Chapter 246 Going Home
After being cooped up for three days, Debra finally busted out.
Gordon told Patrick to do whatever it took to keep the news under wraps, but Edward got wind of it right away.
"How the hell did Debra get out? Weren't you supposed to keep tabs on Dorothy? Did Gordon get to her?" Edward's face was stone cold, and he slammed his fist into the car window.
"Edward, it's not Dorothy, it's Donovan!" Bart was fuming, his eyes practically shooting daggers. "Our mole said Gordon, as a legal representative, snuck into the detention center and met Donovan with Patrick's help. Who knows what kind of crap he fed Donovan to scare him, but Donovan took all the blame, and Debra got off the hook!"
"What else could he have done? Probably just played on Donovan's fears and threatened his family! A hotshot lawyer using such dirty tricks!"
Edward's eyes were dark, like a stormy sea, and his fists were shaking. "Brian's name is mud now, thanks to Gordon!"
"Edward, now that Donovan's the fall guy, doesn't that mean Dorothy's..." Bart's phone rang before he could finish. "What's up?"
After listening, Bart's face turned serious. He hung up and quickly told Edward, "Edward! Bad news! The cops just nabbed Dorothy for defamation and perjury!"
It was bound to happen.
Even though Dorothy had it coming, Edward's anger flared, his eyes blazing red!
Meanwhile, Debra made it back to Riverside Villa, crying like she'd been reborn.
Tiffany and Debra hugged and bawled, putting on a big show of mother-daughter love in front of Patrick and Byron.
"Tiffany! Patrick! You gotta get back at them for me! Evelyn and Jessica really did me dirty this time!" Seeing Byron, Debra seized the moment to trash Evelyn, running over and dropping to her knees by Byron's wheelchair. "Byron! Evelyn's out to ruin me! She's so sneaky and mean! If Gordon hadn't saved me, you'd never see me again!"
Byron felt torn hearing Debra's accusations.
On one hand, he didn't believe Evelyn was like that, but on the other, it was Evelyn who gave the cops the evidence and reported Debra.
The pain of taking sides between two loved ones hit Byron again.
The last time was over twenty years ago, when the Wellington family was booming in Mugden.
To grab the market and grow the Wellington Group fast, Patrick and Gary got mixed up in bribery and shady land deals. In the end, because Byron favored Patrick and Patrick was sick at the time, Gary took the fall and did four years in prison.
Gary died of a heart attack in prison after just six months!
Gary's death crushed Byron, and Lisa was even more devastated, her health failing until she couldn't grow old with him.
"Byron! I've always told you Evelyn's got an agenda. She must've had something to gain marrying into the Wellington family!" Debra cried on Byron's shoulder, "Evelyn being nice to you is probably just to get something from you! Maybe she wants to scam you out of the Wellington Group's shares!"
"Yeah! Byron!" Tiffany chimed in, "Evelyn hid that she was Charlie's daughter from the start, got your trust, and married Edward! Now that you think about it, doesn't it seem like a big scheme? Luckily, Edward didn't fall for her completely and divorced her in time. If Edward had fallen for her and she had your full trust, wouldn't you be scared she'd take over the Wellington family?"
"Enough. Lily's not like that." Byron waved his hand, but he was troubled. "And I know Charlie. He's a bit of a playboy, but he's got integrity. I don't believe he'd raise a daughter with bad character."
"Byron!" Tiffany and Debra said together.
"Plus, the Taylor family is just as loaded and prestigious as the Wellingtons. Why would Lily marry Edward just to snag a few shares and mess up her whole life? If it were Nicole, maybe, but Lily? No way, she wouldn't stoop that low!" Byron, already leaning towards Evelyn, doubled down after Tiffany's prodding.
Tiffany was so mad she could've kicked Byron's wheelchair over!
"Byron, no matter what, that Evelyn's got it out for the Wellington family!" Patrick knew Debra had started the mess, but he wasn't about to admit that in front of Byron. "Even if we've got some issues, it's not Evelyn's place to meddle! She's been using the Taylor family's clout to push us around. First, it was Tiffany, now she wants to throw Debra in jail over something small! She's clearly trying to cut ties with us! Have you thought that maybe Evelyn's changed since going back to the Taylors? Between her family's interests and her relationship with you, she'd pick her family every time!"
Byron gripped the armrests, his chest heaving, and ordered, "Tyler, bring Lily here. I want to hear it from her!"
Meanwhile, outside Riverside Villa...
Edward's Maybach pulled up to the gate, and Bart opened the door for him. Just as Edward stepped out, a black Maserati rolled up and parked next to it.
Out stepped Gordon, looking sharp in his suit.
"Hello, Mr. Wellington," Gordon greeted.
"At a time like this, you still show up. Does Patrick have some mess for you to clean up?" Edward sneered.
Gordon smiled coolly, "Patrick hired me as Miss Wellington's lawyer, so I'm here to do my job. It's my professional duty. Your words just show you don't get the legal profession."
Edward's eyes were sharp, and he pressed his thin lips together as he stepped closer to Gordon, exuding an intimidating presence.
Gordon's brow furrowed, and he instinctively took a half-step back.
In that moment, he had already lost, at least in front of Edward.
"The legal world is murky. There are lawyers who fight for justice, and then there are those like you, who serve big corporations, putting profit above all else, and using any means necessary," Edward added.
Gordon's smile faltered.
"But that's your choice, and I can't interfere. However, I must warn you," Edward's eyes were piercing, and he said coldly, "You can be ruthless and cunning. But Evelyn is very important to me. If you ever scheme against her or harm her, don't blame me for dealing with you the same way!"
Edward finished and walked away with purpose.
Gordon stood frozen, drenched in cold sweat and filled with intense shame.
He came from a family of lawyers, highly regarded by his parents and admired by his younger brothers. His life had been smooth sailing, and he was a big deal among lawyers in Mugden. Even powerful conglomerates had to bow to him. When had he ever been humiliated like this?
'Wait.' Gordon's brow furrowed as he watched Edward's proud and upright back. 'What's the deal between Evelyn and him? Why would Edward, who's always been indifferent to women, be so furious for her? Evelyn is Charlie's precious daughter, and no ordinary man can catch her eye. There's only one possibility: Edward, who doesn't know his place, is infatuated with Evelyn! So what if he's handsome and capable? His mother never earned a title, and his CEO position is just a gift from Mr. Caleb Wellington! Edward, with your lowly background, you dare to have designs on Evelyn? What a joke!'
Gordon's eyes turned cold as he walked into the villa.
