinely angry. It wouldn¡¯t be worth the trouble if she decided to use her acupuncture needles on him. Knowing when to quit, he tactfully changed the subject. ¡°So¡­ let¡¯s discuss how we should face the Wade family¡¯s furious retaliation against me tomorrow morning.¡± Briar red at him. ¡°You¡¯re a Wade too. No matter how crazy they get, could they possibly be crazier than you?¡± She thought, ¡®You¡¯ve already hollowed out almost all of the Wade family¡¯s assets! $5 voucher Ashton did it subtly over the years, and no one, except for a few people close to him, knew about it. He said, ¡°Honey, you¡¯re breaking my heart.¡± Ashton clutched his heart in mock agony. ¡°The Wade family is about to kick me out. I¡¯m being bullied to death, and you don¡¯t even feel sorry for me.¡± Briar replied, ¡°Why should I feel sorry for you? That you found out long ago that you¡¯re not a real member of the Wade family?¡± She continued, ¡°Or should I feel sorry that you anticipated this day and hollowed out the Wade Group in advance? Or perhaps feel sorry that you can now sit back and wait for the Wade family to cry and beg you not. to leave?¡± Ashton went silent. He had been careless. He forgot his wife was a master hacker. None of his schemes could escape her sharp eyes. ¡°Stop ying the victim.¡± Briar reached out and patted Ashton on the shoulder. ¡°I should be worried about you facing the Wade family¡¯s denunciation tomorrow. What if you can¡¯t help butugh out loud?¡± Ashtony down and pulled Briar into his arms, nket and all. ¡°It seems getting you to feel sorry for me is quite difficult.¡± ¡°It is difficult,¡± Briar said, resting her head on Ashton¡¯s shoulder. ¡°So, stop trying to change the subject just to cheer me up. Let¡¯s be serious.¡± Follow current nov?ls on findnovel Ashton looked down, kissing the top of Briar¡¯s hair. ¡°Alright,¡± he said with a sigh of resignation. ¡°Let¡¯s be serious.¡± He continued, ¡°The immediate threat from Len is gone. Now, we need to start hunting down the moles he has hidden away.¡± Those moles were the real driving force behind theb¡¯s production and research into those twisted desires. Only by rooting them all out could theypletely shut theb down and end its experiments. Briar nodded. ¡°Yes, tonight¡¯s explosion is enough to smoke out all these moles.¡± Only the guilty panic. Others might just treat Len¡¯s stroke and the explosion at Summit One as gossip to watch, but those with something to hide would be extremely nervous. All they had to do was see who shouted the loudest and acted the most indignant tomorrow, and they¡¯d have a nice big handful to pull on. Ashton gave a confidentugh. ¡°It looks like I¡¯ll have to act wronged and helpless tomorrow to lure more of them out.¡± Forsaken 312 Briarughed. ¡°Sometimes, I feel like we¡¯re kind of bad people.¡± Killing, looting, scamming, scheming, they¡¯d done it all. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? F¦Énd£Îovel 55 vouchers ¡°Bad? How so? Everything we¡¯ve done, we¡¯ve done with a clear conscience, standing tall and righteous.¡± Ashton chuckled, reaching out to ruffle her hair. Briar had been increasingly sensitive and suspicioustely. He worried that if he didn¡¯t guide her properly, she would develop another emotional hang¨Cup. It must be exhausting to be so sentimental at such a young age. Briar remained silent, pretending not to hear the unspokenfort in Ashton¡¯s words. She herself would probably have to think hard to count how many people she had killed over the years. ¡°Don¡¯t dwell on it. The past is behind us. From now on, I¡¯m here for you. No matter what you choose to do, I¡¯ll be there by your side.¡± Ashton lowered his head and kissed Briar¡¯s closed eyelids. ¡°Okay. I don¡¯t want to think about it anymore.¡± Briar nodded. ¡°I¡¯m sleepy. Lull me to sleep.¡± Ashton lifted the covers and pulled his soft, sweet¨Csmelling wife into his arms. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll lull you to sleep.¡± Briar was indeed very sleepy and fell into a deep sleep in Ashton¡¯s arms in no time. However, Ashton, who held her with his eyes closed, couldn¡¯t fall asleep. An hourter, Ashton carefully slid his arm from under Briar¡¯s head, got out of bed quietly, threw on a bathrobe, and walked out the door. Outside the door, on the stairnding, Ian and Brandon were waiting. When Ian saw Ashtone out, he nced behind him. He asked, ¡°Mr. Wade, where¡¯s Briar?¡± Ashton carefully tied the sash of his bathrobe. ¡°She¡¯s asleep.¡± Ian pursed his lips. ¡°All right.¡± ¡°Did you need her for something?¡± Ashton asked, looking suspiciously at Ian. Ian waved his hand awkwardly. ¡°Nothing. I was just asking.¡± It was an internal DDC Vanguard matter, and not something to discuss with Ashton. Hopefully, Louie¡¯s ne wouldnd after Briar woke up tomorrow morning. ¡°Mr. Wade, Magnus sent word. Things at the Wade family side are¡­ rather lively tonight,¡± Brandon reported. 10.20 wed, uct I 70 65 vouchers Ashton nodded. ¡°I figured. The first and second branches of the family are probably too excited to sleep tonight, just waiting to rush to thepany first thing tomorrow morning to call a shareholders¡® meeting¡± Brandon still looked uneasy. ¡°Mr. Wade, should we notify the heads of the overseas branches ahead of time?¡± Ashton waved him off. ¡°No need. If the Wade family dares to make a move on Wade Group, they can just sit back and watch the stock price crash.¡± He thought, ¡°They want to cause a scene, don¡¯t they? They want to kick me out of the president¡¯s seat, don¡¯t they? Then let them try Some people never appreciated what they had. They would just take everything for granted. Only when they experience hardship and setbacks for themselves would they learn to listen. This was the perfect opportunity for him to show the Wade family. All this wealth, status, and power they currently enjoyed would be gone without him. ¡°Mr. Wade, are you really getting kicked out of thepany and the Wade family tomorrow morning?¡± Ian asked, rubbing his hands with a mischievous smile. Ashton raised an eyebrow. ¡°What? Are you happy to see me fall from grace?¡± Ian nodded honestly. ¡°Of course! You¡¯re Ashton Wade! The crown prince of Shoneport! To think you¡¯d be thrown out of thepany like a drowned rat, only to be rescued by Briar¡­¡± As he pictured the scene, Ian¡¯s eyes reddened with excitement. ¡°What a thrilling ¡®beauty saves the hero¡® moment!¡± Perhaps because Ian¡¯s description was so vivid, both Ashton and Brandon found themselves picturing the scene¡­ They had to admit that it would be pretty cool. Ashton coughed lightly. ¡°Keep these thoughts to yourselves. Don¡¯t let Briar hear it.¡± Otherwise, she might just make ite true, live and in person. Ian stifled augh. ¡°Mr. Wade, you say that like you¡¯re not tempted. You¡¯ve never seen how the crowd goes wild when Briar steps in to save the day¡­¡± ¡°What crowd? When did she save the day? Who exactly did she save?