Chapter 215: Julian Fears Sean

Chapter 215: Chapter 215: Julian Fears Sean

Compounding pills is an incredibly draining and time-consuming process. It demands absolute concentration; every step is interconnected, and there is no room for error.

One wrong move and it’s all for nothing.

Limping Lawson pointed to the rare medicinal herbs arranged neatly on the table and spoke in a low voice.

"Sebastian Kensington sent all of these. It couldn’t have been easy for him to gather such valuable herbs in so little time."

"Vesper, if you need a hand, just ask."

Vesper Grayson took a deep breath, her expression grave.

"Mr. Hitch, this Detoxification Pill is different from the other one I made for you before. This is my first time concocting it, so I don’t even know if it will be a success..."

"With your ability, you’ll definitely succeed." Limping Lawson smiled confidently. "If you can’t do it, no one in this world can."

’Unless Clay Vance came back from the dead.’

’It all comes down to this. Regardless of the outcome, I have to give it my all.’

"Mr. Hitch, please stand guard for me. Don’t let anyone disturb me."

Limping Lawson nodded firmly. "You just focus on the process. I’ll make sure not even a fly gets in."

Shiloh Sloan also said softly, "Vesper, we’ll be right outside the door. Just let us know if you need anything."

"Mm."

Vesper Grayson stepped into the room, sent a text to Jared Hawthorne, and then switched her phone to airplane mode.

She carefully washed and drained all the herbs. One by one, she ground them into a fine powder. She then added water and simmered the mixture over low heat, reducing it down and repeatedly refining the concoction to purify its medicinal properties. Once the paste had cooled, she carefully rolled it into Detoxification Pills.

The process seemed simple, but in reality, every step demanded precise control over the heat. The slightest error was unacceptable, as it could cause the medicinal properties to degrade and compromise the pill’s effectiveness.

「Meanwhile, at Hawthorne Group.」

Jared Hawthorne had just walked out of a meeting when Maxim Chandler came forward and handed him his phone.

"Sir, your wife sent you a message half an hour ago."

He glanced down at the message, his lips thinning into a slight line.

"You can all head home for the day. No need to follow me."

With that, he walked straight to the elevator.

On the drive to The Gilded Mortar, he called Sebastian Kensington.

"The herbs were gathered this quickly?"

’He’d thought they wouldn’t be able to gather everything until after his and Vesper’s wedding.’

"Time is of the essence. Sterling can’t afford to wait," Sebastian Kensington said, his tone grave. "Every second is a race against death."

"You seem more concerned about the Sterling Family’s affairs than the Sterlings themselves."

"Our families go back decades. My grandmother and Sterling are as close as sisters, even without being blood-related. Everyone in the Sterling Family is having health issues, and this whole poisoning affair is suspicious through and through. How could I just stand by and do nothing?"

"Have you found out who’s behind the poisoning?"

"Not the real culprit, no. But whoever it is, they’re ruthless. It’s clear they’re trying to wipe out the entire family."

"To be able to poison people secretly for years without being noticed, it must be the work of someone close to them," Jared Hawthorne pointed out. "Start your investigation from within. The closer someone appears, the more suspicious they are."

’Of course, Sebastian Kensington had already considered that.’

’But investigating openly would risk tipping off the culprit.’

’They would go on guard and destroy all the evidence, making the investigation nearly impossible!’

Right now, he was on his way to the Sterling estate to pick up his grandmother and retrieve something while he was there.

’Several days had passed. There ought to be some results by now.’

He went to check on Julian Sterling first, only to find that the servant who had been caring for him had been replaced by an unfamiliar face.

"Where’s Julian?"

The servant, intimidated by his powerful presence, didn’t dare to be dismissive.

"The young master is resting in his room."

"I’m going to see him."

The servant quickly tried to stop him.

"President Kensington, the young master is resting. Perhaps you could come back another day."

Sebastian Kensington slowly raised his eyes, his gaze turning cold.

"I’ve always come and gone as I please in the Sterling household. No one has ever dared to stop me. You’re new, and you can’t even learn a simple rule like that?"

The servant immediately grew fearful.

"President Kensington, that’s not what I meant, I just..."

"Cut the crap. Take these pastries to the main house."

He held out the box of pastries.

The servant hesitated for a moment before taking the box and leaving.

Once he was sure the servant was gone, Sebastian Kensington didn’t go upstairs immediately. Instead, he walked to a corner of the living room, retrieved the hidden camera he had placed earlier, and swapped it with a new one.

After consulting with Vesper Grayson the other day, he had sensed the dangerous undercurrents within the Sterling Family. He’d immediately had his assistant purchase several micro-cameras and installed them in Julian Sterling’s quarters to secretly monitor his condition.

