CHAPTER 837: CHAPTER 836

"Thank you all for carving time out of your busy schedules to join us tonight. I have an announcement to make."

The assembled guests turned their attention towards him, eyes alight with curiosity and anticipation, as if they all were curious about what he would announce next.

"As many of you may recall, the disappearance of my kids with my ex-wife Dennis and Carol -shook our world. After years of searching to no avail, they have miraculously returned home safe and sound. I couldn’t contain such joy and felt the need to share this wonderful news. I apologize for the impromptu nature of this gathering, and for not sending out invitations in advance. Your presence here is deeply appreciated, and I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for joining us on such short notice."

The idea that, after so many years, the siblings had come back was both astonishing and unexpected, sparking a wave of excited chatter among the guests.

Rudolf beckoned Carol and Dennis to the stage, "Allow me to introduce my son, Dennis Brooks." He said, patting Dennis’s shoulder proudly before turning to Carol, "And this is my daughter, Carol."

"After all these years, they’ve grown into such fine young adults."

"Who would’ve thought we’d see a family reunion after a dozen years."

"And here I was, worried that Rudolf and Maureen’s spoiled son would be an embarrassment. But look at Dennis - there’s hope for the Brooks family yet."

"Indeed, Carol looks so poised and elegant. A breath of fresh air compared to that pretentious Katherine."

"I wonder who took them in and raised them to be so well-mannered and attractive. They’ve certainly inherited Rudolf and his ex-wife’s good looks."

Maureen and Katherine, overhearing the whispers and comparisons, seethed with indignation. If it weren’t for saving that hefty sum of 3 million to keep up appearances, they would never have agreed to let Rudolf host this banquet and let everyone know about Carol and Dennis’s return.

Suddenly, a voice cut through the murmurings, emanating from the speakers.

"You must tell me, why did you want her dead? I’m risking my neck for you here; at least let me die knowing why. Why was it so important for you to run her over?"

The guests were confused. Had the wrong audio been played? Upbeat music was supposed to follow, not this.

Maureen’s voice soon followed, "Fine, I’ll tell you. Only with Simona Temple gone can I become the lady of the Brooks family. Just do as I instructed, run her over. The 100 grand down payment is already

in your account, and the remaining will be transferred from a different account once it’s done."

The guests were slowly realizing whose voice it was, their eyes turning towards Maureen at the head table. Initially, Maureen had brushed off the male voice as a line from a movie, but upon hearing her own voice, the gravity of the situation dawned on her.

"Tomorrow, Simona and her sister, Celeste Temple, are taking their families to the amusement park.

Find your moment. And don’t say I didn’t warn you. Make it look tragic." Maureen’s voice continued from the speakers, "She must be dead on spot. The more brutal, the better."

The male driver sounded fearful, "If the cops trace it back to me, my family."

"Your family knows nothing. And with you gone, there’ll be no witnesses. Don’t worry. I’ve got it all planned out. No one will ever find out. Everyone will think it was just a tragic accident."

The male driver was still uneasy, "If I die, how will I know you’ve transferred the remaining to my account?"

"You’re putting your life on the line for me, do you really think I’d be so heartless, so utterly despicable as to shortchange you that 900 grands? Isn’t your life worth more than that? I promised you the money,

and you’ll get it, just do as I say."

The male driver seemed to waver.

"Your illness is a millstone around your family’s neck. Do you really want them to live in debt and struggle after you’re gone? I’ll be eternally grateful for you taking care of my problem. I swear on my heart, the 900 grand is yours!"

Finally, she convinced the driver, and he agreed to the deal.

Rudolf watched in disbelief from the audience as Maureen sat at the front table. He never imagined that the gentle and understanding woman he met for the first time could have such a terrifying side.

Back when his ex-wife was hit by a truck and landed in the ICU, he hadn’t even known Maureen. So, his meeting Maureen, getting to know her, and eventually standing by her side - it was all orchestrated by her?

Rudolf staggered back.

"It was you, you hired someone to kill my sister." Celeste stood up in disbelief, trembling as she pointed at Maureen across the table, "My sister didn’t even know you. She had no ill feelings toward you."

"No, it wasn’t me. This audio is fabricated by someone else to slander me." As Maureen spoke,realization dawned on her, and she looked in disbelief towards Dennis and Carol on the stage, "It was you, you plotted this whole dinner just to throw dirt on me."

At that moment, the giant screen on stage lit up, showing all the evidence of Maureen’s involvement in the hiring of the hitman, and her later denial of the act.

Now with irrefutable proof, Rudolf was overwhelmed with grief and anger. He rushed down the stage and slapped Maureen hard across the face.

Maureen was stunned, unable to believe the husband who had once adored and spoiled her could hit her in front of so many people.

"I’ll kill you," Celeste, stricken with grief, rushed forward, grabbing an empty bowl and a dish from the table and smashing them onto Maureen’s head.

"What are you doing?" Katherine and her brother Meredith were terrified. Katherine tried to intervene, while Meredith hid to the side, fearing he’d be caught in the crossfire.

"You heartless wretch, I’ll kill you." Celeste clutched Maureen’s hair, tearing out clumps of the carefully styled locks, "If it wasn’t for you, our car wouldn’t have been hit, my sister wouldn’t have been crippled,

and my brother-in-law wouldn’t have rushed to the ICU in a panic, neglecting the kids for a moment. It’s all because of you."

Alger Temple was also enraged. If not for all this, their only daughter Crystal would still be alive!

Simona’s family charged forward, raining blows and kicks on Maureen. Maureen’s family tried to pull them off, and chaos erupted throughout the venue.

Just then, the giant screen lit up again. The secret of Maureen’s discontent with the driver’s family pestering her for years, and her hidden dealings with a hitman, was exposed for all to see.