Chapter 255: Tyson, It’s So Painful

Chapter 255: Chapter 255: Tyson, It’s So Painful

"What’s your hurry? You can leave the moment she’s back!"

The masked man’s voice was frigid. He casually tossed the cold, gleaming dagger onto the table, where it landed with a sharp, piercing CLANG. He turned and strode away, his back resolute, leaving without a moment’s hesitation.

The heavy iron door slammed shut, the lock thudding into place. The dull sound completely cut off the outside world, plunging the basement into dead silence.

Terrence Lloyd had spent his life pampered and revered, always looking down on others. When had he ever been subjected to such torture and humiliation?

The vicious whipping, followed by the bone-chilling salt water poured over his wounds, had sapped him of all his strength. The pain was so excruciating it felt like his very soul was being torn asunder.

Overwhelming pain surged through his body. His vision went black, and he lost consciousness completely.

...

Archie stepped out of the gloomy basement. As the evening wind blew past, he lit a cigarette and took a deep drag, the smoke swirling around him.

He dialed Leon Quillan’s number.

"Leon, the job’s done. Now we just wait for them to send her back from Khemara."

"Keep it clean. Don’t let him die. The last thing we need are complications and unnecessary trouble."

He knew Archie was ruthless and heavy-handed, with no shortage of methods for dealing with people.

Once someone was in his hands, they never held out for long.

Archie had gotten into trouble abroad last year and had returned to the country to lay low. It was Leon who had taken him in and gotten him settled.

"Understood. I’m in Northolme, and I’ll follow the rules the whole time. I won’t cross any lines or break the law."

"I’ve transferred your payment. Go treat yourself to a nice meal."

The call ended. Leon Quillan immediately reported the progress to Jared Hawthorne.

"President Hawthorne, Archie is overseeing everything. Terrence Lloyd broke and made the call to Khemara. They’ve agreed to release her and send her back."

Jared Hawthorne’s expression was indifferent; he wasn’t surprised by this result.

’A craven, greedy, lecherous scoundrel like Terrence Lloyd would naturally value his own life above all else.’

...

Dusk fell, and a vast sunset dyed the sky in shades of crimson and gold, sprawling across the city’s horizon in breathtaking splendor.

Vesper Grayson stood silently before the floor-to-ceiling window, her slender figure outlined against the layered, fiery clouds outside.

The office door was pushed open.

She turned at the sound, her gaze lifting.

"Sis." Gwen Grayson slowly approached.

"It’s after hours. Why are you still here?"

"You haven’t left either, have you?"

"I’m waiting for your brother-in-law to pick me up."

Gwen Grayson’s expression was complicated. She said softly, "Mom just called me. I know everything."

Vesper quietly waited for her to continue.

"We... we really aren’t related by blood? We’re not real sisters?"

"We’re not," she replied, her tone calm and frank, holding nothing back.

The tip of Gwen Grayson’s nose tingled, and she murmured softly, "But in my heart, you’ve always been my only sister."

"I know." Vesper Grayson’s eyes crinkled at the corners in a gentle smile. "Blood doesn’t mean everything. As long as you see me as your sister, I always will be. Did you come all this way just to ask me that?"

"No." Gwen Grayson lowered her eyes. "All these years, we’ve been at each other’s throats, always at odds... what were we even fighting over? And Mom... on her behalf, I apologize to you."

"There’s no need." Vesper Grayson shook her head lightly. "I did resent it before, but people are selfish by nature. Anyone else in her position might not have done any better."

Gwen Grayson looked up and asked cautiously, "Then... will you leave Northolme with your biological parents?"

Vesper Grayson raised a hand and gently tapped her on the forehead.

"Your brother-in-law is here. Where would I go?"

At her words, all the gloom in Gwen Grayson’s heart instantly vanished. Her eyes lit up, and she broke into a pure, genuine smile.

"That’s great! From now on, I won’t fight with you over anything. Grayson Corporation, resources, fame—you can have it all. Let’s just get along."

"You silly girl. Go on home."

"Mhm!"

Gwen Grayson agreed, then turned and cheerfully ran out of the office.

Vesper Grayson watched her retreating figure, a faint smile unconsciously touching her lips.

The long-standing hostility between them had finally dissolved, replaced by a surprising and endearing warmth.

Her phone rang at just the right moment.

The moment she answered, a man’s deep, magnetic voice came through.

"I’ll be downstairs in five minutes. Get ready and come down."

"Okay."

...

A black luxury car pulled up smoothly in front of the building.

Vesper got in and sat down. Jared Hawthorne leaned over to fasten her seatbelt for her.

His unique scent, reminiscent of cool pine, gently enveloped her, bringing with it a sense of peace and security.

"Yvonne Lowell will be back in Northolme soon."

Vesper Grayson’s eyes shot up, filled with surprise.

