Chapter 159 The Brown Family Secret
"Steven!"
The name, spat out like a curse, sent chills down the spines of the Brown daughters. Jessica, her face ashen, trembled the most.
Steven, the black sheep, the prodigal son. Mr. Brown, full of love, had adopted not only the five daughters but also a son. But Steven, taken in at the age of fifteen, was wild and rebellious. He refused even to take the Brown family name.
By twenty, his true nature revealed itself in a series of reckless acts and blatant disrespect, culminating in a furious outburst that left Mr. Brown with no choice but to banish him from the family. It was a decision that had haunted the old man ever since.
"And why was Steven there?" Elbert asked, his gaze fixed on Jessica with a sharp voice. "Perhaps Jessica can enlighten us."
Despite the lack of evidence, Elbert's strange conviction compelled the room to turn their attention to Jessica.
Her composure crumbled. "I don't know," she stammered, her lips bloodless. "I haven't seen him."
Elbert scoffed. "Save your lies. When I find Steven, the truth will come out." He turned to leave, his purpose unwavering.
Panic flared in Jessica's eyes. Ignoring the bewildered stares of her sisters, she rushed after Elbert, grabbing his arm in desperation.
"Elbert, please," she begged, her voice cracking. "Don't hurt him. Steven had nothing to do with this. Please, just let it go."
Elbert stopped, turning to face her, his eyes like chips of obsidian. "No more lies, Jessica," he said, his voice dangerously low. "Let me guess; you fell in love with Steven during his time here. You even bore his child in secret."
Jessica's eyes widened, her breath hitching.
"Mr. Brown found out, of course," Elbert continued, his voice laced with a chilling calm. "He was devastated, furious. He banished Steven, and you… you slipped away, pretending to have aborted the child. You went abroad and conceived in secret."
He leaned closer, his gaze piercing. "And that's where you stumbled into the world of cybernetic augmentation, isn't it? And they took your child, used them as leverage to mold you into a weapon."
Jessica stared at him, her face a mask of terror. "How… how do you know?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"It wasn't difficult," Elbert replied, smiling with no humor. "A few key pieces of information; your indifference toward Rex, even after his illness. Your reluctance to carry out your assignments, and you choosing Bennyburg Medical School for your supposed abortion. The Card Club's hold over you, your child as leverage Your fondness for children, your volunteer work at the orphanage, and finally… Steven's willingness to kill for you."
He stepped back, his gaze raking over her. "I did some digging. Every single target the Card Club assigned you, except for General Jeffery, died under mysterious circumstances; usually within a month of you receiving the order. And guess who was spotted near each of those crime scenes? Steven."
Jessica swayed, her legs giving out. It was as if Elbert had peeled away her skin, exposing her deepest secrets to the harsh light of day.
"The Card Club tolerates your insubordination because you're still effective," Elbert continued, his voice devoid of emotion. "You might not get your hands dirty, but your targets still die."
He watched as the truth, stark and undeniable, crashed over her. "Tell me, Jessica," he said softly, "does any of this weigh on your conscience?"
"It gets worse," he added, his voice hardening. "Mr. Brown knew about your child. He always knew. Despite that, he stood silent to protect you from the pain and shame."
"He's been searching for your child all these years, desperately trying to right the wrongs of the past. However, the Card Club is a formidable enemy, even for a man of his resources."
"He's poured millions into orphanages, trying to atone for his perceived failures, for the family he couldn't keep whole."
"And you," Elbert said, his voice filled with a quiet fury, "You played a part in his downfall."
Jessica crumpled to the floor, tears streaming down her face. Regret, sharp and agonizing, ripped through her.
Elbert's expression softened, a flicker of compassion in his eyes. He continued with a gentler voice, "For Mr. Brown's sake, and because your hands are still clean… I'll allow you to see your child one last time before you face justice."
"As for Steven," he added, his voice hardening once more, "He won't escape punishment for what he's done."
"No!" Jessica cried, grabbing his arm again with surprising grip. "Don't go after him! He's not someone you can handle. You'll die!"
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with desperate fear. "Steven… he's not a normal cyborg. He's different."
"Spade 7, he was barely A2 level," she said, her voice frantic. "I'm A7. You might be A9, at best. But Steven… he's beyond B level. He's awakened abilities, powers that make him almost inhuman."
"Please, Elbert," she begged, her voice breaking. "Don't do this. I don't want anyone else to die."
Elbert's eyes narrowed, his mind racing. Jessica's fear was palpable, her warning stark.
"And there's something else," Jessica whispered, her voice trembling. "You're in danger, too. The Card Club doesn't tolerate failure, so they've put a kill order on you. Every one of their assassins is gunning for you now."
"Over fifty augmented killers," she said, her voice filled with dread. "They never fail."
"Steven won't help me. He won't risk it. However, if you go after him… you won't survive. Please, Elbert, you have to hide."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
