Chapter 149
In the cold, serious atmosphere of his office, Henry stood by the massive floor–to–ceiling windows, gazing down at the bustling city below.
The air felt thick with tension, and the hourglass on his desk trickled down, grains of sand piling up at the bottom.
Jennifer's words echoed in his mind, Jude was learning from him.
He recalled his attitude towards Victoria after they got married.
Henry's handsome features darkened as he reflected on the past, his eyes betraying no emotion.
He minded the fact that she had been manipulating him, and he had always treated her with a cold indifference.
The resentment lingered like a heavy weight in his chest, a constant reminder of that fateful morning.
During the fiercest conflicts within the Harrison family, he had managed to avoid being outmaneuvered, only to have Victoria succeed where others had failed. The Hardwick Group had shamelessly exploited their connection, demanding concessions from the Harrison Group without a hint of shame.
And now? As Jude grew, he was observant and quick to learn. If Henry remained distant toward Victoria, it was only natural for Jude to mirror that behavior.
Henry hadn't realized the implications of this; he believed his son's cold demeanor was simply a reflection of his own.
Jennifer's words had jolted him into clarity. It was his failure to set a good example that had led Jude astray.
The events of five years ago, even if Victoria had plotted against him, should not have been passed down to their child.
With a heavy sigh, Henry pulled out his phone, ready to call Victoria. But just then, a knock interrupted him.
"Mr. Harrison, the meeting starts in five minutes." Grace's voice came from the other side of the door.
His thoughts scattered, and he put the phone away. He thought, "Some conversations are better had face–to–face."
As night fell, Victoria returned to Starlight Terrace after a day of fun. Just as she reached the entrance of her building, a voice called out from behind her.
"Victoria."
She turned to see Jayce walking toward her, his black T–shirt adding to his serious demeanor. His strikingly handsome face was devoid of expression, but his eyes were fixed intently on her.
"Mr. Caldwell, what a coincidence," Victoria said with a smile, greeting him.
"I've been waiting for you," he replied.
"Really?" Victoria blinked in confusion. "Is there something you need to talk about?"
Jayce nodded. "Come with me."
He turned and started walking away.
"Mr. Caldwell, can you at least tell me what this is about?" she called after him, puzzled.
She thought, "What's so mysterious?"
Jayce took a few steps forward before responding, "I've caught someone."
Victoria froze for a moment. "What?"
He glanced back at her, then continued walking. "You'll know when you see her."
He walked out of the complex and got into a car, looking at her expectantly.
Victoria's heart raced with unease. "Mr. Caldwell, who did you catch? Is it related to me?"
"Yes," he confirmed, nodding.
After a moment's hesitation, Victoria decided to trust him. They had known each other for quite some time, and aside from that one incident at the beginning, Jayce had always looked out for her, even helping with her business.
The car roared to life and headed toward the outskirts of town.
As they drove deeper into unfamiliar territory, Victoria felt a knot tighten in her stomach. Searching for a distraction, she turned to him, only to find him staring silently, his gaze softening.
Feeling awkward, she quickly looked away and focused on the passing scenery.
The silence hung between them, thick and tense.
The car finally pulled up to its destination–a desolate, abandoned factory surrounded by darkness. The bodyguard led the way, flashlight in hand, illuminating the eerie surroundings.
This place felt anything but safe.
Victoria watched Jayce walk ahead; her lips pressed together in concern as she tightened her grip around the small bottle in her pocket.
As they approached a small warehouse, the door creaked open, and the beam from the flashlight revealed a shocking sight inside.
"Ugh!"
It was Agnes, Sophia's assistant, bound to a chair with her eyes and mouth covered. Upon hearing the noise, she struggled against her restraints, making muffled whimpers.
Victoria's face registered a mix of shock and disbelief. Jayce turned to her, his expression serious. "She was trying to hurt you. I couldn't let that happen, so I brought her here. How do you want to punish her?"
Victoria was taken aback, unable to process the situation.
"You..." Words failed her as she struggled to find a response.
Jayce continued, "Have you thought this through? If not, I'll take matters into my own hands."
The bodyguard produced a knife, and Jayce reached out to take it from him.
Victoria exclaimed, panic rising in her voice, "Wait... no!
"What are you doing? Killing someone is illegal! We can't do anything unlawful!"
Jayce blinked. In the dim light, the beauty mark under his eye blurred, giving his face a darker edge.
He asked, "Are you worried about me?"
Then, he suddenly smiled, saying, "I'm glad you care. I'm not going to kill her; I just want to teach her a lesson."
With that, Jayce strode toward Agnes and, in one swift motion, plunged the knife into her thigh.
"Ugh!!!"
Agnes' muffled scream echoed in the warehouse as she writhed in pain, her body trembling violently.
Victoria's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide in disbelief at the scene unfolding before her.
Jayce didn't stop there; he twisted the knife as Agnes continued to whimper, tears streaming down her face.
She struggled desperately, her body drenched in cold sweat, and blood trickled down from her wound. The agony was excruciating, and she could feel the world starting to blur around the edges.
"Enough! Please, stop!" Victoria's voice trembled as she pleaded, desperate to end the madness.
As he saw her pale face, Jayse's expression shifted to one of regret. "I'm sorry for scaring you."
He withdrew the knife, and Agnes let out another agonized whimper, blood dripping steadily onto the floor.
As the wind swept through the warehouse, Victoria shivered, swallowing hard. "She... she was just following orders. You've punished her already; there's no need to go further."
She had never witnessed such brutality before, and the sight of Jayce wielding the knife filled her with dread.
Jayce returned the knife to the bodyguard and stepped closer to Victoria, who fought the urge to step back.
"Alright, I'll listen to you," he said, glancing at the bodyguard.
The guard moved to rip the tape off Agnes' mouth. Agnes screamed in agony.
"Shut up, or I'll kill you!" the bodyguard barked, causing, Agnes to tremble in fear.
"Who... who are you? What do you want from me?" she sobbed. Jayce asked, his tone devoid of emotion, "Did someone send you to target Mrs. Harrison?"
"Yes! It was Sophia! She wanted me to hurt Mrs. Harrison because she hates Mrs. Harrison! Sophia wants to destroy her!" Agnes blurted out, her mind racing to save herself.
Victoria felt a chill run down her spine as she listened to Agnes spill the venomous words Sophia had directed at her.
She mused, "Ugh, what an ungrateful wretch."