登入In the living room, Mr. Watson sat with a gloomy expression. His eyes were swollen, and defeat was written all over his face. Sitting across from him were Belle and Tobias, side by side."Anthony... he really is beyond saving. How could he destroy this family because of his own selfishness?" Mr. Watson muttered.Belle only tightened her grip on the fabric of her dress."He ruined this family's reputation. He drove Renee out of this house. Anthony dragged us all into this because of his own foolish pride!""I'm sorry for everything that's happened, Mr. Watson," Tobias said."What are you apologizing for? You're the one who tried to save my family's reputation in front of the public.""I'll do everything I can to protect your family, especially Belle. None of you will have to worry about any more legal harassment."Mr. Watson looked at Tobias with weary eyes. He nodded in resignation."I don't even know how to thank you anymore, Tobias." Mr. Watson rubbed his face wearily. "You still ch
BANG!A wooden crate exploded into splinters, scattering across the concrete floor of the warehouse on the northern coast.Bastian's breathing came in ragged gasps. The fierce light in his eyes had gone hollow after Tobias abruptly ended the phone call."You bastard, Tobias!" Bastian roared.Without a second thought, he swung his fist with all his strength at the wall in front of him.BAM!But Bastian seemed numb to the pain. He lifted his head again, ready to slam his fist into the wall once more, desperate to vent the agony crushing his chest."Bastian, stop!" Kyle shouted in panic, immediately lunging forward and locking both arms around Bastian from behind."Let me go, Kyle!! I have to get back to Eastbourne right now!!" Bastian struggled wildly.He fought so violently that Kyle was dragged across the floor with him. Peter rushed over, throwing himself forward to wrap both arms around Bastian's waist, using every ounce of strength to hold him back."Snap out of it, Bastian! If you
The door to Mr. Leeds' bookstore closed behind Detective Miller as he walked out wearing a sour, irritated expression.Belle turned around. She didn't want to waste another second. Her eyes settled on Tobias, who stood calmly leaning against the edge of the checkout counter."Belle, we don't have much time," Tobias said, his voice urgent and unusually serious. "That detective will be back with an official detention order as soon as Richard Ward finds out he failed to bring you in today."Belle remained silent."And I've stalled them as long as I can, Belle. You won't be safe here much longer.""I need your help." Belle stepped closer, narrowing the distance between them. She lowered her voice to a whisper. "I have evidence linking Renee and Richard Ward."Tobias's eyes narrowed instantly. For the first time, his composure faltered."Where did you get information that specific, Belle?""That doesn't matter," Belle cut in quickly, refusing to mention Anthony or Bastian. "What matters is
Belle sat surrounded by stacks of legal documents at the large reading table in the middle of Mr. Leeds' bookstore. Two detectives from the Eastbourne Police Department stood near the entrance with their arms crossed, wearing smug expressions.Across from Belle, Tobias calmly slid a pen toward her. His face remained unreadable, but his eyes stayed locked on hers."Sign it, Belle," Tobias said quietly. "It's a sworn statement declaring that you haven't had any contact with Bastian and that you have no knowledge of where he's hiding."Belle looked down at the document, her hands folded neatly in her lap. She pulled the collar of her coat a little higher, concealing the faint mark on her neck from the detectives' eyes."I'm not signing anything until I've read every single word, Tobias."Tobias lowered his voice, so only Belle could hear him. "Those detectives are Richard Ward's lapdogs. They're not here to gather information—they're here to find an excuse to throw you in a jail cell for
Peter stared at the screen of his phone, his brow deeply furrowed. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, unsure whether to reply to Anthony's message or ignore it. "Why are you just sitting there?" Kyle asked impatiently. "What did that cowardly bastard say this time?" Before Peter could answer, his phone vibrated violently again. Another message came in from Anthony, this one typed entirely in capital letters. "GET OUT OF THAT ABANDONED HOUSE NOW! RENEE PLANTED A TRACKER ON YOUR CAR, POOH!" Peter's eyes flew wide open. It felt like all the air had been sucked from his lungs. "Shit! We've been set up!" Peter shouted, jumping to his feet. "Renee knows we're here!" "What?!" Kyle turned deathly pale. "How the hell—" SCREEECH! CRASH! The screech of tires grinding against dirt cut Kyle off. Bastian immediately pulled Kyle and Peter down behind the crumbling brick wall. "How many vehicles?" he whispered sharply. Peter peeked through the crack in the window. "Three black
Kyle spoke quietly, but firmly. "Turn yourself in, Bastian."Bastian said nothing. His fists only tightened at his sides.Kyle drew a slow breath. It hurt to say what needed to be said, but it was the only thing that might save Bastian now."Turn yourself in to the police outside the Eastbourne jurisdiction, not the Eastbourne PD. We'll get you a lawyer. We'll fight this the right way—in court.""The courts are already in Renee's pocket!" Bastian roared. "There isn't a single fair courtroom left for people like us in this city!""Yeah, but you still need evidence, Bastian!" Peter shot back just as loudly, jabbing a finger into Bastian's chest. "You can't take down a politician and a filthy rich woman with nothing but rage and your fists!""Pooh's right, Bastian," Kyle added. "Without proof of the bribes or a recording from the night of the fire, you'll be nothing more than target practice for the police the second you set foot back in the city."Bastian fell silent. His breathing grew
The Eastborough pier wasn’t beautiful at night. The lighting was poor, relying only on a dying streetlamp flickering at the entrance. But for Belle, that only made her adrenaline spike.At least it was safe. And it offered one thing no other place did: privacy.Belle walked carefully, pulling her h
Belle glanced at Bastian. His jaw was clenched so tightly that the tendons in his neck stood out.Bastian said nothing. He remained standing there, beside the woman holding the chain to his freedom.And his silence hurt more than anything Renee had said.“Come on, Belle,” Anthony’s voice cut throug
Bastian acted within seconds. Just before Renee’s shadow was about to cross the black partition, he grabbed Belle’s arm. Quickly, he pushed her—gently but firmly—toward the emergency door behind the refrigerator.“Go out through the back alley. Don’t run until you’re far away.”Bastian’s whisper wa
“Oh my God…” Bastian exhaled in regret.In those five short minutes, Belle told him everything that had happened without holding anything back. It only made Bastian’s guilt heavier, because he hadn’t known Anthony had been pressured by his father.Out of everyone in his life, the last people Bastia







