bChapter /bb211 /b

    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–inw 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?i” /ihe said.

    Hamish red at Reece and said, “Aren’t you anticipating too? Sure, the Garza family isn’t exactly top–tier, 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, iyou /isaw 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%b8 /b

    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.

    bAD /b