Lucian went through the photos. The first photo was the photo Cory had deliberately selected for him-the photo where Aubree was putting the bacteria into the children’s drink.
The background of the photo was the field where Roxanne had brought the children. Even though there were only a few photos, Lucian could see the ruthlessness and caution in Aubree’s eyes.
Lucian narrowed his eyes. He guessed that Aubree had to have done more things than what these photos showed. He went through the other photos, Most of the photos were photos of Roxanne with Jack, as well as photos of him and Roxanne.
Even though Roxanne had accepted him, and even though the two of them were close, he still could not help but feel irritated at the sight of her photos with Jack.
Cory had taken the photos deliberately from an angle that would make Roxanne look as though she was being intimate with Jack. The tension built up in the office.
Sensing the change in Lucian’s mood, Cory craned his neck to look at the photos before explaining, “Mr. Farwell, please don’t misunderstand the situation. I was only making it seem as if they were intimate. Ms. Jarvis has always been keeping a safe distance from him.”
Cory was filled with regret as he said that, and his explanation earned a glare from Lucian. Naturally, he realized that, but it still did not stop him from feeling jealous when he saw the photos.
What was I doing while Roxanne was spending her time with Jack? I was giving her the cold shoulder and mulling over if I should make Aubree Essie’s stepmother.
Fury surged through him when he thought about that. Suddenly, he saw a few familiar photos. Lucian froze and lifted his head to look at Cory. “Did you send these photos to Aubree?”
Cory did not know what happened, but he nodded sheepishly. “I sent most of the photos here to Ms. Pearson.” The anger twisted even more inside Lucian.
The photos were the ones that Sonya had used to kick up a fuss. Back then, Lucian had asked her who sent her the photos, but Sonya had told him they were. from an unfamiliar number.
Now, it was clear to him that Aubree’s scheming ways went further than what he could see.
“Mr. Farwell…” Cory was frightened by Lucian’s cold fury. “Mr. Farwell, I was only doing my job! I don’t know anything about what happened other than this!
Aubree’s a lunatic! She even asked me to kill Ms. Jarvis for her, but why would I do that? But she threatened to tell you that everything was my doing if I didn’t do as she said. I had no choice but to flee from her…”
Lucian snapped, “What did you just say?” That b*tch even wanted to kill Roxanne? A shudder ran down Cory’s spine. “Aubree went mad on the night Ms. Jarvis was hospitalized…
He could not finish the sentence from the pure wrath Lucian was exuding. The room plunged into a deathly silence. Right as Cory was about to say something else, Lucian abruptly lifted his hand.
In the next second, the camera he had been holding shot past Cory’s face and slammed onto the ground. The screen cracked. Cory’s knees went weak, and he nearly slid off his chair to kneel before Lucian.
An indeterminate time passed, and Cory finally regained his senses. “Mr. Farwell, I was wrong! I won’t ever dare to do this again. Aubree forced me!” He begged for mercy in a panic and spoke without considering his word choices. “I don’t want the money. Please let me go. I’ll scram!”
He got up from the chair and wanted to escape the office as soon as possible because that place felt like hell to him due to the gloomy aura emitted by Lucian.
Cory didn’t want to stay there for a second longer. “Stop right there,” Lucian uttered just as Cory reached the office door.
At the same time, Cayden moved and stood at the doorway, blocking Cory’s path. Cayden gestured at the latter for him to retrace his steps.
Remorse washed over Cory as he was trapped inside the office by Lucian and Cayden. If he could turn back time, he wouldn’t have met with Lucian no matter what.
Realizing there was no longer hope for him to run away, Cory turned around and gazed at Lucian, having only the courage to do so while keeping a safe distance from him. “What else can I do for you, Mr. Farwell?”
Lucian got to his feet from behind the desk and glanced at Cory with a dark look. “I can give you the money.” Cory was shocked. He couldn’t believe his ears. Am I really able to acquire money from Lucian? I’m not dreaming, right?
Immediately afterward, Lucian’s voice rang again. “But not now.” Reality slapped Cory across his face. Having worked in that industry for so long, he was already a worldly-wise person.
He fathomed Lucian had a task for him after Lucian finished his sentence. Moreover, that task wouldn’t be simple. However, Cory was left with no alternative.
Instead of having Lucian force him to take on the job, he figured he might as well seize that opportunity to get on Lucian’s good side by doing him that favor.
Cory flashed a subservient smile. “Mr. Farwell, how can I be of help? I’ll definitely put forth my best effort!” Lucian strode past him and looked at Cayden, who was standing at the doorway. “Bring Mr. Zaythrone to the reception room to rest.”
Cayden nodded politely. Cory’s heart jumped to his throat when he was on his way to the reception room. The tension. even caused him to feel a little breathless.
Meanwhile, Aubree had finally returned to the Pearson residence. Her legs were still a little weak when she got out of the car. She nearly fell to the ground. “Aubree!”
Inside the mansion, Gina was sitting in the living room in uneasiness. Her facial expression brightened when she saw Aubree returning. “Where did you go?
You haven’t eaten anything in the past few days and were reluctant to leave your bedroom. When you stepped out of your room, you disappeared without updating us on your whereabouts. Do you know how worried I was about you?”
Samuel, standing next to Gina, also looked concerned.
“Just forget about the engagement since it has been called off. Lucian will always remember the kindness your grandfather had shown him, so the Pearson family’s status remains,” Ginal comforted her daughter.
Although they were also dissatisfied with the cancellation of the engagement, Gina and Samuel thought their daughter’s health was ultimately more important.
“Mom, Dad, things may be different for the Pearson family soon,” Aubree stammered.
The rest of Gina’s words stuck in her throat. She turned her head around and exchanged glances with Samuel. Only then did she confirm her ears weren’t playing tricks on her.
Colors drained from her face again as apprehension filled her eyes. “What happened? Why are you saying that all of a sudden?”
Gina sized up Aubree’s appearance as she spoke. A sense of foreboding crept into Gina’s heart. “Be honest with us. What have you done?”
Aubree’s lips trembled uncontrollably. “I-I messed up! Lucian will never let me off the hook! Mom, Dad, please help me. Only you two can save me now!”
Gina panicked at the sight of her daughter’s. demeanor. She instinctively turned to look at Samuel. Samuel remained relatively rational, but he was wearing a grimace. “What did you do?”
Hearing her father’s question, Aubree lowered her gaze guiltily, her eyelids twitching uncontrollably. Even as the situation progressed to that stage, she was still trying to figure out ways to describe her doings with reduced severity.
After contemplating for a few moments, she uttered warily, “I-I contaminated the water Essie drank with bacteria.” Samuel’s and Gina’s faces darkened as soon as they heard that.
They had always known Aubree despised Estella and had been mistreating her. However, since Lucian didn’t find out about that, they turned a blind eye to Aubree’s misconduct. Unexpectedly, Aubree’s foolishness knew no boundaries.
Noticing the changes in her parents’ mood, Aubree quickly added, “I didn’t do that on purpose. I was just trying to teach the b*tch, Roxanne, a lesson. I wanted those two b*stards.
to be infected, but I-I didn’t expect Essie’s cup to be next to theirs. I got carried away-” Before she could finish her sentence, Samuel slapped her forcefully. “You fool!”
Aubree covered her face, lowered her head, and stayed silent for a long while. Samuel panted heavily. He recollected himself for a few seconds before asking again, “Is that all?”
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.