Don't Be a Tease, Mr. Blackwood

Before the Sullivan family fell from grace, Troy Wright had already divorced Ms. Quinn. Tracing his real identity wouldn’t be easy, but it wasn’t entirely impossible.

But he wasn’t worried. He had plenty of time to exact his revenge before his true identity was uncovered.

"Think about whether you want to continue this partnership."

"If we succeed, you’ll be the future master of the Kane Group. You’ll own all its assets and never have to endure another condescending look again."

Damian Morgan hesitated for a long time, his heart pounding with anxiety.

He stared at Timothy Quinn’s face and asked cautiously, "After this is all over, you’re not going to... silence me too, are you?"

"We’re in the same boat. As long as you keep your mouth shut and don’t rat me out, I won’t sell you out. Besides, there’s no public connection between us. If the police suspect you, they can’t trace it back to me. If they suspect me, they can’t trace it to you. We’ll let Alaric Blackwood take the blame, and we’ll be in the clear."

"Give me some time to think about it."

"There’s no time. Vianne Kane is missing, and the police have opened a case. Bianca Kane has abandoned everything to come back for her daughter. That shows you how important her daughter is to her. I bet she won’t just sit back and do nothing. She’s definitely sent out a lot of people to look for me."

A chill ran down Damian Morgan’s spine. He was deeply conflicted.

"I can’t kill anyone. I don’t have the guts for it."

At this, Timothy Quinn laughed. "Can’t kill anyone? Then pray tell, how did Mr. Kane die?"

Damian Morgan’s eyes widened, a flicker of panic in his gaze.

"You might be able to fool others, but you can’t fool me. We’re both the type to do whatever it takes to get what we want. Stop pretending you’re some kind of saint."

Timothy Quinn’s taunt made Damian Morgan grit his teeth. He declared righteously, "Mr. Kane died of a heart attack. It had nothing to do with me."

"Say what you will. I know you had something to do with his death. You don’t have to explain. Any explanation would just be a cover-up."

"You have no proof. Don’t you dare slander me."

"So you don’t want in? Fine. You can leave. I’ll release Vianne Kane and have her divorce you."

Damian Morgan was utterly panicked.

If they divorced, he would have nothing.

"Aren’t you afraid I’ll go to the police and report you?"

"Go ahead! See if Vianne Kane will cooperate and tell the police it was me who kidnapped her."

’No matter what, I have leverage over Vianne Kane.’

’If I let Vianne Kane go, knowing her personality, she wouldn’t try to take me down with her. Instead, she’d swallow this humiliation, then find another chance to get me killed, just like all those years ago.’

’Rather than burning that bridge, I have an even better idea. I could just sweet-talk Vianne. That woman is a hopeless romantic, so easy to persuade. A little bit of affection and she’ll be completely hooked.’

’Worst case, I’ll just charm Vianne into becoming my woman. Instead of handing the Kane Group over to Damian Morgan, wouldn’t it be so much better if it ended up in my hands?’

Damian Morgan had clearly guessed his intentions, and his gaze grew even more venomous.

"If you want the Kane Group, you’ll do as I say. Or you can walk out that door right now. But if you refuse to work with me, and something happens to you or your family down the line... don’t say I didn’t warn you."

Damian Morgan seethed at Timothy Quinn’s threat.

"You could at least give me a day to think it over." He was trying to buy time.

Timothy Quinn nodded, indicating he could go.

Seething with repressed anger, he walked to the entryway. Before he could leave, he was stopped by several of Timothy Quinn’s bodyguards. They frisked him from head to toe, finding only a wallet and a phone. After ensuring the phone wasn’t recording, they let him go.

The moment he left Timothy Quinn’s villa and reached the main road, he hailed a taxi and departed. Someone hiding in the shadows immediately placed a call to Preston Chase.

After hearing his subordinate’s report, Preston Chase immediately relayed the information to Alaric Blackwood.

Alaric Blackwood himself had just arrived at the hospital.

Alaric thought for a moment before telling Preston Chase, "Find out who lives in that villa. Also, bring Joel Kane to the hospital. Get him admitted ahead of time and post a few men to watch him."

"Understood, Mr. Blackwood."

After giving his orders, Alaric Blackwood got out of the car and strode toward the inpatient building.

He took the elevator up. As soon as the doors opened, he saw a familiar figure from a distance, standing outside Sophie Shaw’s room. It was Jaden, dressed in a patient’s gown.

He walked over, but Jaden grabbed him and pulled him into the stairwell.

"Alaric, why did you pull your funding from the law firm?"

"Is that the only reason you were looking for me?"

"It was just so sudden."

"Jaden, we’re not friends anymore."

"Don’t be so heartless."

Alaric Blackwood pried Jaden’s hand off and tried to leave, but Jaden forcefully pulled him back.

"After more than twenty years of friendship, you’re not going to give our history any consideration at all?"

"Let’s just part ways amicably. Don’t make this ugly."

Jaden was filled with indignation. Nina Halloway had left him because he couldn’t remember his lost memories, and now Alaric Blackwood was pulling his funding and cutting ties with him. He was simmering with resentment, feeling terribly wronged.

As he watched Alaric Blackwood shake his hand off again and head toward Sophie Shaw’s room, a sudden, sharp pain shot through Jaden’s head. An agonized cry escaped his throat.

Hearing the cry, Alaric Blackwood paused and turned back to see Jaden hunched over, clutching his head with both hands, his face contorted in agony.

"Headache?"

"Want me to get a doctor?"

Jaden didn’t answer. He collapsed heavily, losing consciousness as he hit the floor.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Alaric frowned, turned back, and hoisted Jaden over his shoulder. He carried him down the stairwell and directly back to his room.

Mrs. Garland and Stella Yarrow were both there. Seeing Alaric Blackwood carry in the unconscious Jaden, the two women grew frantic.

"What happened to my son?"

Mrs. Garland’s face was white with panic as she let out a sharp, piercing question.

Alaric Blackwood ignored her. He laid Jaden on the hospital bed and immediately pressed the call button.

The medical staff arrived with incredible speed.

He briefly explained Jaden’s condition, then tactfully stepped aside to let the medical team begin treatment.

...

「At the same time.」

Inside Timothy Quinn’s private villa.

Vianne Kane was huddled in a corner of the basement, a long iron chain shackled to her ankle.

She had been kidnapped and locked in this basement for a long time. Her kidnapper was Conor Sullivan. He hadn’t tortured her like he did before; he just kept her locked up, personally bringing her food every day.

When she refused to eat, he would force-feed her. Three meals a day, without fail.

From beyond the heavy iron door, the sound of footsteps grew closer.

They weren’t normal footsteps. The sound was uneven—sometimes light, sometimes heavy—and mixed with the tap of a cane against the floor.

She knew Conor Sullivan was coming. Her heart instantly tightened.

She was afraid of him, ever since he’d "taught her a lesson" at the hotel. ’He only ever comes at mealtimes to bring food,’ she thought, her anxiety mounting. ’But it isn’t mealtime. What is he doing here? Is he here to punish me?’

She curled into a tight ball in the corner, her eyes fixed on the iron door in wary terror.

CREAK—

The door opened.

Timothy Quinn limped into the basement, leaning on his cane.

He looked at Vianne Kane, huddled in the dim corner, and slowly approached her. A faint smile touched his lips. "This morning, you asked if I was working with Damian Morgan. I can answer that question for you now."

"He’s the one who had me kidnap you."