¡± Ashton¡¯s three quick¨Cfire questions left Ianpletely speechless. Even if he knew, he wouldn¡¯t dare say. Briar had warned him not to tell anyone. He hadn¡¯t even mentioned it in their private WhatsApp group chat. ***** Just as Ashton and the others suspected, the brothers from the first and second branches of the Wade family notified all shareholders overnight, except for those close to Ashton, like Jalen and Frank. 10:23 Wed, Oct 1 70 755 vouchers. They informed them of a meeting at the Wade Group first thing the next morning to vote for thepany¡¯s new CEO. As for Ashton, the current CEO of the Wade Group, he would no longer hold that position after tomorrow. They nned to use this opportunity topletely drive Ashton out of thepany and the Wade family. So what if he was capable? They thought once Ashton was stripped of the Wade family name, even if he had a thousand tricks, he would be nothing without their backing. The members of the first and second branches could finally and openly take back everything that belonged to them from Ashton. They couldn¡¯t hide from Griffin that they had called the shareholders for a meeting at thepany the next morning. But strangely, Griffin didn¡¯t say a word. They thought he had finally lost hope in his precious Ashton. It made sense. Ashton was the pampered future hope of the Wade family. But one day, they suddenly told Griffin that Ashton was not one of them. No one would take that news well. At 5 am, Magnus watched the group arrive at the old mansion to greet Griffin and silently shook his head. However happy they were now, they would be just as miserable when they arrived at thepany. Ashton¡¯s methods and schemes weren¡¯t something these people could ever hope to see through. Magnus thought, ¡®Just wait. Wait and see how Mr. Ashton Wade teaches them a lesson. Hopefully, they wouldn¡¯t regret being so eager this morning. Griffin knew their minds were elsewhere, so he let them leave without staying for breakfast. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to persuade them again?¡± Magnus asked with a smile, watching the gleeful group drive away. ¡°Persuade them? Why would I? Even if I tried, would they listen now?¡± Griffin replied with a calm expression, leisurely eating his breakfast. Magnus nodded in agreement. ¡°True. You can¡¯t talk sense into someone determined to dig their own grave. If they¡¯ve set their hearts on toppling Mr. Ashton Wade, nothing we say will change it.¡± Griffin nodded. ¡°That¡¯s true. I¡¯m old and useless now.¡± Magnus thought, ¡®If only you¡¯d wipe that little smile off your face, maybe the act would be more convincing.¡¯ Forsaken 313 It was only seven in the morning, yet the top¨Cfloor conference room of the Wade Group was already buzzing with activity. As the convener of the shareholders¡® meeting, Sean shamelessly upied the CEO¡¯s chair, Ashton¡¯s rightful seat. To make matters worse, he even had an additional chair brought over for Justin, seating him as an equal at his side. Watching their disy of arrogance, the other shareholders around the massive conference table merely exchanged nces in silence. In their minds, Ashton had already been written off as CEO of the Wade Group. What truly preupied them was not whether Ashton belonged to the Wade family, but rather who would seize control of the CEO position next. Under Ashton¡¯s leadership, the Wade Group had be his personal stage. The shareholders had long grown ustomed to staying absent from meetings, simply waiting for their annual dividends. While pocketing dividends without effort wasfortable, the emptiness of it eventually gnawed at them. Many harbored the uneasy suspicion that Ashton might one day sell them all out. Meanwhile, in the secretary¡¯s office, Jalen sat in silence at his desk, his face unreadable. Behind theirputers, his two assistants worked nervously, their hands trembling over the keyboards. One of the secretary whispered, ¡°Jalen must be angry.¡± Another replied, ¡°Definitely. He hasn¡¯t said a word since he sat down.¡± The first secretary frowned in response, ¡°But is he angry at the shareholders, or worried about Mr. Wade? Do you think the people in that conference room will actually force Mr. Wade out?¡± The other responded, ¡°He¡¯s angry at the shareholders, no doubt. After all, Jalen is a shareholder too. Everyone was discussing this in thepany chat this morning¨Che must have seen it. Of course he¡¯s upset. ¡°But if Mr. Wade really gets pushed out, what happens to us? Will we be fired too? New bosses always bring their own people.¡± ¡°Who cares! We¡¯ll just follow Jalen,¡± the first one said. The other agreed, ¡°That¡¯s right. All we have to do is follow Jalen.¡± The two thought their voices were low, but Jalen overheard every word. His foul mood unexpectedly lightened after hearing their exchange. ¡°They¡¯ll follow me wherever I go? For original chapters go to F¦ÉndNovel h 20 Heh. These two youngdies know which way the wind blows, he thought. Just then, Jalen¡¯s phone rang on his desk. It was a call from Ashton. 235 Youchers Jalen answered immediately, his tone respectful as always. He greeted, ¡°Good morning, Mr. Wade.¡± Ashton asked directly, ¡°Is everyone here?¡± Jalen¡¯s eyes hardened as he replied, ¡°They¡¯ve all arrived and are waiting in the main conference room.¡± Ashton said, ¡°Good. The meeting begins in ten minutes.¡± Jalen¡¯s voice carried a trace of excitement as he replied, ¡°Yes, Mr. Wade.¡± After hanging up, he nced at the two assistants, who were pretending to type but clearly straining their ears. ¡°Get ready. We¡¯re heading to the main conference room in ten minutes,¡± he instructed. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± they answered in unison, instantly energized. ¡°Honey, I¡¯m putting my phone on silent in ten minutes. If you need me, just hack into the main conference room¡¯swork to find me,¡± Ashton said. In the underground parking lot, Ashton¡¯s private car rolled to a stop. He was updating Briar on his schedule, ying the role of a devoted husband. Yet his words sounded anything but ordinary. Really? Who tells their wife to hack thepanywork as a backup n? But Briar, on the other end, epted the instruction without hesitation. She even answered earnestly, ¡°Got it. Don¡¯t worry. If I don¡¯t hear from you in two hours, I¡¯ll just hack the entire Wade Groupwork.¡± Ashton had the phone on speaker. His driver, Brandon, was utterly speechless. He pondered, ¡®Once again, Mr. Wade and Miss Jennings proved the saying true: birds of a feather flock together. ¡°This wasn¡¯t an ordinary schedule report. It sounded more like Mr. Wade was dictating hisst words. ¡®Mr. Wade, are you seriously preparing yourst will and testament over something this minor? ¡®And what if she actually crashes the entirework in two hours? The IT department would copse into chaos. In another car en route to the Jennings Group, Briar ended her call with Ashton and gazed pensively out the window. 55 vouchere Briar shook her head in response, ¡°No. Those shareholders at the Wade Group are no match for him.¡± Ian chuckled, ¡°Then why the long face?¡± Briar sighed, ¡°I¡¯m just thinking how Ashton is about to be put through the wringer. People in the Wade family can be ruthless.