"Really? How did you convince Terrence Lloyd to give in?"

"I had someone talk to him," Jared Hawthorne said nonchalantly. "He knows what’s good for him. He gave in on the spot and called them to release her."

Vesper Grayson knew it couldn’t have been that simple, but she didn’t press for details.

’As long as she comes back safely, the details of how it happened don’t matter.’

"I wonder if she suffered while she was there."

"She definitely suffered," Jared Hawthorne said, his voice low as he reached out to stroke the top of her head. "But coming back alive is the best possible outcome."

’How could anyone emerge unscathed from a hellhole like Khemara, a place that chews people up and spits them out?’

Vesper Grayson frowned. "Do you think she..."

"What you’re worried about didn’t happen." Jared Hawthorne started the engine, and the car smoothly merged into traffic. "Will you be attending the press conference tomorrow yourself?"

"I’m having Gwen go in my place."

Jared Hawthorne paused for a moment. "You’re the head of the project. If you let her take the stage, aren’t you worried she’ll steal your credit?"

"She’s a Grayson by blood, the future heir to Grayson Corporation." Vesper Grayson gazed at the passing neon lights outside the window, her expression serene. "She needs more public exposure to build her resume and establish her authority."

’I never wanted to compete with her for anything. Seeing her mature and learn to stand on her own two feet makes me genuinely happy.’

Since graduating from university, she had started her own business and made precise investments; her personal assets had long been comparable to Grayson Corporation’s annual revenue. Otherwise, the living expenses Milton Grayson had given her during those three years in Ashmore would have been nowhere near enough for her to secretly invest in Liam Hawthorne and help him start his business.

Jared Hawthorne glanced at her, his voice lazy and nonchalant. "Have you ever thought about leaving Grayson Corporation for good? If you want to work, any position at Hawthorne Group is yours for the taking."

He knew her too well.

’She would never agree to simply stay home and wait for the baby’s arrival.’

’Working at Hawthorne Group would let her spread her wings, and I could keep her under my protection, right by my side.’

"I’m not going," Vesper Grayson immediately refused, tilting her head to look at him with a smile in her eyes. "If we’re stuck together every day, what if President Hawthorne gets tired of me? A little distance keeps things fresh."

Jared Hawthorne captured her small hand in his, his thumb stroking it gently as he spoke in a low, amused voice.

"In this lifetime, I’ll never get tired of looking at you. I wish I could keep Mrs. Hawthorne tied to my side twenty-four hours a day."

"Since when did President Hawthorne get so clingy?" Vesper Grayson teased with a light laugh. "Aren’t you afraid your subordinates will secretly laugh at you?"

"Who would dare?" Jared Hawthorne’s aura was noble and commanding, but his eyes held a hint of doting affection. "They’ll only be envious of how deeply in love we are."

—

Back home, after a shower, Vesper Grayson called Gwen Grayson to tell her that she would be fully in charge of the next day’s press conference.

Gwen Grayson was flabbergasted and repeatedly refused. "No way, Sis! This is your project. How can I take the credit for it?"

"I get tired easily during my pregnancy, and your brother-in-law and I are going on our honeymoon soon after." Vesper Grayson’s tone was gentle. "It’s time for you to take on more responsibility at Grayson Corporation."

"So, have you decided where you’re going for your honeymoon?"

"Veridia. I’ll definitely bring you back a gift!"

"You’re the best, Sis!"

...

「White Horse Estate.」

Bella Thorne was curled up on the sofa, her finger repeatedly refreshing the chat screen.

The message she had sent to Tristan Forrester an hour ago had vanished without a trace, with no reply.

After a moment’s hesitation, she couldn’t resist calling him.

After a long time, the call finally connected.

A man’s deep, hoarse voice came through, tinged with exhaustion.

"Bella, what’s wrong?"

"You didn’t reply to my message. I was worried something had happened to you," Bella Thorne explained, her voice soft and cautious.

"My phone was on silent. I didn’t notice," Tristan Forrester replied, then asked, "How’s Grandfather doing?"

"He’s doing great. Sister Vesper came over a while ago to give him acupuncture treatments. She said if he keeps up with his physical therapy, he’ll make a full recovery. He’s already able to get out of bed and stand with a cane these past few days!"

"That’s been tough on you."

Those simple words instantly soothed all the hurt in Bella Thorne’s heart.

"It’s no trouble. He’s my grandfather too."

Before she had even finished speaking, a delicate, pained female voice suddenly came from the other end of the line.

"Tristan, it hurts..."

It was Justine Hughes.

Bella Thorne’s fingers tightened abruptly, and a wave of bitterness washed over her heart.

’They’re together!’

She bit her lip and asked softly, "Tristan, where are you?"

Tristan Forrester didn’t answer, only saying in a low voice, "I’m busy right now. I’ll call you back later."