Chapter 1406 He Instantly Felt a Sense of Crisis
"Lawrence," Richard began, "Father said if our sister is still alive, all the Smith family shares would go to her. Only the remaining assets might come to us."
For years, Lawrence had been at the helm of the Smith family business, steadily increasing its stock value. His reputation in the Vistalia business district rivaled Raymond's in Silver Bay City.
How would he react to the possibility of losing everything he'd worked for?
Fortunately, Lawrence remained level-headed about the situation.
"I understand," was his only response.
Richard continued, "From now on, no one except me and my people are allowed to visit Dad. Lawrence, please let Mom know."
Lawrence nodded and simply said, "Noted."
After stationing his men at the hospital, Richard drove to Vistalia's lawless district. Located far from downtown, it took him three hours to reach.
Only after donning a mask and entering did he fully comprehend the darkness and bloodthirst that permeated the place.
He'd visited once before, having heard rumors about multiple families fighting over this territory before it fell into someone else's hands. On his first visit as an adult, he'd slipped in quietly and discovered that the underground fighting arena was a world apart from the outside.
The lawless district was a haven for thugs and criminals, thick with vice. Strangely, anyone who caused serious trouble there would likely disappear by the next day.
The fighting arena controlled the district. They would swiftly handle any shootouts, but stayed out of other matters, considering them personal vendettas.
Most heirs to prominent families rarely ventured here. Once you entered, you were considered morally compromised, and whatever happened to you was your own responsibility.
Inside, Richard immediately spotted a woman in a red spaghetti-strap dress. Helen held a traditional folding fan, not to cool herself, but to cover her smiling lips as she watched gamblers losing their composure.
She clearly recognized Richard, raising an eyebrow when their eyes met.
Richard approached her, cutting through the crowd.
"Where's Raymond?"
Helen looked him up and down before turning away.
"Follow me."
She led him to the seventh floor, where Raymond was swimming in a private pool.
Selena sat at the edge, her legs dangling in the water.
Raymond's wounds had completely healed. Earlier that morning, just as he'd tried to make love to Selena, she had suggested they come here to exercise. He'd immediately felt insecure, wondering if his weakened state had made him less attractive.
He had already swum several laps, his body energized.
Someone knocked on the door curtain—it was Helen.
"Raymond, Richard is here."
Raymond wiped water from his face and emerged from the pool, casually wrapping a robe around himself.
Why would Richard come here?
He glanced at Selena, still sitting by the pool. "Want to join us?"
Selena, who had been searching Christopher's address on her laptop, closed the computer, put on her shoes, and joined him.
Richard waited in the private room, impressed by Raymond's luxury. The floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked large screens displaying activities on each level. Even while staying on the seventh floor, Raymond could monitor everything happening below.
The view was breathtaking, especially with the blue sky above and the Tyndall effect creating beams of light cascading downward.
As Richard took in the view, Raymond entered.
"What do you want?" he asked bluntly.
Richard, equally direct, sat down. "My father asked you to investigate the identity of the Smith family's long-lost daughter. Do you have results? And what's the deal with Victor?"
Raymond recalled warning Jason about Victor, though without concrete evidence at the time. Jason had trusted Victor implicitly, as he had once been his personal physician.
"My father hopes the paternity test Victor provided was falsified," Richard continued. "He's fallen into a coma now, but he believes his daughter might still be alive."
As he finished speaking, Richard looked pointedly at Selena.
Selena rested her chin on her hand, still typing away on her laptop nearby.
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