¡± He replied, ¡°Briar, have you forgotten? With Ashton¡¯s intimidating presence, how many of those cowards would dare mouth off in front of him?¡± Briar conceded, ¡°¡­ You have a point.¡± Ashton was no saint¨Che never tolerated the slightest disrespect. When the time came, who would truly suffer remained to be seen. Their conversation ended as the car pulled up to its destination. Ian got out promptly, opened Briar¡¯s door, and said with mock formality, ¡°Miss Jennings, after you.¡± Briar stifled augh at his theatrics, then stepped out withposure. The moment she entered thepany lobby, a receptionist hurried over. While leading her to the elevator, the woman whispered, ¡°Miss Jennings, wee. Mr. Longley asked me to guide you straight to the private elevator. He and several executives are waiting for you in the small conference room.¡± Briar nodded. ¡°Understood. You may return to your post.¡± ¡°Of course, Miss Jennings,¡± The receptionist smiled as Briar entered the elevator. Taking it directly to the executive floor, Briar stepped out to find Nathan waiting at the door, smiling broadly. He announced, ¡°Well, well, if it isn¡¯t our busy CEO. You finally remembered to inspect thepany. Come on, let¡¯s give her a round of apuse.¡± He began pping, and the executives inside followed suit. The apuse wasn¡¯t deafening, but it carried a surprising amount of warmth. Briar was speechless. Amidst the apuse, she entered the small conference room. The moment she walked in, her eyes met Edgar¡¯s furious yet tightly restrained gaze. 10:24 Wed, Oct 1 Briar arched a brow, her eyes sliding down to his legs before asking, ¡°Well! What are you still doing here Edgar¡¯s face sankpletely. He had already uncovered the truth of how Len was harmed. Now, faced with Briar, it was as if he were staring into the eyes of a demon. AD Comment Forsaken 314 Everyone in the small conference room heard Briar¡¯s words loud and clear. In an instant, every gaze turned toward Edgar, carrying an odd mix of shock and ridicule. 55 vouchers It was no exaggeration to say that Briar¡¯s rtionship with Edgar¨Cand with the Jennings family as a whole- was hostile and beyond reconciliation. Yet, for reasons no one could fathom, Edgar always went out of his way to provoke Briar, as if he would not rest until she was pushed past the breaking point. They collectively thought, ¡®Was he not simply courting disaster?¡® Briar was no longer just the head of the Jennings Group. She was a miracle doctor, a master hacker, and an instructor at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base. One might wonder what kind of ce that base was. It was a camp of merciless killers, hardened soldiers who could take a life without hesitation. Briar specialized in training those very mercenaries. At Edgar¡¯s age, how many of her blows could he possibly withstand? Thanks to Nathan¡¯s deliberate efforts as acting president, every employee of the Jennings Group now revered Briar after her hidden identities were revealed one by one. Even the few shareholders who had once resented her forceful takeover had since fallen silent, unwilling to stir up trouble. The thought wasughable¨Cunder a CEO with such overwhelming power, who would dare to oppose her unless they had a death wish? Surely, it was far wiser to fall in line behind Miss Jennings and wait peacefully for their year¨Cend dividends. Thus, in the months Nathan held the reins as acting CEO, he had already taught every shareholder to know their ce. Every shareholder but Edgar, who seemed determined to tempt fate. With so many eyes on him, Edgar felt his face flush with shame. That rebellious daughter¨Cshe was the source of all his ruin. Because of her, he had lost both his wealth and reputation. If Len had not forbidden it, Edgar would have secretly disposed of her long ago. Before Len¡¯s incident, Edgar had brimmed with confidence. After all, if he could kill Rosalia, then surely Briar could be dealt with as well. But justst night, Len had met with disaster! 0:0 There was still no solid evidence linking Briar to the event. Yet, deep down, everyone knew she had orchestrated it. 55 vouchers She was a ¡°miracle doctor¡± who could turn a perfectly healthy man into a stroke victim overnight. Other than her mentor, the legendary healer Tristan, no one else possessed such terrifying skill. And since Tristan was a fugitive abroad, the only possible culprit was Briar herself. Edgar met Briar¡¯s gaze. Terror wed at him, but in front of the crowd, he forced himself to stand tall. ¡°¡­I¡¯m a shareholder of the Jennings Group. Why can¡¯t I be here?¡± he challenged. Briar¡¯s smile lingered, but the air around her had grown icy and oppressive. She walked slowly toward the head of the table, each step crushing Edgar¡¯s chest like a heavy weight. Step by step. it was slow, and crushing. Briar took her seat at the head of the table, inteced her fingers beneath her chin, and swept her frosty gaze across the room. The shareholders who had recently behaved themselves could still meet her eyes without guilt. But several others lowered their heads in panic, unable to withstand even a brush of her gaze. Finally, her attention locked on Edgar, who red back at her with false bravado. She spoke evenly, ¡°Let me exin why you are not qualified to sit here.¡± She nced at Nathan, handed him a small USB drive, and gestured for him to connect it. Nathan took the small USB drive, quickly connected it to the big screen. Within moments, the projector lit up with a series of photos and copied documents. Brief as they were, the images contained irrefutable proof: Edgar had abused his position, lied, and siphoned off over a billion inpany funds for personal gain since assuming control of Jennings Group. The presentationsted barely three minutes. But those three minutes left every shareholder dumbstruck. They stared at Edgar in stunned silence. Not because theycked words, but because their rage left them unable to speak. He had embezzled over a billion! : Not thousands, not millions, not even tens of millions¨Cbut more than a billion! 105 Younters For years, Jennings Group¡¯s performance had declined under Edgar¡¯s leadership, and their dividends had dwindled year after year. They had med poor management or stiff marketpetition. But now Briar revealed the truth: thepany had not been unprofitable at all. Edgar had stolen their money outright. How could anyone tolerate this?,, One shareholder mmed the table, sprang to his feet, and jabbed a finger at Edgar. He eximed, ¡°Edgar, are you even human? ¡°I could have turned a blind eye if it were hundreds of thousands, even a few million. But over a billion? ¡°Do you even realize what that means? The Jennings Group could have remained a top¨Ctierpany!¡± His outrage ignited the room. The others erupted, shouting, pointing, and cursing at Edgar in unison. If Briar had not been present, they would have torn him apart on the spot. Edgar staggered under the furious chorus. His mind raced, ¡®It¡¯s over! ¡®It¡¯s all over!