Inside the bedroom, Julian Sterling was curled up in a corner, his hands clutching his head, his eyes wide with fear and defensiveness.

"Julian."

As Sebastian Kensington slowly approached, Julian Sterling frantically tried to shy away, his head bowed as he trembled.

"Don’t hit me... I’ll be good."

Sebastian Kensington’s brow furrowed instantly, and the hand he had been raising froze in mid-air.

His dark eyes happened to catch a glimpse of the dark bruises beneath Julian’s collar, and his expression instantly turned ice-cold.

He lunged forward and tore open Julian Sterling’s shirt. A shocking tapestry of blue and purple bruises crisscrossed his skin. Layers of new and old injuries covered not only his chest but his back as well.

"Who did this to you?"

Julian Sterling remained crouched on the floor, head in his hands, trembling and begging for mercy.

"Don’t hit me... please, don’t hit me... I’ll be good..."

...

Sean Sterling came downstairs and his face darkened instantly when he saw the servant who was supposed to be looking after Julian Sterling in the main house.

"What are you doing here? Didn’t I tell you your only job was to take care of my older brother?"

"It was President Kensington. He asked me to bring these pastries over," the servant explained hastily, placing the box on the coffee table.

’Sebastian Kensington is here again?’

’Then again,’ Sean Sterling thought, ’Miss Kensington has been visiting the Sterling residence frequently these days. He’s probably here to pick her up.’

"Go back and keep a close eye on the young master."

"Yes."

Sean Sterling went upstairs with the pastries. As he reached the door to the room, he heard voices from within.

"You’re looking much better these past few days. The medicine really is working. It’s just a shame there’s so little of it, otherwise I’d have Sebastian ask for more."

"It might just be in my head, but I do feel much more comfortable. Winnie, I’m so glad you’re here."

"It’s despicable. I can’t believe someone is secretly poisoning people. They have no conscience whatsoever."

’Sean Sterling’s expression changed drastically, an icy aura forming around him. The Kensingtons were giving the old woman medicine behind his back?’

’The poison is already deep in her system. She has one foot in the Underworld, and they really think they can save her?’

As if a thought struck him, he spun around and hurried toward the annex.

He had just reached the door when he heard a shrill cry of someone begging for mercy.

"President Kensington, I won’t do it again! Please, spare me this one time!"

He pushed the door open to see the servant tumbling wretchedly down the stairs, landing at his feet.

At the bend in the staircase, Sebastian Kensington stood with Julian Sterling shielded behind him, looking down with a cold glare at the person on the floor.

"Sebastian, what’s going on here?" Sean Sterling demanded in a low voice.

Sebastian Kensington walked slowly down the stairs with Julian Sterling.

"You’re the one who hired the servant taking care of Julian?"

"Yes. The last one wasn’t taking good care of my brother, so I had them replaced."

"Look at the injuries on Julian. A few more days of this, and he would have been killed."

Sebastian Kensington ripped open Julian Sterling’s shirt, forcing Sean Sterling to see the ghastly wounds.

Sean Sterling’s face filled with shock. He then raised his foot and viciously kicked the servant, roaring in anger.

"I told you to take good care of my brother, and you dared to abuse him behind my back! You bastard!"

The servant cowered, covering their head and trying to explain, "I didn’t mean to! The young master was misbehaving, throwing a tantrum, and I just lost my temper for a second! I didn’t realize I’d hurt him so badly..."

"Call the police," Sebastian Kensington said, his face like ice and his tone leaving no room for argument. "This monster not only abuses his master but also spews nothing but lies. We can’t let this go."

’Julian isn’t in his right mind. Sometimes he acts like a small child.’

’But even so, he’s always been docile. I visit him often, and I’ve never seen him throw a tantrum.’

’It’s obvious this servant was negligent, and now they’re trying to pin the blame on Julian!’

’Absolutely detestable!’

’Sean Sterling’s eyes grew cold. This Sebastian Kensington was overstepping his bounds.’ A flash of displeasure crossed his face, but it was instantly replaced by an expression of profound self-reproach.

"Sebastian, this is my fault. I was so negligent I didn’t even realize my brother was being mistreated." He stepped forward, reaching for Julian Sterling. "Brother, let me see your wounds..."

Before his fingertips could make contact, Julian Sterling scrambled behind Sebastian Kensington in terror.

Sean Sterling’s hand froze in mid-air. A sinister, vicious glint flashed in his eyes.

Sebastian Kensington’s dark eyes narrowed as he gave Sean Sterling a long, hard look.

’Julian is afraid of Sean!’