Chapter 122 Will You Take Aurora Down for Me?
Cyril remained unfazed, his tone cool and measured. “If you doubt me, Father, call Aurora here and let’s settle this face–to–face. Or, if you’re after something more drastic, I’ll take care of her myself.”
As the words left his lips, a chilling edge crept into his voice. To an outsider, it might have seemed like he genuinely wanted me dead. But I knew better. My faith in Cyril was unshakable.
Charles’s piercing gaze bore into Cyril, searching for any hint of emotion beneath his calm exterior. The two stood locked in a tense silence for a full minute before Charles suddenly chuckled. “Cyril, you’re sharp. You know where your loyalty belongs–with the Hartman family. Women like Aurora? They’re a dime a dozen. You’ll have your pick of them later.”
Cyril’s lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. “Father, don’t worry. I understand perfectly.”
Charles gave a curt nod, his tone casual but firm. “Head back for now. I’ve got some things to check on. I’ll catch up with you later.”
Without a word of protest, Cyril nodded and left the room. My gaze snapped to Cadell, and I couldn’t miss the raw panic and dread flickering in his eyes. I couldn’t help but smirk, a soft laugh escaping my lips.
We all knew what Charles’s words truly meant. He was finally starting to accept Cyril–not as a bastard, but as a legitimate heir. With Cyril and Cadell on equal footing, the choice was obvious to everyone, even Cadell himself. He knew Charles would ultimately choose Cyril.
Why wouldn’t he? Cyril had unmatched strength and connections, even with the Knightfall Group. This was a ready–made lifeline for the Hartman family, especially after losing the Hodge Group. Charles would cling to it with everything he had.
Cadell, always so arrogant, was finally feeling the pressure. He opened his mouth as if to protest, but a single glance from Charles silenced him. His recent mistakes had cost him dearly, leaving him with no standing to speak. He could only shoot a venomous glare at Cyril’s back before slinking into the shadows like a beaten dog.
Cyril paid him no mind, turning and walking away without a second thought. I couldn’t see his face, but I could easily imagine the look in his eyes–amusement, disdain, and a touch of mockery. No wonder Cadell’s face had turned so ashen in the final moments of the surveillance footage.
lowered my gaze, staring blankly at the monitor. I could guess why Charles had summoned Cyril back. He likely wanted Cyril to learn about the family’s secret operations but was still wary, wanting to investigate whether Cyril had been in contact with me. Thankfully, Cyril and I had anticipated this. All surveillance footage of our previous encounters had been destroyed. Even if Charles dug deep, he’d find nothing.
The outcome was practically set in stone. No surprises awaited us.
Cyril returned to the room with me, but we didn’t exchange a word. He didn’t turn off the cameras either, simply going about his usual tasks. We both knew better than to reach out to each other. Charles would undoubtedly have people watching Cyril closely. Any suspicious moves, and we’d be exposed. Staying silent was the only option.
Sure enough, within an hour, Charles summoned Cyril again. As he stood, his fingers brushed lightly against a button on his coat. I snapped to attention, watching closely.
Chapter 122 Will MATULONG.
Cyril took his seat near Charles, who began, “Cyril, I’ve been very pleased with your lately.
Cyril smiled faintly. “Thank you, Father,”
Charles nodded, his tone leisurely. “Cyril, ever wondered how a family of jewelers like us got so cozy with the Hodge Group and the Evans family?”
Here it comes. My eyes remained cold as I watched the screen. Cyril feigned confusion. “Isn’t it because of our long–standing friendship?”
“Of course not,” Charles said slowly, each word deliberate. “It’s because our familly has a secret operation, Cyril, would you like to see it?”
The implication was clear. Cyril didn’t hesitate. “I’d love to, Father.”
Charles smiled, satisfied, and led him into the underground operation. I stayed silent, hitting the record button. This would be invaluable evidence. Charles was explaining everything in detail, laying out the purpose of each woman in the operation, even more clearly than when I had first seen it.
And then… I saw the lab. Row after row of women lay motionless on hospital beds, their bodies crisscrossed with tubes, their arms mottled with bruises. It looked more like a nightmare than a morgue, The sight was horrifying, and I couldn’t bear to look for long. The thought of my mother once being in such a state, stripped of dignity and treated like a lab rat, made my blood boil.
