Chapter 576: Bewitched by Beauty
Adeline couldn't help but remember the first time she met Marshall. It was just a few years ago.
Back then, even in the heat of summer, he could hardly stand outside for more than a few minutes without coughing violently, his face always pale, and when he spoke to her, he seemed too weak to even smile.
At that time, she felt genuine sympathy for him.
His illness had seemed so real back then.
But now, Adeline couldn't help but wonder, "Did his ambition only start to grow after his health improved, or has it been there all along, festering beneath the surface?"
The Thomson family had done nothing to deserve their betrayal.
Frankie, though adopted, had been given a life of luxury by them. If they had truly wanted to join the Thomson family's company, both Lorenzo and Harrison would have gladly helped.
But they chose to plot against the family instead.
If they had competed with Harrison through
legitimate means, perhaps Adeline would have understood.
Instead, they had resorted to deceit, even working with overseas criminal syndicates, harming countless people in the process.
"Actually, Grandpa mentioned this before,"
Harrison said, his voice tinged with bitterness.
"He wanted Frankie to come work at the family business and learn the ropes, but he always refused. I've told Marshall the same thing-once he was well, he could join anytime."
"I think they probably felt that you and Lorenzo weren't sincere, that you were just testing them," Adeline replied. "Those two are so paranoid that they always assume the worst about their own family."
Of course, she also understood they must have felt wronged.
But that wasn't a valid excuse for the harm they caused.
Harrison fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "The biggest betrayal isn't from them toward us, but from them toward my great-uncle."
Harrison's "great-uncle" was Frankie's adoptive father, Lorenzo's brother.
"My great-uncle always treated them like his own son and grandson. If he could see what they've done..."
Adeline reached out and gently touched his face.
"When we get back to Orianto, I'll go with you to pay our respects."
Harrison nodded, but before he could lean in to kiss her, his phone buzzed.
"That's my phone," Adeline said. "Can you grab it for me?"
As Harrison took the phone, his gaze darkened the moment he saw the caller ID.
He handed it to Adeline without a word.
Adeline saw the name-Mr. Hunter, and her heart sank.
She thought, "What was Russell calling for now?"
She glanced at Harrison's darkened
expression and instantly knew his jealousy was flaring up again.
"Should you take it?" she asked, offering the phone back to Harrison.
He immediately took the phone.
However, Harrison hesitated for a moment, not wanting to act without Adeline's consent, but now that she had agreed, there was no need to hold back.
"Mr. Hunter," he answered, keeping his identity quiet. But Russell knew it was Harrison.
"Mr. Thomson," Russell's voice came through, "I haven't had a chance to congratulate you yet. Glad to see you're safe."
"I didn't do anything wrong," Harrison replied, his tone flat. "Of course I'm safe."
"Well, you really are quite capable," Russell said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Harrison was on speakerphone, so Adeline caught every word exchanged between the two men loud and clear.
Her lips twitched uncontrollably as she stared blankly at the ceiling, speechless:
Of course, these two just had to start sniping at each other with thinly veiled sarcasm first.
Both were highly capable elites- decisive, ruthless, and strategic-but at this moment, their petty grudges were sharper than a needle's point.
"Mr. Hunter," Harrison said coldly, "What exactly is it that you want from my girlfriend?"
There was a pause on the other end of the line before Russell responded. "I just wanted to make sure she's alright."
Russell wasn't directly spying on Adeline, but given everything happening, he had gathered some information.
He'd already booked a flight to Yewhaina and arranged for a large group of his men to accompany him.
Though he knew Adeline likely didn't need his help, he couldn't sit idly by.
He knew, because of what happened before, that Adeline might still not have forgiven him.
But he wanted to do his part for her.
He didn't want her to suffer even the slightest harm.
"She's with me and doing fine," Harrison said, his voice tight.
"Good, that's a relief," Russell responded before abruptly ending the call.
He didn't tell them about going to Yewhaina.
If he could, he just wanted to quietly protect Adeline.
So there was no need for them to know.
After hanging up, Harrison set his phone aside and silently pulled Adeline into his arms, holding her close.
"Are you upset?" she asked, gently poking his chest.
"No," Harrison replied with a slight smile. "If
anyone's angry, it's me with him." Adeline hadn't done anything wrong.
He wouldn't sulk over this kind of thing anymore.
"Well, someone has said all those hurtful things just because he saw me with Mr. Hunter," Adeline muttered, "And yet Mr. Hunter helped me that time."
Harrison suddenly felt a bit guilty.
"Weren't we supposed to leave the past in the past?" he asked.
Adeline cupped his face, kneading it firmly.
"Don't think you can say that and make me forget what happened back then."
"Alright, alright, it's my fault," Harrison coaxed her gently. "I admit... I was jealous."
After all, back then, he didn't know she'd always liked him.
Seeing her so close with another man, of course he was jealous.
His mood was awful at the time, and he spoke without thinking. Now that he reflected on it, he knew it was wrong.
Adeline softened her gaze as she looked at his handsome face so close to hers.
Honestly, she couldn't stay mad looking at him like that.
"What a weakling-completely undone by charm," she thought.
Unable to resist, Adeline lowered her head and bit Harrison's lip hard.
"Ah!" Harrison sucked in a breath. "Adeline, that's cheating!"
"Oh, then why don't you bite me back?" she said,"I'm giving you a chance."
Laughing, Harrison leaned in, but instead of biting her, he gave her a deep, lingering kiss.
Later, thanks to the overwhelming evidence, the police quickly cracked the case involving Frankie, Marshall, and Edward's dealings with the overseas crime syndicate.
The official verdict would take a while, but for these three, the end was near.
Marshall, unable to cope, tried to take his own life in prison but failed. He was still granted medical leave due to his injuries.
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