Chapter 568 - 164 Connor Takes Control

Chapter 568: Chapter 164 Connor Takes Control

Connor’s POV

The morning sun cast long shadows across my private estate as I reviewed the security footage from my downtown casino. My thoughts kept drifting to Lila Sullivan, that exquisite young woman who would soon be mine. The girl possessed a beauty that could make empires fall, and I intended to claim her.

Claire had proven herself completely incompetent in handling this arrangement. When she first approached me with the proposal to marry Lila to my worthless son, I considered it might serve a purpose. Perhaps marriage would finally stop him from hemorrhaging my money on cocaine and high-end escorts throughout the city. But the moment I laid eyes on Lila Sullivan, my plans shifted entirely. That stunning creature would become my wife, not his. Now I found myself as restless as a teenager with his first infatuation. I would accelerate the wedding timeline. Claire could scream all she wanted.

I was heading back toward my downtown operations, planning to visit my lawyer, when Inspector Andrew intercepted me near the harbor district. The man was nothing more than a marionette, dancing to his wife’s demands and the substantial cash payments I deposited into his offshore accounts. His compliance had proven invaluable over the years, considering my son’s endless legal complications and my own necessary business eliminations.

"Connor, thank God I caught you," Andrew gasped, clearly out of breath.

I barely masked my annoyance. "What is it this time? I have pressing matters to attend to."

"You instructed us to monitor Claire’s residence and keep Beckett Sullivan away from the property," he said rapidly. "Beckett wasn’t present, but we discovered a law enforcement officer conducting surveillance."

"Why would one of your officers be stationed there?" I asked, my attention suddenly focused.

"That’s the problem - he wasn’t from my department. A specialized unit arrived from outside our jurisdiction, a substantial team. They’re conducting surveillance on all of you."

My blood chilled. "Elaborate."

"A detective from Port Harbor has partnered with someone from our local force. They’re en route to your abandoned warehouse facility. They’re searching for Lila Sullivan."

"Damn it to hell!" I slammed my fist against the steering wheel. "They absolutely cannot reach that location. Find a method to remove these law enforcement officers from my territory."

"Connor, I need you to understand—"

I didn’t remain to hear his pathetic excuses, accelerating toward the warehouse complex. I had to reach Lila before they discovered her location.

When I arrived at the facility, fury consumed me at what I witnessed. Claire was viciously assaulting Lila, completely disregarding my explicit instructions against harming the girl. Lila’s face was battered and severely swollen, nearly beyond recognition. How was I expected to enjoy my wedding night with the girl in this deplorable condition? She collapsed into unconsciousness just as I entered the building - fortunate timing, as Claire might have beaten her to death otherwise.

"What have you accomplished, Claire?" I demanded coldly.

Claire simply stared down at Lila’s crumpled form with pure disgust.

I knelt beside Lila to assess her vital signs. Still breathing, but seriously injured. I immediately contacted my most reliable lieutenant.

"Remove her from this location immediately. Transport her somewhere completely secure. And acquire proper clothing for her." He lifted her unconscious body, and I noticed scattered documents and a manila folder on the concrete floor. I collected everything and handed it to him. "Listen very carefully - if you touch her inappropriately, you’re a dead man. Are we clear?"

"Absolutely, boss," he replied, avoiding eye contact.

"Exit through the rear loading dock. Move with urgency." I followed him outside, observing as he positioned Lila in the back seat and concealed her with a blanket before departing through the rear property access. I turned toward the other security personnel.

"If either of you mentions her existence to anyone, you’ll be joining the others I’ve buried in the harbor. Understood?" Their ashen faces confirmed they grasped my meaning perfectly. I pivoted and marched back into the warehouse, prepared to address Claire’s insubordination.

"Now we settle our business," I stated, confronting her directly. "I specifically commanded you not to harm her. What motivated you to defy my direct orders?"

"That’s not your business to question," Claire replied with contempt.

"What did you do to her, Claire?" I roared.

Before she could respond, the main entrance exploded inward. Those incompetent officers stormed inside, led by that detective claiming to be Lila’s romantic interest. I nearly laughed at his presumption but maintained my composure.

They systematically searched every corner of the warehouse, discovering nothing incriminating. Moments earlier and they would have found her. My early departure from the casino had been incredibly fortuitous.

After realizing their investigation was unsuccessful, they retreated, though they positioned a surveillance unit outside the perimeter.

"What was that demonstration about, Connor?" Claire’s voice escalated hysterically.

"Silence yourself. They’re still monitoring nearby. Sit down and remain quiet." I observed from the window until they withdrew to a safer distance. "Useless amateurs!"

I returned to the main floor, settling into a chair across from Claire. With calculated composure, I began my interrogation.

"Explain why you assaulted her so brutally."

"I don’t report to you," Claire snapped defiantly.

"On the contrary, you absolutely do. Have you forgotten our financial arrangement? You’ve left her completely disfigured. How am I supposed to consummate my marriage in her current state?"

"Good God, Connor, is that your only concern? Behave according to your age," Claire spat venomously.

"Envious, Claire?" I chuckled darkly. "You understand exactly what this old man remains capable of achieving."

"Don’t be disgusting."

I laughed heartily. "Listen very carefully, Claire. Your involvement with Lila ends immediately. Tomorrow, she becomes my legal wife."

"That wasn’t our original agreement!" She leaped to her feet.

"You violated our contract first. What do you want from her? The inheritance money? You won’t access it. Lila informed me personally that Beckett ensured you would never touch her trust fund. Be satisfied with the compensation I’m providing you."

Claire’s expression twisted with absolute rage. "That manipulative little snake outsmarted me! I DESPISE HER!"

"Not her - Beckett orchestrated it. The young man possesses genuine intelligence, I’ll acknowledge that." Truly, Beckett was remarkable - dedicated, industrious, brilliant. Everything my son wasn’t.

"Whatever! When do I receive my payment?" Money remained Claire’s sole motivation.

"Tomorrow. I’ll provide you with the wedding arrangements later. Your attendance is mandatory - you’ll persuade her to marry me." My tone permitted no negotiation.

Claire grabbed her purse and stormed out, consumed by inexplicable hatred. I remained seated, organizing my subsequent moves. Surveying the warehouse, I considered transferring this property to my son. With my approaching marriage, I wanted him removed from my residence, free to create chaos away from my direct oversight.

Later, I contacted my lieutenant to learn Lila’s current location. But before visiting my bride-to-be, I needed to finalize our wedding arrangements. Nothing would prevent me from possessing Lila Sullivan.