Chapter 287: Go Investigate, Find Out What’s Going On

Chapter 287: Chapter 287: Go Investigate, Find Out What’s Going On

Jax Blackwood had never had any dealings with the Shepherd Family. A sudden, friendly call from Rick Shepherd couldn’t be that simple.

The man held the empty title of the Shepherd Family’s eldest young master, but he was shallow and narrow-minded. Jax Blackwood had always disdained associating with the likes of him.

"Spit it out. What do you want?" Jax Blackwood’s voice was cold and hard, devoid of any warmth.

Rick Shepherd let out an obsequious laugh on the other end of the line.

"Jax, please don’t get the wrong idea. I just have a piece of information I’d like to share. I only want to get on your good side, I have no ulterior motives."

"Cut the pleasantries. I have my own ways of finding people; I don’t need you tipping me off."

Jax Blackwood finished speaking and was about to hang up.

"Jax, wait!" Rick Shepherd frantically cried out.

Jax Blackwood’s finger paused over the button as he listened in silence.

"You know as well as I do that Seth Shepherd has me under his thumb in Sarkhan. A few days ago, I heard a rumor that he was attacked in Veridia. He took a bullet to the chest and has been in a coma ever since. It’s uncertain if he’ll pull through." Rick Shepherd’s ingratiating tone was impossible to hide, so he decided to lay his cards on the table. "If Seth doesn’t make it, the Black Dragon Society should fall to me. All I ask is that when the time comes, you’ll be in my corner, Jax. Just give me a little support."

"This is an internal matter for the Shepherd Family. I won’t get involved, and I certainly can’t help you."

A cold glint flashed in Jax Blackwood’s eyes.

’In his entire life, no one had ever dared to scheme against and use him like this. Rick Shepherd was truly audacious.’

The dial tone droned in his ear. Staring at the darkened screen, the sycophantic smile on Rick Shepherd’s face froze, and a dark gloom churned in his eyes.

He had voluntarily shown his hand as a sign of goodwill, yet Jax Blackwood hadn’t given him an ounce of respect.

’Then again,’ he thought, ’the man was impervious to both threats and favors. He never gave anyone special treatment.’

Since he couldn’t use someone else’s power, he would have to rely on his own.

He immediately summoned his personal subordinate and gave his orders in a hushed voice.

"Take a few men to Veridia and wait for the right opportunity. If you can get Hector Garland out of M-Country, send him to hide out in Senvia. If the situation gets out of hand, just make him disappear for good. Also, find out everything you can about Seth Shepherd’s condition. I need to know for certain whether he’s dead or alive."

"Understood." The subordinate bowed and took his leave.

A cold glint appeared in Rick Shepherd’s eyes.

’As long as the information is accurate,’ he thought, ’I can prepare all my countermeasures in advance.’

’And if by some chance Seth Shepherd isn’t dead, I’ll strike while he’s seriously injured and bedridden. I’ll eliminate him once and for all!’

「In a penthouse suite of a hotel in downtown M-Country.」

Leon Quillan burst through the door, a worried look on his face.

"President Hawthorne, we’ve had his usual haunts under surveillance 24/7 for the last few days, but there’s been no sign of Hector Garland. Don’t tell me he got wind of us and has already gone to ground?"

"That wily old fox is too damn cautious. To think he actually slipped away from us." Leon Quillan frowned in frustration.

They had rushed to M-Country as soon as they got a lead on Hector Garland, only to come up empty-handed.

Silas Chandler, who had been standing quietly to the side, pushed his silver-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose. His voice was calm, steady, and perfectly logical.

"We’ve locked down all border crossings, seaports, and land checkpoints. Even if he sensed something ahead of time, there’s no way he could have left M-Country on such short notice."

"Hector Garland was a mercenary in his youth. He has exceptional counter-surveillance skills and is highly paranoid. He’s most likely hiding out in the mountains on the outskirts of the city."

Leon Quillan pressed, "But this is a sprawling mountain range. How are we supposed to know which part he’s hiding in?"

