Chapter 19
Nora retched in disgust.
She desperately backed away, cowering at Asher’s feet, too frightened to speak coherently: “A–Asher… who is he? Why does he want me to have his children… weren’t we getting married?”
Vivian let out a cold laugh and slapped Nora across the face: “Does a monster like you, who doesn’t even recognize your own parents, deserve to marry my brother? This slap is me returning Riley’s debt! Don’t worry, Mr. Maxwell has married eight fives–though all eight went insane–but he’ll surely cherish you.”
“…Mr. Maxwell?”
Nora was stunned. She had heard rumors about this infamous Mr. Maxwell who had a passion for sadistic games. Besides driving his eight wives insane, he had left countless girls permanently damaged in nightclubs.
Nora was nearly paralyzed with fear: “No!”
“Vivian, please save me, I was wrong, I really was! We’re best friends, right? You can’t push me into this hellhole–please help me! I’ll leave here forever and never appear in front of you again!”
Vivian looked down at her with cold disdain: “If you leave, will Riley come back? This isn’t negotiable.”
“Asher…” Nora turned to him, raising her ten bloody fingers: “I know you hate me for driving Riley away, but that was only because I loved you too much! Please, I’m begging you, spare me! I’ve cut open my fingers–isn’t that enough retribution?”
“Heh.”
Asher’s expression remained impassive as he crossed his legs: “Making you cut your fingers was just an eye for an eye. Can you repay Riley’s heartbreak, humiliation, and pain?”
He shook his head in contempt: “You can’t, because you… don’t even have a heart.”
The light in Nora’s eyes gradually dimmed: “Asher, how can you be so cruel to me? Don’t you… love me anymore?”
Vivian scoffed: “What you obtained through lies and manipulation–you call that love?”
“Didn’t you want high society and endless money? Mr. Maxwell has worked with my brother for years–he’s loaded! We’re making your dreams come true. Shouldn’t you be thanking us?”
With one look from her, several bodyguards restrained Nora and dragged her away.
“No! No! Marrying him will kill me! Asher, Vivian, please have mercy!”
Asher didn’t look back. He stared vacantly at the ring in his palm: “If I spare you, who will spare Riley?”
After Mr. Maxwell took Nora away, silence returned to the massive mansion.
Vivian sat dejectedly beside Asher: “Brother, if we really find Riley, do you think she’ll forgive us?”
“She will,” Asher said firmly. “I believe in Riley’s love for me and her commitment to friendship.”
His gaze drifted as he couldn’t help imagining: “When Riley returns, we’ll move to an even bigger mansion. After we marry and have children, this place definitely won’t be enough… Will you be my best woman at our wedding?”
21:59
Two Chances, One Bullet: How His “Next Life” Promise Failed
7112
Chapter 19
Vivian smiled softly: “Of course… Riley has always been my ride or die. When she comes back, I’ll treat her even better than before!”
Just as she finished speaking, the assistant rushed in frantically.
Clutching a photo, he stammered: “Mr. Blackwell, Miss Blackwell… we found Miss Hawthorne!”
The siblings exchanged excited glances: “That’s wonderful news! Why are you so anxious?”
The assistant handed them the photo: “It’s good news! But… Miss Hawthorne is getting engaged!”
