Chapter 327 Get Out of Rochester City Forever
Damian shrugged, "I never claimed to be a good guy."
Ashley didn't bother arguing. She knew Damian well enough; when his interests were on the line, he could be downright ruthless. "Steven's got a lot of businesses, huh?"
Damian smirked, "You interested?"
Ashley had tried to use Steven to climb the social ladder, but now she wanted nothing to do with him. Everything about him felt tainted. "Not even a little."
Damian chuckled, a sound that made her skin crawl. "Not tempted to use his power for something?"
His sneer made her uneasy. "I had no idea he was like that before. How could I now?"
They walked past a row of factory buildings, heading towards a separate warehouse with blue walls and big silver double doors.
Knowing who was inside made the place feel creepy.
As soon as they got there, a guy jogged over, nodding respectfully. "Mr. Hearst."
The guards were disguised as factory workers—classic Damian, always keeping things under wraps.
Damian nodded, and the guy quickly unlocked and opened the door.
Inside, the warehouse was huge, filled with cardboard and wooden boxes stacked up to the ceiling. They walked past the tall boxes to a big open space.
Steven was sitting on a chair, hands tied behind his back, mouth taped shut, hair a mess, eyes bloodshot, clothes all wrinkled.
He looked nothing like the sharp-dressed man he used to be.
Before Ashley could get closer, someone sprayed disinfectant and air freshener around, then handed them two clean masks. "Mr. Hearst, Miss Astor."
Two more people brought chairs and set them side by side. If the place was nicer, they might've brought drinks and snacks, making it feel like a fancy afternoon tea.
Ashley put on the mask, thinking how thorough they were.
Steven had been here for days, going through hell. He slowly lifted his head, his eyes taking a moment to focus. When he saw Damian and Ashley, he went nuts, making muffled sounds.
Damian sat down, crossing his legs, his cold aura filling the space. "Wanna talk?"
Steven's eyes widened, his muffled sounds getting more frantic.
Ashley sat down too, matching Damian's vibe. This posture was more intimidating, making her feel the power of life and death in her hands.
With her small face, the mask covered most of it, making her eyes look even more striking. "Mr. Rogers, last time we met was at Emerald Lakeside Gardens. How'd you end up like this so fast? I fainted that day and don't remember what happened. Do you?"
Steven's face went from red to pale. He looked at Damian in terror, his muffled sounds quieting down.
Damian raised his hand and waved it forward.
A guy walked over and ripped the tape off Steven's mouth.
Finally able to speak, Steven pleaded, "Mr. Hearst, Miss Astor, it's all my fault. Please, spare me! I beg you, Miss Astor, we've known each other for years, and I was an old friend of your father..."
Ashley's face turned dark. "Shut up. How dare you mention my dad?"
Steven's face fell, his mouth trembling. "I... I didn't mean it like that, I..."
"What do you mean? Do you think you can just walk out of here?" Ashley's firm tone made Steven even more uncertain, not knowing what she wanted.
And how did she get so close to Damian?
Damian actually went to such lengths to help her?
Damian sat there, calm and composed, leaving Steven's fate entirely in Ashley's hands.
Steven looked from one to the other, not knowing whom to apologize to. "Mr. Hearst... I may not compare to you, but I still have some assets. If you don't mind, I'll give you half of my company's shares... no, sixty percent... seventy percent!"
Damian intertwined his fingers, looking down at his nails. "How could I take Mr. Rogers' company?"
His seemingly gentle tone was more effective than any threat.
Steven's knees went weak, unable to stay seated.
It was over. If not for money, then it was for life.
"Mr. Hearst, my life is worthless. It's not worth your effort. Miss Astor, your noble self shouldn't dirty your hands. Let me go, and I'll take care of my own life," Steven said.
Looking at his fawning old face, Ashley felt even more disgusted. How could someone embody both insidiousness and cowardice to such an extreme?
She had witnessed it once again.
Through her mask, Ashley's cold smile was indistinct. "Mr. Rogers, you built your business with my dad's investment. I just wanted you to do me a small favor, and you tried to harm me. Tell me, how should I settle such a big grudge?"
Damian leaned back in his chair, smiling silently.
Ashley was learning quickly, quite convincingly.
He remembered the last time they interrogated Mason; she had just hidden behind him, fearful and cowering. Now, she could wield not-so-sharp claws and actively hunt.
Progressed rapidly.
Steven's cold sweat soaked his back and face, his thick fingers struggling behind him, the rope chafing his wrists, but he couldn't feel the pain. "What... what do you want?"
Ashley glanced at the man standing by. "Do you have a knife?"
The man presented a dagger with both hands.
Ashley weighed it in her hand. "Looks pretty sharp. Where should I start?"
Steven completely collapsed, his pants wet halfway down. "Miss Astor, I know I was wrong. I swear I'll never do it again. I swear! Whatever you want, I'll give it all to you. Do you want money? Take all my money! Use it to pay off debts or run away, whatever you want."
Ashley frowned deeply. "Money? Can this be solved with money?"
The sharp blade of the dagger touched his face, leaving a shadow.
Steven felt a chill on his face, his heart stopping for a moment. "You... you..."
Before he could finish, Ashley slid the dagger down, cutting his skin.
It was Ashley's first time using a knife to hurt someone, and she was very nervous. This action took her a long time to muster, and the wound wasn't deep but very threatening.
Steven immediately shouted for mercy, repeating all his pleas for survival.
Ashley withdrew the knife, letting the blood drip on the ground. "Since Mr. Rogers is so generous, write a statement. Donate all your assets. As for you, after begging and repenting here, leave Rochester City forever. Don't let me see you again."
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