"The area is too vast. We don’t have the manpower to search the whole range. We’ll need reinforcements to conduct a thorough sweep." Before Silas Chandler could finish, his phone buzzed.

He glanced at the caller ID and immediately walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window to take the call.

"Jax."

"Is Jared Hawthorne with you?" Jax Blackwood’s deep voice came through the phone.

"Mr. Hawthorne is here."

"Put him on."

Silas Chandler did as he was told, turning to hand the phone to Jared Hawthorne.

"Mr. Hawthorne, it’s Jax."

Jared Hawthorne took the phone, his tone nonchalant. "If you needed me, you could have just called me directly. Why the runaround?"

"Rick Shepherd just called me. He claims to have a lead on Hector Garland’s whereabouts and wanted to trade it for my support in his takeover of the Black Dragon Society. I shut him down immediately."

"Rick Shepherd?"

"Seth Shepherd’s older brother, the current acting head of the Shepherd Family. You don’t need to worry about the details. What’s important is that Hector Garland knows we’re after him and has gone to ground."

Jared Hawthorne was a legitimate businessman and had no desire to get mixed up in underworld feuds. He replied calmly, "Silas Chandler just made the same analysis. Hector Garland is still somewhere in M-Country."

"If Rick Shepherd knows where Hector Garland is, they must have been in collusion for some time. With his back against the wall, Hector will have no choice but to ask him for help getting out of the country. I’ve already got my people watching Rick Shepherd’s every move. Just sit tight and wait for my word."

"It’s fine. I’ve waited this many years. What’s a few more days?"

A low chuckle came from the other end of the line, and Jax Blackwood’s tone grew more casual.

"You sure know how to keep a secret. Got married without making a peep. When you have some time, let’s grab dinner. I’d like to meet the wife."

"Once the dust settles on all this, we’ll find a time to get together for dinner."

"It’s a deal."

Six years ago, a brutal internal power struggle erupted within the Blackwood Family. Jax Blackwood’s position was precarious, and he was framed, exiled to New York, and wrongfully imprisoned. It was Jared Hawthorne who arranged for evidence to be submitted that cleared his name, securing his release. Jared then provided him with a substantial sum of money, which enabled Jax to fight his way back to Sarkhan and re-establish his power.

After that, Jax Blackwood made a special trip to New York every year for a small reunion. But three years ago, he heard Jared Hawthorne had returned to Northolme to take over the family business, and the two hadn’t seen each other since.

It wasn’t until Jared Hawthorne called for help a while ago that Jax Blackwood found out he was in Veridia. At the time, however, Jax was swamped with his own matters and couldn’t get away to meet him.

So, he sent his trusted confidant, Silas Chandler, ahead to lend a hand.

Jared Hawthorne handed the phone back to Silas Chandler.

"He has more orders for you."

Silas Chandler took the phone, listened quietly to Jax Blackwood’s instructions, then hung up and bowed to Jared Hawthorne.

"President Hawthorne, I’ll step out to coordinate our men and make the necessary arrangements."

After Silas Chandler left, Leon Quillan stepped forward for his orders.

"President Hawthorne, should we bring in some of our own people for support?"

Jared Hawthorne took a small sip of the tea on the table, his tone firm.

"No need. Jax Blackwood’s men are reliable. They’re far more familiar with the terrain and the local power structures in M-Country than we are."

...

After Bella Thorne returned to Portclyde with Patriarch Forrester, she didn’t see Tristan Forrester. She couldn’t reach him by phone, either.

She went to his company to look for him, only to learn that he hadn’t been in recently.

She learned from his assistant, Hugh Summers, that Tristan Forrester had been with Justine Hughes ever since he returned from Northolme.

Not only that, but he had even taken her traveling to nearby cities.

’So, the reason I can’t reach Tristan is because he’s off on a trip with Justine Hughes?’

A bitter, sarcastic smile touched her lips.

’I’m such a fool!’

’I never should have believed his words.’

’In his heart, Justine Hughes always comes first. She’s more important than anyone.’

"Ma’am, are you all right?" Hugh Summers asked quietly, noticing the look on her face.

She forced a smile. "I’m fine."

