I would still be deemed as an accomplice if Lucian were to know about this!
It’s not like Lucian will let me off even if I don’t sell Aubree out…
Cory felt troubled.
Lucian could see Cory’s visible hesitance. His eyes darkened as the atmosphere around him became thick with tension. “How about I put this in another way? Who told you to stalk her?”
Cory was stunned. After a moment of contemplation, he had no choice but to reply, “No one.”
He had been working day and night ever since and had yet to receive a single penny.
Even if Lucian managed to find out anything later on, it would still be worth it, as Cory would have received the money he was promised.
However, if he were to sell Aubree out, he might lose everything.
As soon as Cory finished speaking, he suddenly heard a rustle. He carefully lifted his head and saw Lucian standing up from the desk, walking in his direction.
Lucian was already exuding a domineering aura when he was seated. Cory only felt suffocated when the man suddenly stood up.
Lucian stood before Cory with a straight face. In an icy voice, he said, “It’s a slip-up on my part. You’re a private investigator. It’s only natural for you to speak after I pay you.”
With that, Lucian glanced at Cayden. Cayden understood instantly. He got a check and handed it to Lucian. Cory only heard the sound of light footsteps. Then, a slender and defined hand was waving a check before his eyes.
“Tell me who did it, and this check will be yours. You’re free to write whatever amount you want,” Lucian said in a softer tone.
Cory fixed his eyes on the check.
He had been a private investigator for many years. Naturally, he only had his eyes on the money.
Cory knew that the amount he could write on the check promised by Lucian was nearly limitless.
If the things from yesterday had not happened, he would have sold Aubree out in a heartbeat.
Unfortunately, Lucian was angered by the things that had happened yesterday.
In just a matter of minutes, Cory had thought of all the possibilities.
Aubree would probably drag me down together if I were to sell her out. She might even tell Lucian that I was the one who told her about Roxanne and the other’s whereabouts. What if Aubree told Lucian that I saw her doing everything but chose to do nothing?
No matter how awful Aubree has been, she’s still someone acquainted with Farwell Group. On top of that, she’s the daughter of a wealthy family.
As long as Lucian cares about the Pearsons’ reputation, the only one to suffer will be me!
Cory made up his mind at the thought of that.
He and Aubree were in the same boat. He could not risk it all just for money!
Cory tore his gaze away from the check. Feigning calmness, he said, “I really have no idea what you’re talking about, Mr. Farwell. No one ordered me to do it. I’m also unaware if anyone added anything to Ms. Jarvis’ drink.”
Lucian stopped waving the check as soon as Cory finished his sentence.
At that moment, Cory felt as if his heart had stopped beating. He could not help but fear that Lucian would go hard on him.
Yet, Lucian only looked Cory up and down with a hint of impatience in his eyes.
The private investigator before me knows everything, but he’s just too stubborn.
“You better think carefully. Farwell Group could provide you with greater perks than your previous boss did. If you confess now, I’ll let you off. However, if you continued being stubborn and I were to find out anything after today, everything would be different,” Lucian said.
After giving Cayden the check, he turned around and sat at his desk.
Cory trembled inwardly. Carefully, he lifted his head to sneak a glance before quickly lowering his head again.
Even in that split second, he could see how bone-chilling Lucian’s gaze was.
The thought of whether Lucian’s words matched his thoughts terrified Cory.
“There’s really no one. You can get people to check my workplace if you don’t believe me,” Cory said, forcing himself to be calm.
Lucian’s eyes darkened as his probing gaze swept past Cory.
There’s only one possibility for him to suggest that… He’s already prepared.
Other than that, he’s also as stubborn as a mule.
Lucian knew there would still be no answer to his question even if he continued forcing Cory, so he took up Cory’s suggestion. He turned to Cayden. “Get some people to search his workplace.”
Cayden agreed without hesitation before ordering people to escort Cory away.
The search lasted the entire morning. The grim-faced Cayden, who returned with his subordinates in the afternoon, said, “We found nothing, Mr. Farwell.”
Admittedly, Cory was an excellent private investigator. Cayden could not help but wonder how he had managed to keep in touch with his employers.
Not only did Cayden not find any evidence of how the mastermind instructed Cory to spy on Roxanne, but he also could not find proof that could expose Cory’s identity as a private investigator.
Cory began playing the sympathy card. “Mr. Farwell, I told you no one instructed me to do anything.” Lucian waited for half a day but did not get the answer he was looking for. His eyes blazed with fury when he saw the pretentious innocent look on the culprit’s face.
“If no one put you up to this, why did you stalk her?” he asked.
Cory blinked innocently. “B-Because I find Ms. Jarvis attractive. I wished to snap photos of her since I was trying my hand at photography.”
He had felt nervous before Cayden carried out his investigations, but upon realizing the latter got nothing on him, he started speaking more boldly.
Lucian was about to explode. He kept staring at Cory, giving him the killer glare.
Instead of continuously triggering him, Cory kept mum and stood quietly in the middle of the room.
“Mr. Farwell, what if we…” A cold glint flashed across Cayden’s eyes as he could not stand how the man disrespected Lucian. There are many ways to interrogate a person. We’ll find one that can make him spill out the truth.
Cory started panicking as he could sense the murderous intent in his voice.
Suddenly, Lucian’s deep voice reverberated in their ears. “Release him.”
“Mr. Farwell!” Cayden was reluctant to do so. How can we let him go when we haven’t gotten anything out of him? Besides, we should teach him a lesson for his arrogance!
Cory, too, was struck dumb. He did not expect Lucian to let him off. I can’t believe my ears!
Lucian reiterated, “Release him!”
Upon noticing the expression on Lucian’s face, Cayden had no choice but to do as he said. He gestured for his subordinates to release Cory.
Never did Cory expect he could fool his way through. He dared not leave because he was unsure if they would allow him to go.
While Cory was still in a dilemma, Lucian looked over impatiently and raised his voice. “What are you waiting for? Scram!”
Cory came to his senses and immediately inclined his head in response. “All right, all right. I’ll leave now. I’ll leave.”
He staggered backward and left Lucian’s office.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.