¡® He had never imagined Briar would be so merciless, exposing everything without warning. She had uncovered every secret, every stolen dor, and dragged them into the light. And she had done so at the worst possible time. ¡®What was Briar nning? ¡®Did she intend to throw Jennings Group away because Ashton had been cast out of the Wade family and she would soon lose his backing? ¡®Or was she simply seizing the chaos in Shoneport as her chance to strike? ¡®And am I¡­ the ¡°big fish¡± she had been after all along?¡® he wondered. The source of th?s content is find?novel ¡°Miss Jennings, Edgar¡¯s actions are unforgivable. How do you n to deal with him?¡± After the storm of shouting, Nathan cleared his throat, steadying the room, and voiced the question burning in every shareholder¡¯s mind. Briar tapped her finger lightly against the table and dered, ¡°Jennings Group conducts legitimate business. When something like this happens, we do what thew demands¡­ we call the police.¡± 10:24 Wed, Oct 1 ¡°Call the police?¡± someone echoed in disbelief. .:. ¡°Yes. Call the police. Let them take him in for questioning,¡± Briar answered with calm finality. Only Briar herself knew her true purpose for handing Edgar over to the authorities. Forsaken 315 The shareholders no longer looked at Briar with the same dread. A 8700 256 vouchers¡® At least she was not as merciless as the rumors suggested; she was willing to let the police handle matters. That thought put them at ease¨Cthough Edgar¡¯s panic only grew. ¡°Briar, how dare you! I¡¯m your father, your only family in this world!¡± Edgar bellowed as he bolted toward the door of the conference room. His chest tightened with anxiety, and he wondered, ¡®Why wasn¡¯t Briar following their carefullyid script? They had assumed that if they provoked her enough, she wouldsh out in front of everyone. And no matter her excuse, striking her father publicly would tarnish her image in the eyes of the shareholders. That was Edgar¡¯s entire purpose in attending this meeting: to draw Briar into a trap and keep her entangled at thepany long enough for the others to dy Ashton. But all their plotting had gone to waste as Briar showed no sign of being rattled. And now she was threatening to have him arrested. He couldn¡¯t remain here another second. He had to escape. Yet Edgar knew¨Che could not leave unless Briar allowed it. Just as he gripped the ss door handle, Briar flicked her wrist. A razor¨Csharp scalpel whistled through the air, shing past the shareholders¡® eyes.¡°Ahhh!¡± Edgar screamed. The de had buried itself in the back of his hand, drawing a crimson stream. The scalpel trembled where it stuck, and Edgar howled in agony. The conference room fell into utter silence. Only Edgar¡¯s cries of pain, punctuated by the shareholders¡® stifled gasps, disturbed the stillness. Nathan exhaled heavily, shaking his head. Briar had turned the atmosphere taut with fear in an instant. He first calmed the restless shareholders, then, with his hands in his pockets, strode toward Edgar, who cowered against the door, clutching his bloodied hand. Nathan crouched down before him. ¡°Edgar, as you can see, you¡¯re not leaving this room until the police arrive,¡± Nathan ryed. Edgar¡¯s face was ghostly pale as he refuted, ¡°¡­The Jennings Group only reached its current heights under my leadership. How can taking money from my ownpany be called embezzlement?¡± Nathan¡¯s smile slowly vanished. His eyes darkened, turning sharp and menacing¨Caplete reversal of the 70 gentle, refined image he usually projected in thepany. With his back to the others, only Edgar saw this sudden transformation. The sight struck him speechless. Updates are released by f?ndnovel ¡®So this man wasn¡¯t a saint either. That look, that aura¨Cit was the face of a killer. 56 vouchers ¡°Why was it that everyone around Briar was just like her¨Cdangerous, ruthless, impossible to control?¡± Edgar thought¡­ As he faced Briar¡¯s cold threat, Nathan¡¯s chilling gaze, and the open disgust from the shareholders, Edgar¡¯s fear grew boundless. In that moment, he found himself praying for the police to arrive quickly. Otherwise, with blood still pouring from his hand, he might faint before long. Atst, his desperate wish was granted. The police arrived. When they pulled Edgar to his feet, relief washed over him.¡° He obeyed meekly, allowing himself to be led away. He never even looked back. Briar leaned casually against the doorway, watching him depart with a faint smile tugging at her lips. Thanks to Edgar¡¯s disgrace¡ªand the spectacle of him being hauled away like a parasite¨Cthe rest of the shareholders¡® meeting went off without a hitch. No matter what demands Briar made, the shareholders approved them unanimously. Of course they did. Who would dare object? Not when the scalpel in Briar¡¯s hand was still stained with Edgar¡¯s blood on the floor by the door. Unlike Edgar, the shareholders weren¡¯t fools. They understood that discretion was the better part of valor. They weren¡¯t foolish like Edgar; they understood that discretion is the better part of valor. Besides, everything Briar raised in the meeting was rooted in thepany¡¯s growth and long¨Cterm interests. All they had to do was stay quiet, and their dividends at year¡¯s end would be triple what they had been under Edgar. Only an idiot would oppose her. Thus, the shareholders¡® meeting, held without Edgar, concluded smoothly. The investors walked away greater confidence in Briar¡¯s ability to lead. with After the three¨Chour shareholders¡® meeting, the shareholders emerged from the conference room with smiles 10:24 Wed, Oct 1 on their faces. They greeted Briar and Nathan and then left right away, Not one lingered to offer unnecessary advice. They were ted¨Cwhy not? Their profits would rise without them lifting a finger. ¡°It seems the charm of our young CEO haspletely won over the shareholders, Nathan remarked with augh, arms crossed as he stood behind Briar. Now that the room was empty, he spoke freely. Briar answered lightly, ¡°I should be the one praising you. Every strategic n proposed today came from you, the financial mastermind.¡± She had been devoting all her energy to uncovering the mastermind behind the undergroundb, leaving no time to draft such detailed ns. All she had done was hold Nathan¡¯s proposal in her hands and pretend to read from it. Nathan waved her off. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. What¡¯s mine is yours.¡± Briar¡¯s eyes flickered with a sly glint. She smiled faintly and changed the subject, ¡°By the way, Atrington University invited me to give a lecture, but I¡¯m tied up. Can you go in my ce?¡± Nathan pointed to himself, sighing in disbelief. He asked, ¡°Briar, look at me. Now think about your reputation as the esteemed Professor Ms. Bree at Atrington University. What good would I be there?¡± ¡°Shh! Keep your voice down,¡± Briar warned, ncing around. ¡°That¡¯s the only alias of mine that hasn¡¯t been exposed yet.¡± Nathan raised his hands in mock protest. ¡°Please. You¡¯re still keeping your alias as the world¨Crenowned designer Q a secret, too.¡± Briar smirked, ¡°Do you expect me to reveal all my cards? I need to keep some mystery alive.