Chapter 310 - 309: Is Asher’s Identity Bound to Be Discovered?

Chapter 310: Chapter 309: Is Asher’s Identity Bound to Be Discovered?

Outside the door, the masked woman stopped, turned back, and carefully scrutinized Asher.

"You said you’re the CEO of Astraeus Group?"

Asher frowned, remaining silent.

She suddenly laughed. "The more you claim to be, the less I believe it. Once your hand is healed... tomorrow, we’ll do the safe test. If you are the CEO of Astraeus Group, I will let them go. If you aren’t... well, I’m sorry to say, but things without value must be destroyed."

Asher glared at her, his hands clenching into fists.

I gripped Asher’s arm tightly. After the masked woman left, I hugged him and whispered in his ear, "Asher, whether you’re the CEO of Astraeus Group or not, you can’t be... Do you understand?"

His identity absolutely could not be exposed right now. I could already confirm that Asher was the CEO of Astraeus Group, ever since his hand was injured. Furthermore, there was someone Asher had planted on this ship. I just didn’t know exactly who it was yet.

Asher stared at me with burning intensity; he understood what I meant.

The Genetics Organization had always been vigilant. Even after he had operated in the shadows for so many years and successfully become a major capital player, they still suspected him, preventing him from truly coming into contact with their high-ranking leaders.

This cruise ship game wasn’t just about The Resistance searching for the CEO of Astraeus Group; it was also an opportunity for The Genetics Organization to test the CEO’s credibility. If the final result revealed that Asher was indeed the CEO of Astraeus Group, The Genetics Organization would likely weigh the outcomes and simply forfeit the lives of everyone on this ship.

They would never trust him. Asher was someone who would do absolutely anything—no matter how crazy—for Cecilia Caldwell. Therefore, he couldn’t afford to fail at the final hurdle.

Asher calmed down and wrapped his arms around me. "Cece..."

He didn’t say anything else, only calling my name.

I leaned against his shoulder. In that moment, I stopped agonizing over who I truly was. I only wanted to respond to his passionate affection. Regardless of whether I was Cecilia Caldwell or not, I loved him. If I was Cecilia, that was for the best. If I wasn’t, then I would selfishly live on as her.

"Cece..."

He called my name over and over, silently expressing all those unspeakable secrets in his heart. I knew he must have suffered immensely over the years to quietly build a corporate empire behind the scenes into what it was today. Just how much injustice had he been forced to endure?

"Are you sleepy?" Asher asked softly.

I nodded.

"Go to sleep," he said, pulling me closer into his embrace.

Lying against him, I drifted off again. The room was deathly quiet, the atmosphere heavy with dread, as if there would be no tomorrow once today was over.

Some time passed.

In my drowsy state, I fell into a deep slumber. I dreamed of Adrian and Stella. The two innocent little ones were holding Asher’s and my hands. In the dream, I was watching from a first-person perspective as our family ran happily through a vast, boundless prairie, flying kites...

The children were innocent and pure, their eyes shining with a clarity unique to their age. Asher was dressed casually, free of any scars. When he smiled, he looked so bright and handsome. He held me in his arms, and we basked in the warmth of the sun.

That was likely the simple, happy life we both yearned for. Yet, something so simple was an unattainable luxury for us.

I must have cried in my sleep, as my tears soaked my hair. A gentle touch wiped my tears away, followed by a soft kiss on my forehead.

Slowly opening my eyes, the first thing I saw was Asher. With him there, my dreams were no longer nightmares. I stretched, rolled over, and snuggled into his chest to sleep a little longer.

Asher gently patted my back. "Did you have a nightmare?"

"No... it was a wonderful dream," I mumbled softly.

It was wonderful, yet somehow more agonizing than a nightmare. I wondered if we would ever be able to experience even a fleeting moment of such peace in this lifetime.

"Sleep a little longer."

Just as I was about to drift off again, the door was pushed open, and a group of people marched in.

"Today is the public execution phase. Welcome, everyone. I hope you enjoy yourselves."

The riots outside were still ongoing. Provoked by hidden hands, a vicious class conflict had erupted between the rich and the poor. Those who couldn’t afford to eat clashed violently with those who could. Many were severely injured, and countless others had been trampled to death.

We were dragged out of the medical cabin and escorted to the stage right in the center of the VIP banquet hall. There sat the safe.

Everyone had gathered in the hall, waiting to see who the real CEO of Astraeus Group was. At this moment, the crowd fell completely silent, all eyes glued to the stage.

"As long as the person we brought up from among this group is the CEO of Astraeus Group, you’ll let us go, right?" Mason Carter and his lackeys shouted.

The masked woman shot them an eerie glance, the corners of her lips curling upward. "Of course."

She might let them go, but not necessarily alive. I frowned, feeling that Mason was rather pathetic. True to his words, he just wanted to survive.

"This game is nearing its end. As long as we find the CEO of Astraeus Group, I guarantee... everyone will be able to return to shore," the masked woman said with a chilling smile.

She raised her hand. Someone next to me was immediately dragged forward. They forced his hand down and held his head steady for the palm print and iris scans.

"ERROR. ERROR," the safe blared, issuing a harsh alarm.

The first person wasn’t the CEO.

The masked woman narrowed her eyes, raised her gun, and shot him point-blank. She was terrifyingly cold; there was absolutely no reverence for human life in her eyes. She had murdered someone without batting an eye.

"Remember this, Mr. CEO of Astraeus Group. These people... are dying because of you. If you continue to hide and refuse to step forward... more will die," she said with a laugh, though her gaze remained fixed on Asher.

Yet strangely, she didn’t make Asher test first, instead pointing to the next person in line. She was like a demon straight out of Hell, capable of effortlessly snatching away lives.

Seeing the first man die, the second person trembled violently and fell to his knees. "Please spare my life! Spare me, spare me, I’m not some CEO..."

But he was still dragged forward for the test.

"ERROR. ERROR."

Still incorrect.

The masked woman sneered and fired another shot. The man dropped to the ground.

Everyone present held their breath. That was a human life... another vibrant, living soul extinguished just like that.

I glared at her furiously. I wondered if she was also an experimental subject, being so cold-blooded, emotionless, and filled with hatred toward me. I instinctively looked at Ace. He, too, watched the bloody scene with utter apathy. Perhaps only experimental subjects could be this cold-blooded.

"I’ll do it!" Asher declared in a deep voice, stepping forward voluntarily.

I watched him anxiously. I wondered if, after so many years of painstaking effort, he was truly destined to be exposed like this.