Chapter 351
Briar’s pupils quivered, and her voice shook with disbelief. “Honey, do you mean…”
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Ashton wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. His tone was flat, almost suppressed. “Yes. It’s exactly what you think. My mother was one of those people’s test subjects too.”
“But she was lucky. She didn’t die.” A murderous glint flashed in Ashton’s eyes.
Briar’s whole body began to tremble. After a long moment, she found her voice and asked, “When did you find out?”
It had to be recently. Otherwise, given Ashton’s vindictive nature, if he had known long ago that his own mother had been one of those test subjects, he would have turned Shoneport upside down by now.
He was always fiercely protective. He would never have stood by idly, knowing a family member had been driven mad and almost killed by their schemes.
Ashton would have stopped at nothing to find the people behind this and kill them.
Just as she expected, she heard Ashton say, “It was the night I was exposed for not being a member of the Wade family.”
Heartache flashed in Briar’s eyes. She turned and hugged him back around the waist. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
He replied, “You were busy dealing with Edgar at the time, so I didn’t mention it. Besides, I’m fine. I’m not some fragile wreck…”
Briar knew Ashton was just teasing to comfort her. She stood on her tiptoes, smiled, and kissed his lips. “You’ve never been a wreck. You’re my man.”
They embraced and kissed in front of the mirror. It was not a moment of passion or romance, but of two souls finding comfort in each other.
After a while, they finished in the bathroom and came out. Ashton took Briar’s hand and pulled her out of the bedroom. “Honey, stop fussing. You look beautiful in everything you wear.”
Ashton could never have imagined that the fearless Briar would be so nervous about meeting his mother that she’d spend a full half–hour picking out an outfit in the walk–in closet.
Briar was wearing a simple, casual outfit she was unhappy with, but Ashton wouldn’t give her a chance to change. “Are you sure this is okay?”
Having grown up without a mother, Briar couldn’t remain calm after learning that Ashton’s mother was also a poor woman who had been ravaged by experimental drugs.
For her, it was less about meeting her mother–in–law and more about meeting a mother figure, a woman who had suffered the same fate as her own mother but had survived.
If only her mother had been as lucky as his. maybe she would have had a chance to live, too.
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Chapter 351
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“It’s fine. Trust me, no matter what you wear, you’re the most beautiful woman to me.” Sensing the sadness in her mood, Ashton decided not to linger on the topic.
He chose a safer topic. “Honey, after you meet your mother–in–law, it makes sense to meet your father–in–law right after. Don’t you think?”
Briar’s attention was successfully diverted. “What do you mean?”
Ashton gripped Briar’s hand tightly, giving her no chance to escape. “It means that when we go to the nursing home, Mr. McInnes will be there too.”
Briar was stunned.
“You already arranged it, so why bother asking me?” Briar said, annoyed. This man couldn’t be serious for two minutes without trying to trick her again.
Smiling, Ashton led Briar to the dining table, where a lavish breakfast of all her favorite dishes was already laid out.
“I still had to hear your thoughts. If you don’t like it, I’ll have Mr. McInnes leave immediately,” Ashton said earnestly.
Briar shot him an annoyed look. “We’re already having dinner together tonight. How could I possibly say no to meeting him beforehand?”
Ashton nodded and praised her, “You’re the best, darling. So understanding.”
Briar buried her head in her food. “Don’t give me that. Nothing good ever happens when you praise me.”
Ashton remained noncommittal in a tacit admission.
After breakfast, Brandon and Ian arrived. Connor was still out taking Frank to class.
“Ashton, everything is arranged.” Brandon hurried over when he saw Ashton and Briar walk out, handing them two handguns.
Briar raised an eyebrow. “Is the journey that dangerous?”
Brandon glanced at Ashton. Seeing he wasn’t going to explain, Brandon smiled. “It’s not necessarily dangerous, but when Mr. McInnes travels, safety must always be the top priority.”
She understood now. This meant they also had to take care of Gideon’s security.
But she figured Gideon should have his own personal bodyguards.
Brandon met Briar’s suspicious gaze and explained, “Mrs. McInnes has been in a private nursing home for a long time. She is very sensitive to the presence of strangers, especially bodyguards with a menacing aura.”
Briar nodded to show she understood.
Brandon arrived soon after as well.
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Chapter 351
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The five of them drove Ashton’s exclusive car to a large, private nursing home in the suburbs of Shoneport.
The private nursing home covered over a thousand acres. Since it housed the most powerful people in Dasmicca, the surrounding security was astonishingly tight.
Even Ashton’s exclusive car had to stop for an inspection, with no exceptions.
The chief of security at the gate clearly recognized Ashton. After his men finished the inspection, he smiled and bowed. “My apologies, Mr. Wade. We’re just doing our jobs. Please go ahead.”
Ashton waved his hand dismissively, rolled up the window, and the car drove straight inside.
Once Ashton’s car was out of sight, one of the guards asked his boss, “Chief, I thought Mr. Wade lost his influence. Why are you still so respectful to him?”
“Yeah, Mr. Wade’s status isn’t what it used to be. We don’t need to curry favor with him, do we?”
The head of security smacked both of his clueless subordinates on the back of the head. “What do you two know? No matter how much power Mr. Wade has lost, he’s still not someone we can afford to mess with.”
Seeing that his two subordinates still didn’t get it, he was both annoyed and amused. “Let me ask you, what kind of people in Dasmieca get to stay in this nursing home?”
One of the guards‘ faces changed. “Chief, are you saying the person Mr. Wade is visiting today can help him make a comeback…?”
The head of security sighed. “You’re only half right. Think again. Did we turn away all visitors at the sanatorium today?”
“That’s right. Weren’t we told a VIP was coming to the sanatorium…” another subordinate trailed off, a look of shock on his face. “So, that VIP is Ashton?”
The head of security face–palmed himself. His subordinates were hopeless.
“Are you all idiots? Think carefully. What other car went in before Mr. Wade’s?” the head of security asked wearily.