¡± Realizing he couldn¡¯t win this debate, Nathan pivoted and proposed, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go to Atrington for you. But only if you agree to one condition.¡± Briar shut him down instantly, stating, ¡°No. Whatever your condition is, the answer¡¯s the same. No chance. Forget it!¡± Forsaken 317 Chapter 317 Once the privacy partition rose, sealing off the back seat from the front, Ashton dropped his grim fa?ade. He looked down at Briar¡¯s conciliatory smile, then swept her onto hisp and pressed his forehead to hers. ¡°Darling, I¡¯m a little upset. Can you tell?¡± Ashton¡¯s voice carried a intive edge, pitiful like a man abandoned by a heartless lover. Perched on hisp, straddling him, Briar instinctively looped her arms around his neck for bnce. Perhaps it was because this position had be second nature from their frequent intimacy. Now, whenever Ashton lifted and positioned her, she would cling to him without thinking, simply to steady herself. The gesture was so reflexive that Briar did not know whether tough or cry at her own conditioned response. Yet her obedience unexpectedly pleased Ashton, and his grip around her waist loosened ever so slightly. Briar rolled her eyes, lips curving into a pout. ¡°I can tell. But didn¡¯t I make myself clear from the start? What exactly are you still angry about?¡± Frustrated, Ashton turned his head and kissed her, capturing her upper lip to prevent escape. After holding the kiss for a long moment, he finally muttered, ¡°Is that so? But you know Nathan covets you, and you still hired him to run yourpany¡­ Babe, you are so cruel!¡± Truth be told, Ashton was being unreasonable. Others might not have known Nathan¡¯s true abilities, but Ashton had investigated him thoroughly. To have an international financial magnate at the helm of herpany was a stroke of fortune beyond money¡¯s reach. In just two or three months, Nathan had steered the Jennings Group through multiple crises, pulling it back from copse and setting it firmly on course again. Few in the industry could have achieved such swift and decisive results. Nathan¡¯s professional capabilities were indisputable. But when a man chose to be unreasonable, reason held no weight. ¡°I just can¡¯t stand him. When are you going to drive him out?¡± Ashton pressed. Briar tilted her head and gave his chin a sharp bite, grinding her teeth as she snapped, ¡°Honey, behave yourself¨Cor I won¡¯t humor you anymore.¡± Ashton froze, wordless. He had been warned. 420 ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll stop. Now, humor me a little more,¡± he murmured, feigning injury as he crushed her against him, leaving no space between their bodies. He even shifted his hips forward deliberately. The implication was unmistakable. Heat rushed to Briar¡¯s cheeks and she reminded, ¡°Ashton, we¡¯re on our way to the police station. Clear your head of that nonsense.¡± Ashton sighed in response, ¡°I really wish I could kill Edgar right now.¡± His thoughts churned bitterly, ¡®The mood in this car was perfect! ¡®A wless moment for embracing my wife¡­ ¡®We could have tried something new, explored new positions-¡® Briar delivered a sharp p to his cheek and snapped, ¡°Enough! If you keep letting your mind wander, I¡¯ll head to the police station alone. You can stay here and cool off.¡± She found herself both exasperated and amused by this man who seemed perpetually in heat. She wondered, ¡®Weren¡¯t we supposed to be handling serious business today?¡® Forcing the conversation back to business, Briar cupped Ashton¡¯s face, ignoring his sulky look. ¡°By the way, I haven¡¯t asked¨Chow did things go with you? Did the Wade Group throw you out?¡± Ashton nodded calmly as he updated, ¡°It¡¯s all settled. And yes, I¡¯ve been kicked out.¡± Briar brushed a kiss against his lips. ¡°You poor thing.¡± Ashton savored the kiss, chasing her mouth until she was breathless and he was finally satisfied. He sighed dramatically, ¡°Now I¡¯m just a poor, jobless man. Sweetheart, you can¡¯t possibly abandon me.¡± Her lips still glistened faintly, and she smiled, ¡°How could I ever wrong you?¡± ¡°For instance, if I lose everything, some highly capable man might swoop in and steal my wife away.¡± He drew out the word ¡°wife¡± in a resentful tone that sent shivers down Briar¡¯s spine. Sliding off hisp, she retorted, ¡°Are you ever going to stop? You canfort yourself. I¡¯m done humoring you.¡± Ashton was left speechless. Their yful bickering continued all the way to the police station. 10:24 Wed, Oct 1 The moment their car stopped, someone rushed forward to open the door before Brandon could. 2000 ¡°Mr. Wade, Miss Jennings, you¡¯ve arrived¡± Ronan¡¯s smile was a forced, ingratiating mask, fingerd with mockery and stripped of the respect he once showed Ashton, Ashton caught the expression, snorted, and then turned to help Briar down from the car. He said, ¡®Careful, darling. The ground is uneven here, and the people even more so. Ronan was struck dumb as he thought, ¡®He¡¯s doing this on purpose. Latest content published on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? ¡°He thinks I wouldn¡¯t notice? But Ronan no longer feared Ashton. Within a single day, news that Ashton was no longer a Wade had spread throughout Shoneport. Those who had once groveled before him now straightened their backs, already scheming how to seize his resources. Ashton had dominated Shoneport for years, even if he was about to be cast out of the Wade family¡­ But as the saying goes, a dead camel stills carries weight. Even a fragment of Ashton¡¯s resources would yield them years of profit. That was why Ronan was still willing to greet him, despite his looming downfall. Briar entered the police station at Ashton¡¯s side, a faint smile lingering on her lips. The hall bustled with activity as always. Ronan led them to the back interrogation rooms, where Edgar sat in the third. Two officers were questioning him, while Edgar sat silently, using silence itself as defiance. The evidence against him was overwhelming. Without Briar¡¯s intervention, he would likely rot in prison. Ordinarily, this would be handled as a major financial crime. Yet Ronan had assigned only two junior officers, clearly signaling leniency. And now, he himself was escorting Briar straight to the door¡­ Briar¡¯s eyes swept over Ronan, and she said, ¡°Mr. Ramos, I¡¯ll be blunt. If someone higher up intends to shield. Edgar, I suggest you do it swiftly and discreetly. Because if I find out¡­¡± Ronan¡¯s smile froze before asking, ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± Briar met his gaze, fearless as she replied, ¡°You can take it that way.¡± Forsaken 318 Briar¡¯s words undoubtedly put Ronan in an awkward position, he even felt a faint sense of intimidation. The intimidation came from Briar. Yet, Briar Jennings smiled as she spoke, appearing both harmless and innocent. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? f?ndnovel But to Ronan, that smile sent a chill down his spine. Could it be because Ashton was standing beside Briar? However, now that Ashton no longer had the protection of the Wade family, could he still wield the same power as before? In that case, the impact of Briar¡¯s words would surely be much less significant. At that thought, Ronan stifled the flicker of fear that had just surfaced. He red at Briar, his face stern. ¡°Briar, I¡¯m only calling you Mrs. Wade out of respect for Ashton. You¡¯re well aware of your current situation without me having to remind you, aren¡¯t you?¡± Ronan meant to tell Briar to push her luck. Hearing this, Briar raised her shapely eyebrows. She was not angry, just amused. She wondered how on earth a guy who couldn¡¯t read the room ended up getting involved with those masterminds. Briar turned her head, pointed at Ronan, and asked Ashton, whose expression was growing cold, ¡°Honey, is he insulting us?¡± ¡°He is.¡± Ashton stepped forward, shielding Briar with his tall, muscr frame as a sharp chill swept toward Ronan, who red with wide eyes. Ronan was intimidated by Ashton¡¯s presence and took a few steps back. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? This is a police station¡­¡± Several officers were watching from behind him. He couldn¡¯t back down, or else he would lose their respect. ¡°Not much. Just teaching you how to be a good person, Chief Ramos.¡± Under Ronan¡¯s astonished gaze, Ashton reached out and patted him lightly on the shoulder. The pat seemed incredibly light, but Ronan felt as if a thousand¨Cpound hammer was crushing his shoulder. If he hadn¡¯t braced himself, Ashton¡¯s pat would have knocked him to the ground. This was no pat on the shoulder; it was a clear and forceful disy of dominance. Just as Ronan was about to speak, Ashton cut him off. ¡°Chief Ramos, let me give you some friendly advice.
  1. AF.
Certain words aren¡¯t meant for posturing. You¡¯d better think carefully before you say them Ronan was filled with suspicion and uncertainty. He couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Ashton¡¯s words held hidden meaning. Weren¡¯t there rumors that Ashton was about to lose power? Where did he get the audacity to act so arrogantly in a police station? Just then, an rmed cry came from the interrogation room. ¡°Edgar? Edgar, what¡¯s wrong?¡± It was followed by the chaotic sound of tables and chairs rattling. Ronan no longer had time to ponder Ashton. He quickly looked toward the interrogation room, his face draining of color in shock. He saw Edgar foaming at the mouth and convulsing in the interrogation chair, looking just like someone having an epileptic seizure. The two young officers interrogating himcked experience and were thrown into a panic by the sudden turn of events. Their chief had previously told them that Edgar was just there for show and that someone woulde to bail him out and quietly take him away that night. Although they felt the chief¡¯s actions were improper, they had just been assigned to this police station and hadn¡¯t found their footing yet. Some things were better left unasked. If something happened to Edgar during their interrogation, the two junior officers knew they couldn¡¯t handle the consequences. Fortunately, they had recorded the entire routine questioning. If there were an investigation, they could at least exin their side of the story. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Get a medical examiner in here, now!¡± Ronan shouted as he rushed in. Seeing Edgar¡¯s condition, he yelled at the two stunned junior officers beside him. One of the junior officers snapped out of it, immediately rushing out of the interrogation room to get help. Although the station¡¯s medical examiners typically worked on corpses and weren¡¯t conventional doctors, they could still perform basic first aid. Ashton watched Edgar tremble and writhe in the interrogation room before ncing at Briar, his eyes silently asking a question. Briar smiled, her gaze evasive. She perfectly acted out the guilty look of ¡°It wasn¡¯t me, I didn¡¯t do it, I did nothing.¡± Her reaction amused Ashton. F:. 4700 He knew it. Edgar was alive and kicking when he was brought to the police station. How could something have gone wrong so soon into the interrogation? Given their usual practice of killing to silence people, they would not have resorted to such aplicated method if they really wanted Edgar dead. This torturous yet non¨Clethal method was very much in Briar¡¯s style. Although she was a swift and decisive instructor at the DDC Vanguard Mercenary Special Operations Base, one shouldn¡¯t forget her other identity as a divine doctor. When it came to driving someone half¨Cmad, she could do it effortlessly. Len was a living example. The medical examiner was hastily dragged over by a young police officer and rushed into the interrogation room to help. There was nothing left for the two of them to do there. Ashton held Briar¡¯s hand, and they quietly left. They walked hand in hand toward the hall outside the interrogation room, where Brandon and Ian were still waiting. Standing like sentinels at the hall¡¯s entrance, the two men had such an intimidating presence that everyone who passed by kept looking back at them. Seeing Briar and Ashtone out, Ian greeted them with a smile, ¡°Briar, how did it go? Did that corrupt Edgar spill the beans?¡± Corrupt? That was a clever choice of words. It instantly drew the attention of those who were secretly watching them. Of course, Briar saw the intention behind Ian¡¯s over¨Cthe¨Ctop performance. She shrugged and said regretfully, ¡°Not yet. He was just about to confess when he suddenly had an epileptic seizure. They¡¯re trying to save him in there right now.¡± Ian looked shocked. ¡°Epilepsy? I¡¯ve never heard that Edgar had that problem. You don¡¯t think he¡¯s faking it out of guilt, do you? First, one is half¨Cdead from a stroke, and now another is feigning illness¡­¡± His words were dripping with sarcasm, enough to make anyone who heard them let their imagination run wild. If any spies nted by the masterminds were here, they would surely report this to their superiors immediately. But Briar was waiting for them to make a mistake as they tried to reach out. Shortly after they arrived at the police station, Briar had already hacked into its internalwork. She would 10:25 Wed, Oct 1 know immediately if anyone tried to send a message. This was the real reason they hade so openly to the police station. Sure enough, in less than five minutes, Briar¡¯s phone buzzed with a notification. Briar nced at Ashton, who immediately understood and shifted his stance, casually shielding her in a blind spot from the lobby¡¯s surveince cameras. Forsaken 319 Chapter 319 65 vouchera Briar immediately looked down at her phone. Thirty secondster, she calmly put it away, slipped her hands into her pockets, and leaned her head on Ashton¡¯s arm. In a soft, coaxing voice, she said, ¡°Ashton, it doesn¡¯t look like we¡¯re getting anything out of Edgar for a while. I¡¯m hungry. Let¡¯s go back.¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± They said they were leaving, and they did, taking Brandon and fan with them. The four of them left so decisively, without any hesitation, which stunned Ronan, who was secretly watching them. He wondered what was going on. Didn¡¯t theye to the police station to keep a close watch on Edgar? How could they just leave when Edgar hadn¡¯t confessed to anything yet? Were they just going to leave Edgar here? Weren¡¯t they afraid that he would be secretly killed? Unable to make sense of it, Ronan hurried back to his office to report the situation over the phone. After leaving the police station, Brandon asked as he drove onto the main road, ¡°Ma¡¯am, where are we heading now?¡± He thought, ¡®She can¡¯t really be nning to find a restaurant to fill her stomach, can she?¡® ¡°To Jewell¡¯s house.¡± A faint, cold smile appeared on Briar¡¯s face. Detecting the chill in Briar¡¯s tone, Ian asked tentatively, ¡°Are we going to kill Jewell?¡± He thought if they couldn¡¯t get Edgar, another fall guy would do. ¡°No, we¡¯re going to find someone,¡± replied Ashton, who had been looking at his phone ever since getting in the car. Ian stroked his chin, analyzing Ashton¡¯s words from every angle with all sorts of conspiracy theories, but in the end, he could only shake his head. ¡°I don¡¯t get it. Ashton, what do you mean?¡± Brandon was also unsure of Ashton¡¯s intentions. ¡°Ashton, is this rted to the corruption involving Jewell and Edgar?¡± Could Jewell also be connected to the person behind the undergroundb? It wasn¡¯t impossible. After all, was Jewell¡¯swork really limited to his connections through Beatrice Jennings and Emily? 10:25 Wed, Oct 1 With the fall of the Jennings family, the only person Jewell could rely on was Emily. Xavion had already thoroughly investigated Emily¡¯s secret dealings. 420 55 youchu ¡°It¡¯s rted. You¡¯ll understand when we get to Jewell¡¯s house and arrest him,¡± Ashton said, not wishing to borate. Brandon andn exchanged a look, both seeing the excitement in each other¡¯s eyes. Ashton was clearly reminding them that a fight wasing. He was feeling good about it. Ian had been bottling up his frustration over the recent troubles, and he was itching for a fight. He just wondered if the person they were about to catch could take a beating. Could Jewell even withstand a few of their punches? An hourter, Ashton¡¯s signature G¨CWagon pulled up to the entrance of Jewell¡¯s vi. Coincidentally, the gate opened at that very moment. Then, their car blocked Jewell, who was just about to drive out. ¡°Ashton¡­¡± When Jewell saw that the driver blocking the gate was Brandon, he knew Ashton must be inside. His face paled as he muttered to himself, ¡°I¡¯m done for.¡± Ian grew even more excited. ¡°Tsk, tsk! Jewell looks at us like he¡¯s seen a ghost. Has he done something wrong again?¡± Without waiting for a response from Ashton, he opened the car door and jumped out. Then, Ian sauntered over to Jewell¡¯s car, leaned on the hood with both hands, tilted his head, and said, ¡°Get out.¡± Jewell wanted to m on the gas and send Ian flying. But Ashton¡¯s car was still blocking the way. Even if he killed Ian, he couldn¡¯t escape Ashton¡¯s men. Under Ian¡¯s increasingly cold, warning gaze, he slowly opened the car door. Before Jewell could fully open the door, Ian rushed forward, dragged him out of the driver¡¯s seat, and snatched the car keys. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Ian threw Jewell to the ground like trash. The momentum scraped his palms, and he hissed in pain. However, when he saw Ian drop him and pull three more people from the back seat, his previously calm expression turned deathly pale. Find the newest release on F?nd-Novel ¡°Aren¡¯t those¡­ the three who caused trouble, spread rumors about the young mistress, and got expelled from Shoneport University?¡± Brandon had a good memory and recognized the three people in the back seat at a nce. 10:25 Wed, Oct 1 ¡°I remember their names are Kim Whyet, Grover Harper, and Ernest Reed, right?¡± 155 Youchares Briar stared coldly at the men on the ground. Watching them tremble pitifully, she felt no sympathy. ¡°That¡¯s them. After they were expelled, they were recruited by those people and, just like Jewell, became their most useless pawns.¡± Brandon frowned. ¡°Do they have a death wish? Why get mixed up with those people?¡± The Whyet, Harper, and Reed families aren¡¯t ordinary people with no connections. How could they be bribed so easily? Or did those people promise some benefit to these three families? However, Brandon didn¡¯t think these three had anything that made them worth winning over. ¡°Mr. Wade, spare us!¡± ¡°Mr. Wade, we were wrong! Let us go!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t kill us! We don¡¯t know anything!¡± Seeing Ashton and Briar step out of the car, the three men screamed in terror and scrambled to beg for mercy. Ashton walked up to the three men and looked down at them. ¡°You know why we¡¯re here for you, right?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know!¡± ¡°I know, I know!¡± Kim admitted. ¡°Kim, are you crazy? They told us not to say anything, or we¡¯ll all be dead.¡± ¡°But Mr. Wade is terrifying too¡­¡± Kim said. The three of them reacted differently, but none had the courage to resist. They just shuffled around on the ground, trying to y dumb. With a bang, Briar mmed the car door shut. With her hands in her pockets, she casually walked up to one of them. She lifted the man¡¯s chin with the tip of her foot. ¡°Time is limited. I¡¯ll give you two choices. One, confess, and we guarantee we won¡¯t kill you.¡± Seeing the sh of surprise in their eyes, Briar slowly revealed the second option. ¡°Two, if you¡¯re man enough, grit your teeth and say nothing. Then, wait for us to beat you to death, and finally, we¡¯ll feed your corpses to the zoo¡¯s crocodiles and tigers.¡± Ashton was thergest shareholder in the Shoneport Zoo. It would be all too easy for him to make someone disappear without a trace. 10:25 Wed, Oct 1 When the three of them heard this, their legs went weak. ¡°Don¡¯t kill us! We¡¯ll say! We¡¯ll tell you everything we know!¡± Jewell, at the side, fell silent. He didn¡¯t expect they chicken out just like that. Ian seemed to sense his contempt and kicked him. ¡°The same goes for you. Tell us everything you know, and. you will live to see another day. Otherwise, I¡¯ll put a bullet in you.¡± Jewell was speechless. Forsaken 320 Jewell and his three men were utterly helpless, firmly pinned to the ground by Brandon andn on either side. They confessed everything they knew in detail. They had no other choice. If they dared to keep silent, Brandon andn would grind them against the ground. And they meant that literally. Their exposed skin was already raw and bloody. This interrogation method was not lethal, but it was excruciatingly painful. The pain was so intense that even gut¨Cwrenching screams couldn¡¯t relieve the burning sensation. Then, the four of them scrambled to confess, afraid of being tortured again if they were too slow. Ashton and Briar leaned against the car door, their expressions growing darker as they listened to the confessions of Jewell and the other three men. Seeing Briar¡¯s face tense with anger, Ashton joked, ¡°Briar, it seems our counterattack has been too slow, making them think we¡¯re not a real threat.