<b>Chapter </b><b><i>124 </i></b>
Upstairs in the study.
Wyatt sat with a tablet in front of him, watching a video of Grady’s death ying on the screen.
He looked at Charles. “Did you do this?”
Charles knew he couldn’t hide anything from Wyatt–Wyatt knew him far too well.
“Grandpa, Grady was really strutting his stuff at the Crimson Gallery. He was already eyeing the boss’s chair. The Andrade family is strong enough as it is–if Grady took over the Crimson Gallery, there’d be no stopping him, and no one left who could knock him down a peg,” Charles said.
He sat in a nearby chair, looking every bit the aristocrat as he casually swirled his teacup. “Taking him out hit the Andrade family hard. Vivian’s too busy putting out fires to care about our joint projects–which leaves us with a lot more chances to line our pockets.”
Wyatt snorted and mmed the tablet shut. “You’ve got some nerve.”
Who could’ve imagined Grady would get taken out like that? Bet he didn’t even see iting before the end.
Wyatt rubbed his temples and let out a long sigh. “Charles, I trust you. But the Andrade family isn’t just Grady -Grandpa Jonathan’s there too, along with the rest of their crew. If any of them get suspicious of you, have you really thought about your exit n?”
Charles chuckled, his elegant fingers ying absently with his teacup. “Right now, Minister Howard’s the one hell–bent on pinning the gun on Grady. That’s got nothing to do with me–I never even showed my face. Howard’s famous for getting obsessed over tiny details, and you cannot buy this guy–he won’t even look at a bribe. If the Andrades try to grease his palms, the whole thing just blows up even worse. Grandpa, I’ve kept my head down; from beginning to end, I stayed invisible.”
He made sure the risky business was handled by someone else. If the Andrades want to take action, they’d go after Minister Howard, not me.
Right now, Minister Howard’s the key witness–he’s the only thing keeping the Andrades in check.
If Howard ends up dead, the Andrades will be the first suspects, no question.
A faint smile flickered in Charles’s eyes. “Minister Howard won’tst much longer. This whole Grady mess is only going to get bigger. As for the Crimson Gallery—I’m taking it.”
In Beloris, everyone knew the name–the Crimson Gallery.
It was the city’s underworld yground, where boxing, gambling, auctions, and assassinations were just another day’s work. Every shady deal you could imagine happened there–if you wanted it, the Crimson Gallery had it.
Still, this ce was sheer chaos, with no single boss reigning over it. Every zone had its own shot–caller, and the onlyw they respected was brute strength.
7:50 <b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b><fn276f> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on FιndNovel</fn276f>
Put them down in a fight, and they’d fall right in line to be your muscle.
Even the privileged Beloris kids who’d seen military action weren’t a match for these wild street thugs–<b>guys </b>who’d learned to survive by lighting their way out of a pile of corpses.
Because of the way things were run, the Crimson Gallery had a target painted on it–everyone in town wanted in.
But it was one hell of a hard case–no one’s managed to sink their teeth into it yet.
Charles had already sent in his own crew, but out of ten territories, they’d only taken four.
Snagging the whole joint was next to impossible–it’d take someone absolutely ruthless and nuts to even try.
Still, grabbing the Crimson Gallery was the ultimate prize on everyone’s wish list.
Wyatt didn’t weigh in on whether Charles’s move was right or wrong–he just let silence hang heavy for a few seconds before letting out a sigh. “As long as you’ve got a n, that’s enough for me. I just don’t want you making reckless moves over a woman. Word is, Vivian’s been stirring up trouble with Yndately?”
Charles wasn’t the type to get blindsided by a woman–not now, not ever, and especially not enough to go making this kind of y. ‘Letting feelings trip me up? That’s not my style,‘ he thought.
Even Wyatt had a hard time believing he was saying this aloud. He waved his hand, as if to clear the whole thing. “Never mind. Head out.”
“Grandpa, you know me–I’d never lose my head over a woman. But Vivian thought she could walk all over me–that’s not happening. If you’re gonna smack a dog, you better be sure you can face the owner too,” Charles replied.
Wyatt’s expression eased, satisfied. This was typical Charles: cool–headed and never swayed by personal feelings.
As the two came downstairs, Charles noticed he didn’t see Ynda anywhere.
“Where’s Ynda?” he asked.
May tipped her chin. “She’s helping out inside.”
Charles frowned for a moment and took a seat. “Is the Andrade family short on staff or something? If so, I can always hire a few more people.”
May let out a cold snort, clearly taking Ynda’s side. She knew exactly what Charles was getting at.
“We’re not short on staff. What gets me is how she acts like she’s got nothing to worry about. You have no clue how shattered Renee’s beentely–and all because of that baby. And don’t forget, Ynda nearly ran her over in that car.”
At the mention of Renee, Charles mmed up.
He’d always had a soft spot for his little sister.
<b>7:50 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>
民国
Before long, dinner starteding out one dish after another. As usual, Dn was nowhere to be seen–<i>he </i>was always off on business trips overseas.
But tonight, Renee didn’t show up either.
Charles picked up his chopsticks and put some food onto Ynda’s te, then asked, “Where’s Renec?”
May couldn’t be bothered to even look at Ynda and just ordered, “Ynda, go take something up to your grandma. How do you have the nerve to eat before the elders do? Besides, she’s been saying how much she misses your massagestely. Stop hanging around here and get going.”
Ynda stood up and took the te the servant handed her–it was a special medicinal dish made just for Grandma Flora.
Grandma Flora hadn’t been in great health these past years. Mostly, she stayed upstairs resting, onlying down to get some sun every now and then.
After Ynda headed upstairs, May red at her back, biting back a bitter snarl. “Charles, seriously–when are you finally divorcing that woman?” she muttered, not bothering to hide her contempt.
Charles ignored the jabpletely and just coolly asked, “Has Renee called youtely?”
“Yeah, she seems to be in decent spirits. Must’ve found something fun to do out there. A whole lot better than her being stuck at home, blowing up at everyone whenever she feels like it,” May said.
A hint of something cold flickered in Charles’s eyes, but he just took his time finishing his meal, not letting any emotion show.
Upstairs, Ynda set the tray aside and leaned closer. “Grandma, time to rise and have something to eat.”
Grandma Flora slowly pushed herself up from bed, sounding tired. “Yoyo, you finally came. It’s been more than half a month since yourst visit.”
Ynda helped her over to the table. The air was full of sandalwood, its soothing scent lingering and calming the mind.
Grandma Flora peered over at Ynda. “So, did those things I gave youst time help at all?”
She’d been hoping for a grandchild, and even sent her home with five jars of herbal wine.
Ynda just smiled. “These things happen when they’re meant to.”
Grandma Flora’s wrist still sported her familiar jade bead bracelet as she helped herself to a bite of food. “Let nature take its course? If you don’t even try, there are plenty of women out there who’d be happy to step up. Yoyo, you really are well–behaved, but you don’t know how to act cute at all. You’re just too straightced for your own good–and that’s why Charles doesn’t care for you.”
Honestly, Grandma Flora had nagged her with these words so many times Ynda had lost count.
Ynda just kept her head down and quietly pressed her hands to Grandma Flora’s shoulders.
7:51 Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>
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All Grandma Flora ever wanted was for her grandson to marry a sweet, obedient woman–and in her eyes.. Ynda was just that.
But if you can’t give him a child, then that spot’s not guaranteed–someone else will take your ce.
A glint flickered in her eyes. “That herbal wine really does the trick. If he hasn’t had any yet, just coax him into drinking it. If you’re lucky, you might get results on the first try,”
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