10:36 Mon, 18 Aug
Chapter 144
Chapter 144
After the side door was tightly closed and no on
was paying attention anymore, Sawyer slowly emerged from the dark corner and blended into the stream of students leaving through the main entrance of the auditorium.
At this moment, the sinister look on his face was replaced by gentleness and friendliness, once again becoming the familiar warm school doctor. He walked out with the others, chatting and laughing along the way.
The female students giggled as they said goodbye to him, “Goodbye, Dr. Hemsley!”
Sawyer smiled back at each of them. “Goodbye.”
Leyla also left with Mia and the others. As she passed by Sawyer, her gaze briefly and subtly met his.
But neither of them spoke. Leyla held her head high, looking noble, with a faint sneer on her lips as she walked away.
Mia, ever observant, noticed the eye contact between Leyla and Sawyer. A flicker of suspicion crossed her mind. This proud young lady acted differe toward a school doctor than she did toward others.
Still, it had nothing to do with her. The brief curiosity that arose in her heart was quickly suppressed.
Ashton’s car was parked in a lot not far from the auditorium. Frank and Briar had come out earlier and didn’t run into any other students along the way.
By the time people started coming out of the auditorium, their car had already left the school.
The driver tonight was different. It was not Brandon, but a buzz–cut man in camouflage, whom Briar had never seen before.
Noticing her curious look, Ashton introduced him, “This is Connor. He’s been in charge of my overseas business. He just got back tonight.”
“Good evening, Miss Jennings.” Connor’s voice was low and firm, with that sharp edge unique to military men.
But Briar understood clearly that none of the four men closest to Ashton came from the military.
All their skills were personally cultivated by Ashton.
These four were powerful. Even though they never appeared on international assassination rankings, any mercenary or faction that knew of them kept a respectful distance.
The Hacker Alliance had little information on these four. Ashton’s shadow forces were even more mysterious.
Briar responded with a smile, “Good evening.”
She understood that Connor was in charge of Ashton’s overseas operations and usually didn’t return to the country easily. His sudden return tonight likely had something to do with the upcoming military exercise in Shoneport.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Frank suddenly said, “Ashton, aren’t we going back to Moonspring Estate?”
This route clearly wasn’t the way back to Moonspring Estate.
Frank began to believe that Ashton had finally come to his senses and was taking Briar to the Wade family home.
Ashton shot a sideways glance at the grinning Frank and said to Briar, “You probably didn’t get to eat much at the ball. I’m taking you to get some food first.”
Briar nodded. “That’s perfect. We really didn’t eat much.”
The only thing she ate a lot of was a plate of grilled lamb chops. The rest were cold dishes. She looked like she was eating nonstop with a full plate but ↑ barely anything actually made it to her mouth,
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10:36 Mon, 18 Aug
Chapter 144
Frank immediately rattled off a list of dishes he wanted, but what responded to him was the slowly rising privacy panel in the back seat.
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Frank turned to Connor, who was driving with a straight face, and whined, “Connor, is Ashton being too cruel to me? Aren’t I still his favorite little
brother?”
Connor didn’t even lift an eyelid. “Drop the act.”
‘Man, after all this time, he still doesn’t know how to sweet–talk me a little?‘ Frank grumbled to himself.
In Shoneport, everyone recognized Ashton’s ride. Whenever people spotted his car on the road, they’d steer clear. Nobody dared get close to the car, let alone the people inside.
So they reached the restaurant in just twenty minutes. It was a private kitchen–style place, uniquely decorated, and the dishes they served were extremely delicious.
Frank sat next to Connor, wolfing down food, and this aloof, tough guy even helped him peel shrimp and remove fish bones. If Frank had a tail, he’d be wagging it into the sky.
Briar had always thought Frank kept his distance from school girls because he didn’t want to attract trouble. She now realized she had underestimated him after seeing this different side of him tonight.
Her gaze toward Frank turned subtle. Frank had hidden this part of himself well. Even she, a doctor who had seen countless men, hadn’t seen through him.
“Briar, eat properly.” Noticing Briar’s distraction, Ashton placed another piece of rib in her bowl.
Hearing this, Connor looked over at her. Briar quickly lowered her head and started eating. “Okay.”
Only then did Ashton begin casually chatting with Connor. The two talked about international affairs, some so secretive and dangerous that just hearing about them could mean death.
Briar chewed as she silently complained.
Ashton didn’t see her as an outsider. These kinds of topics were fine for Frank as a legitimate Wade family member, but he had included her too.
It wasn’t just Briar who found it odd. Even Frank and Connor were shocked at first. Especially Connor. Initially, he had thought of Briar as just another disposable little fling of Ashton.
Even if she had cured Griffin’s illness and helped with Ashton’s insomnia, that didn’t make her irreplaceable.
There was certainly no shortage of capable people in this world. But living on the edge like he did, Connor didn’t truly recognize Briar as someone he needed to protect until tonight.
Now, even the look in his eyes carried a touch of respect.
“Mr. Wade, the goods from Fierce Tiger will arrive at the airport at 3:30 a.m. Our people are tracking them all the way. The shipment is secure.” Connor handed over a printed document to Ashton.
Ashton took it, flipped through it, then casually placed it on the table. Sitting next to him, Briar only needed a quick glance to see the bold title on the first page that said Arms Transaction.
She realized that while it was nice that he trusted her, there were some things, like sensitive business dealings, that probably didn’t need to be shared so casually.
She also recognized Fierce Tiger. Based on the intel she had seen, they were ranked among the top thirty arms dealers on the international blacklist.
Briar calmly averted her “accidentally” wandering eyes and, like Frank, stayed uninvolved. She focused on the food in her own bowl.
After the meal, Ashton and Connor finished their discussion. The document was returned to Connor, and he left with Frank,
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Chapter 144
Ashton personally drove Briar back to Moonspring Estate.
In the car, Ashton asked her as she slumped contentedly in the passenger seat. “Did what we talked about earlier scare you?”
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AD