¡± A scalpel glinted in Briar¡¯s hand, moving so fast it left afterimages. ¡°Then let¡¯s stop holding back. It¡¯s time to show them our true strength and y for real.¡± Ashton nodded. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s have some real fun with them.¡± Brandon came over. ¡°Ashton, Ma¡¯am, the interrogation is finished. We¡¯ve squeezed them dry.¡± Ashton nced at the four half¨Cdead men on the ground, unmoved by the blood covering them. ¡°Have someone take them to the police station. Consider it our contribution to their monthly quota.¡± Brandon nodded. ¡°Understood.¡± He then took out his phone and called his men to take them away. Ian circled the four men, not yet finished, aiming his gun back and forth at their heads and hearts. He seemed to be searching for the best position and angle to shoot. Jewell and the other three were so scared they held their breath, terrified that Ian¡¯s gun might identally discharge, sending a bullet into their heads or hearts. Fortunately, Brandon called Ian back to the car. Jewell and the other three men only breathed a heavy sigh of relief after watching the G¨CWagon reverse, turn, and drive off into the distance. 55 vouchers With lingering fear, Kim squirmed on the ground to case his pain. ¡°Professor Morphew, let¡¯s run before Ashton¡¯s men get here!¡± Grover and Ernest nodded in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s right. Let¡¯s run now while no one¡¯s here. Otherwise, if we¡¯re taken to the police station, we¡¯ll never be able to escape.¡± Groaning, Jewell struggled to sit up. ¡°If you can think of escaping, don¡¯t you think Mr. Wade and his men have anticipated it?¡± Kim said, ¡°So, we can¡¯t just wait here to be captured, can we?¡± Jewell forced a bitter smile and pointed to his right arm with his left hand. ¡°Take a close look at what¡¯s under my arm.¡± The three of them immediately looked where Jewell was pointing. Three gasps followed. ¡°It¡¯s a bomb!¡± ¡°When¡­ when did they nt the bomb? How did we not see it?¡± ¡°This bomb¡­ It looks like¡­ it looks like a time bomb!¡± ¡°What should we do? Are we going to die?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s¡­ let¡¯s run?¡± Hearing this, Jewell¡¯s flushed face turned pale. ¡°As long as you stay put, the bomb won¡¯t go off.¡± He was threatening the three of them: if they dared to run, he would die with them. Kim and the other two looked at each other; no one dared to run. Ever since Jewell turned them to join some big¨Cshot circle, they had seen their share of blood and violence, but they still hadn¡¯t be true viins. They were not afraid of small scuffles, but they would surrender without a fight when their lives were at stake. They would never gamble with their lives. The four men copsed at the vi entrance, waiting meekly for Ashton¡¯s men to arrive, dismantle the time bomb Jewell was holding, and take them away. Word of what happened soon reached Thiago. Thiago had just left a meeting. He frowned as he listened to his secretary¡¯s detailed report. ¡°Have you contacted Ashton?¡± The secretary shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve tried, but Ashton isn¡¯t answering his phone.¡± Thiago clicked his tongue irritably. ¡°That brat. He isn¡¯t answering because he wants to escte things, and he¡¯s 10:25 Wed, Oct 1 afraid I¡¯ll pressure him. Noticing that Thiago was not truly angry, the secretary smiled and spoke up for Ashton. ¡°Ashton probably isn¡¯t answering because he doesn¡¯t want to put you in a difficult position.¡± Thiago snorted. ¡°Does he think I won¡¯t be in a tough spot just because he ignores my call?¡± The secretary smiled silently, understanding everything perfectly. Regardless of whether Ashton answered the phone or how difficult it was, Thiago would still quietly clean up after him. The secretary knew Thiago took the position as head of the provincial department so he could secretly support Ashton when he decided to make a big move. Now that Ashton was about to cause a stir, Thiago must be secretly itching for action. Thiago looked at his trusted secretary¡¯s ¡°I see right through you¡± expression, and the corners of his mouth curled up. Updates are released by find(?)ovel Feigning annoyance, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s with that look? Am I the type of person who ys favorites?¡± The secretary¡¯s smile immediately vanished. ¡°You¡¯re definitely not one to y favorites. So, Director Wade, about the precinct¡¯s request to release Edgar, will you approve it?¡± Thiago¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°The evidence of Edgar embezzling public funds is conclusive. How can we release him?¡± The secretary nodded with an ¡°I knew it¡± expression. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll reject the precinct¡¯s application right away.¡± In fact, this request to release Edgar should never have reached his desk through normal channels. He had no choice. As the secretary to the head of the provincial department, his position would have been snatched away long ago if he couldn¡¯t even manage this piece of news. ***** Ronan¡¯s face darkened as he stared at the provincial department¡¯s official stamp on the application form. He was not only annoyed but also vaguely uneasy. Logically, the application they submitted should never have reached Thiago, regardless of the routing process. After all, it had to pass through several leaders first. It was probably because of the rtionship between Thiago and Ashton, so someone higher up had deliberately handed him the application to curry favor. They wanted to use this opportunity to gauge Thiago¡¯s current attitude toward Ashton. 10:25 Wed, Oct 1 Áã If Thiago, like the rest of the Wade family, couldn¡¯t wait for Ashton to be driven out of Shoneport, they could proceed without any hesitation. But to their surprise, Thiago was as protective of Ashton as ever, giving him whatever he wanted. It seemed impossible for Ronan to release Edgar openly now. Since he couldn¡¯t release him openly, he had to resort to special measures. AD Comment Send gift Forsaken 316 Chapter 316 55 vouchers Original content can be found at Find_Novel(. 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¨CI 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¨CShoneport. Even if Nathan wanted to cause trouble, he dared not do so 10:24 Wed, Oct 1 openly. He quicklyposed himself, bowed his head slightly, and said with forced respect, ¡°Ashton.¡± 56 vouchers 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¨Clooking. 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¨Cof 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¨Cabiding citizens. We¡¯d never break thew,¡± Briar said, straight¨Cfaced. 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 1 The arm around her waist remained firmly in ce. M:. 69 105 youter 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¨Cor 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. 10:24 Wed, Oct 1 The Novel will be updated first on this website. 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