’Besides, I’m already used to it. What’s one more thing to accept?’

Watching her crestfallen figure retreat, Hugh Summers suddenly remembered something.

"Ma’am, wait a moment!"

Bella Thorne stopped and asked softly, "Is there anything else?"

"Before her surgery date was set, Miss Hughes had another check-up, and they found her condition had worsened. The doctor said... her prognosis isn’t good. Mr. Forrester saw how down she was and decided to take her on a trip to lift her spirits."

’Although it’s true Mr. Forrester is being overly attentive to his ex-girlfriend, which is improper, I have to tell his wife the truth,’ he thought.

’Her condition worsened?’

Bella Thorne frowned. "But didn’t they say she would recover as long as they removed the tumor?"

"The tumor has turned malignant and spread. They can’t just remove a small part anymore. To control it, they might have to remove the entire breast."

"How could it have spread so quickly?" Bella Thorne looked stunned. ’The doctor clearly said it was manageable, that she’d recover after the surgery.’

"The initial examination missed some hidden micrometastases. In just two weeks, the cancer cells rapidly spread throughout the breast tissue, eliminating any chance of a lumpectomy."

That was what the specialist they’d consulted had said. Hugh didn’t really understand the specifics himself.

Justine Hughes was a dancer; her career required her to be in the public eye. ’How could she possibly accept having a mastectomy?’

’It made sense that she was depressed and needed someone to go with her to take her mind off things.’

’If only the person with her wasn’t *my* husband.’

"How did she react when she found out?" Bella Thorne asked Hugh Summers quietly.

Hugh Summers shook his head. "Miss Hughes couldn’t accept it. She’s refusing the surgery. She said she’d rather die than live as a disfigured woman."

"The night the doctor told her, Miss Hughes was overwhelmed by despair and tried to kill herself by slitting her wrists. Luckily, a maid sensed something was wrong and found her in time, so she was saved."

Bella Thorne’s expression was a complex mix of emotions, and she was too shocked to speak.

’Any woman would find that hard to accept, but to the point of suicide? It’s not a death sentence.’

’At least she’d still be alive after the surgery.’

’She’s rich, beautiful, and famous. She could still live a fabulous and dazzling life.’

’I suppose everyone just thinks differently.’

’Justine Hughes strives for perfection, whereas I just want to live a peaceful life and make the most of every day!’

In her eyes, nothing was more important than being alive.

"You’re back by yourself? Did you see Tyson?"

Patriarch Forrester was sitting on the sofa, sipping his tea. He seemed to be in a good mood as he watched her come in through the entryway and asked his question.

Bella Thorne managed a slight smile for the patriarch.

"He must be busy. I didn’t see him. If there’s nothing else, I’ll head up to my room."

"Go on."

Patriarch Forrester’s murky, shrewd eyes narrowed slightly. He watched until her back disappeared around the corner before looking away.

’That girl wasn’t telling the truth,’ he thought. ’She’s hiding something.’

’She was perfectly happy when she left. Why did she come back so upset?’

He knew the girl’s temperament. She was quiet, obedient, and gentle. Even when she was wronged, she would never complain.

’A disposition like that makes her easy to take advantage of!’

He called for the butler and ordered in a low voice, "Go find out what’s going on!"

...

Rick Shepherd’s men arrived in M-Country in secret.

Under the cover of darkness, they moved quickly toward the hiding place Hector Garland had told them about.

They thought their movements were undetectable, but unbeknownst to them, Silas Chandler and his men had them under surveillance the moment they landed.

Rick Shepherd’s men went to the address, but they came up empty.

They searched the surrounding area but saw no sign of Hector Garland.

The man in charge called Rick Shepherd to report.

"Sir, there’s no sign of Hector Garland. The place doesn’t look like anyone’s been living here. Do you think he lied to us?"

Rick Shepherd sat in the shadows, his expression grim and his eyes dark.

’It seems Hector Garland was holding something back. He didn’t tell the whole truth. He can’t be trusted.’

’A man like that is a liability that must be eliminated!’

"Take your men back to the hotel for now. Wait for him to contact me."