Chapter 302 - 301: He Only Wants His Daughter to Be Safe

Charles Lowell’s expression didn’t change, but his fingers unconsciously tightened on the armrest of the sofa.

"Threatening letters? What did they say?"

"Just some photos, notes, that kind of thing. Saying that marrying me would bring disgrace to the family, all that jazz. Just stuff to mess with me."

Yvonne Lowell shrugged, her tone nonchalant.

"That’s bullshit!"

For the first time, Charles Lowell swore, losing his composure. He then turned to Leo Grant and asked,

"Have you all seen them?"

"If you mean those of us in this room, then yes, we’ve all seen them. My parents don’t know about it, though. I have both letters with me right now."

Leo Grant nodded slightly, answering truthfully.

"So what are you thinking now?" Charles Lowell’s gaze was deep as he stared at him.

He looked ready to kill Leo if he didn’t give the right answer.

Leo Grant chuckled softly and looked him straight in the eye.

"I’m thinking... after I come over to formally propose tomorrow, what are the chances I can convince you, Uncle Lowell, to let us register our marriage on Yvonne’s birthday?"

’My ID card birthday!!!’

"In your dreams. How about you call me ’Dad’ right now, and I’ll let you two get married on the spot, huh?!"

Charles Lowell snorted and held out his hand toward him. "Let me see the photos."

’Huh? An offer that good?! I’m a thousand, ten thousand percent willing!!!’

"Alright, Old Man Lowell, stop pretending. What he received is most likely the same stuff you burned."

Yvonne Lowell slapped his hand away and gestured with her chin toward the ashtray.

She knew something was off the moment she walked in. Her old man was acting strange, and the study smelled weird.

There was a smell of something burnt. And while the ashtray only held one cigarette butt that he’d just stubbed out—and it was only half-smoked—there was far too much ash.

’Was her dad smoking a firecracker? Celebrating the New Year six months early?’

’He must have burned the photos beforehand. The crime scene was so obvious, only a fool wouldn’t have noticed.’

"Who are you calling Old Man Lowell?! You’re a clever one, aren’t you? Can’t hide anything from you."

Charles Lowell shot her an exasperated glare, his previously ramrod-straight back relaxing slightly.

When he looked at the three of them again, his eyes held a complex mix of emotions.

"Did you three... always live like this in the past?"

"No, it was just physical training at first. That part of our lives lasted less than two years in total, as you can tell from our age in the photos. And we really were adopted later on. I wasn’t lying about that."

Yvonne Lowell began to selectively tell him the less harrowing details, with Nina Jennings and Zachary Jacobs chiming in to support her.

"Yeah..."

"That’s right..."

"Exactly..."

But even though they tried their best to sugarcoat the truth, Charles Lowell’s expression remained grim. He finally let out a sigh.

"I should have guessed. I suspected from the start that your amnesia was fake. After all, it’s impossible for all three of you to not remember the exact same period of time.

But everyone has their secrets, so I didn’t press the issue. I just never imagined it would have been such an ordeal."

"So now that you’ve seen and heard everything, what are you thinking?"

Yvonne Lowell asked, twisting her fingers, her voice hesitant.

’Will he despise me? Fear me? Avoid me like the plague?’

Although his actions already gave her a general idea, she still seemed to crave a definite answer—one that would tell her she was, and always would be, his unwavering choice.

How could Charles Lowell not know what she was thinking? He reached out, ruffled her hair, and said with a sigh,

"I’m thinking that I’ve truly failed as a father, letting you suffer so much out there.

I’m also thinking that my daughter is incredibly strong, able to protect herself and those around her from such a young age.

Dad will always be proud of you. Always!"

He understood, of course, that in a situation like that, some things had to be done.

If Yvonne Lowell hadn’t acted, she would have been the one to die, and their family might have been forced to live the rest of their lives in memory and grief.

People are selfish, and he was no exception.

The people who fell were pitiful, to be sure, but all he wanted was for his daughter to be safe.

Yvonne Lowell was stunned for a moment, then smiled at him.

"It’s all in the past. I’m still alive, aren’t I? Dad."

"Yes, it’s all in the past." Charles Lowell took a deep breath and changed the subject.

"Alright, let’s talk business. What’s your plan now?"

Zachary Jacobs opened the laptop he had brought and was the first to speak.

"We got a message from Country A this morning. There was indeed an orphan named Andy who looks about eighty percent similar to the current Andy.

But the orphanage also said that Andy went missing for a while back in middle school, then returned on his own.

However, his personality had become very withdrawn, and he had a new scar on his right hand. So, it’s almost certain that this Andy is actually Lance Young."

"So you’re saying... he killed the real Andy and got plastic surgery to look like him?" Nina Jennings asked.

Zachary Jacobs nodded. "That’s about the gist of it. But he did get into this school on his own merits, otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to climb the ladder so quickly."

Seeing Yvonne Lowell remain silent, Leo Grant hooked his finger around hers and asked softly,

"What are you thinking about?"

"I’m wondering... where did he get these photos?"

Yvonne Lowell’s brow furrowed, her voice filled with confusion.

After all, back at that place, she had never seen anything with a camera besides the surveillance monitors.

In that run-down little building they were kept in, those people never even brought their phones inside, let alone took them out in front of them.

’Where did he get a phone? How did he manage to escape safely? How did he survive in Country A? And where did he get the money for plastic surgery?’

After a pause, Yvonne Lowell continued, as if talking to herself,

"Never mind, forget that for now. It’s not the main point. The point is, we didn’t see these photos on his computer, which means he has the original physical prints.

And we don’t know how many photos he has, or what he plans to do next."

She hadn’t sent anyone to stake out his residence, worried that it would tip him off.

She had just been focused on the robot launch, planning to thwart his scheme, piss him off half to death, and then go and finish him off. She never expected the bastard would have photos.

And right now, he’s only sent copies of her photos. Does he have photos of Nina Jennings and Zachary Jacobs, too?

"The Lowell Group’s robot goes on sale tonight," Leo Grant said out of the blue.

Charles Lowell narrowed his eyes. "You mean, he’s likely to release these photos tonight?"

"He has the original prints, so he has a million ways to spread them. The internet is the fastest channel for disseminating information, and tonight is undoubtedly a good opportunity for him."

Leo Grant replied.

A chill crept over Yvonne Lowell’s face.

"Whether he does or not, I’m done playing his games. Since he wants to use the past against me, I’ll just announce my ’past’ to the public myself."

Nina Jennings understood what she meant and asked, "Who are you planning to... call?"

’This princess or that king?’

Yvonne Lowell didn’t answer. She just dialed a number.

"Scarlett, I need you to do me a favor..."