The deeper we went, the more unsettling it became. It wasn’t a group of women I was seeing–it was a slaughterhouse. I had to save them. I repeated it to myself like a mantra.
The operation was far larger than I’d imagined. It took Charles a full hour to finish the tour. Throughout, Cyril
remained composed, responding appropriately to Charles’s explanations. Charles seemed even more pleased
with him.
As they exited the operation, I heard Charles say, “Cyril, Aurora trusts you completely. Will you do the deed
and take her out for me?”
Cyril froze. I could hear the slight hitch in his breath. At this very moment, he was both pleased and
disdainful. Those striking eyes undoubtedly sparkled with mockery. Otherwise, Cadell’s face in the last frame
of the footage wouldn’t have looked so utterly miserable. I lowered my gaze slightly, fixated on the monitor
screen, my mind adrift in thought. I could pretty much guess why Charles had called Cyril back. He likely wanted Cyril to learn about the family’s secret operations, but he still had his doubts. He must have wanted
to investigate whether Cyril had been in contact with me during this time. Fortunately, Cyril and I had already anticipated this. All surveillance footage of our close interactions had been wiped clean. Even if Charles tried
to dig, he wouldn’t find anything. Essentially, the outcome was already set in stone–no surprises there.
Cyril led me back to the room, his demeanor calm and composed. He didn’t say a word to me, and he left the
cameras running. We both had an unspoken understanding not to reach out to each other. At this point, Charles would undoubtedly have people watching Cyril closely. Any suspicious activity from us would be
quickly detected. So, the smartest move was to keep our mouths shut and lay low. As expected, less than an hour later, Charles called for Cyril again. He stood up, his fingertips absently brushing over a button on his
coat, a subtle signal. I snapped out of my thoughts, my eyes glued to the screen.
As soon as Cyril sat down near Charles, the old man spoke, “Cyril, I’ve been very pleased with you lately.” Cyril replied with a soft smile, “Thank you, Father.” Charles, pleased with his response, continued in a slow, deliberate tone, “Cyril, would you like to know why the Hartman family, a mere jewelry dynasty, has such,
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Chapter 122 Will You Take..
strong ties with the Hodge Group and the Evans family?” This was it. The moment I’d been waiting for. I watched the scene on the monitor with a cold gaze. Cyril raised an eyebrow, feigning confusion, “Isn’t it
because of our longstanding friendship?”
“Of course not,” Charles said, each word deliberate. “It’s because the Hartman family has a secret operation. Cyril, would you like to see it?” The implication was crystal clear. Without hesitation, Cyril replied smoothly,
“I’d like to, Father.”
Charles gave a satisfied nod, then led him into the shadowy depths of the family’s underground operations. I
stayed silent the entire time, clicking the record button on the screen. This was going to be the smoking g*n! Charles was right there, laying it all out in detail. Every woman’s role in the operation was explained more clearly than when I’d seen it myself. And what I saw next was even more horrifying.
I also saw the area where they conducted experiments. Countless women lay on hospital beds, like a
sprawling morgue.
Tubes coiled around their frail bodies, and their arms were littered with dark, angry bruises. The sight was
nothing short of gut–wrenching!
I had to look away, my stomach churning.
Just the thought of my mother once being treated with such indignity, stripped of all dignity, ignited a fury so intense it nearly consumed me.
The further I went, the more my unease clawed at me.
These weren’t women I saw–they were treated like cattle in a slaughterhouse.
I had to save them.
I kept chanting to myself, over and over.
The sheer scale of this operation was staggering, far beyond what I’d imagined. Charles droned on for a solid hour, detailing every gruesome aspect before the tour finally concluded.
Cyril remained stone–faced throughout, offering nothing but the occasional nod as Charles spoke.
Charles’s satisfaction only deepened at Cyril’s unwavering composure.
As they stepped out of the facility, Charles’s words cut through the silence, “Cyril, it seems Aurora trusts you deeply. Would you do me the favor of killing her?”
Cyril froze, and I could practically hear the sharp intake of his breath.
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