Chapter 604 This Hidden Danger Cannot Be Left!
"What did you say? Anna was picked up by Evelyn and Edward?"
In the bedroom, Calvin pinned his reluctant wife, Ashley, to the bed and roughly tore off her nightgown, ready to have sex.
Ever since Gilbert successfully rose to power and won their father's favor, his pressure had been skyrocketing. Now, whenever he had energy, he would force Ashley to have sex with him, all for the sake of the family bloodline, trying to get Ashley to give birth to the Alexander family's first grandson as quickly as possible.
Elbert valued heirs above all else and loved having many descendants. Calvin was already the eldest son, and if the eldest grandson also came from their main branch, he would have more security in the family and one more advantage over Gilbert!
However, just as he was about to enter her, this urgent phone call made him lose all desire on the spot!
"Are you sure? Anna was taken away by those two people?" Calvin rolled naked off the bed and frantically picked up his pants from the floor, putting them on in a panic as if he'd been caught cheating.
"The people we sent to watch her sent word - Anna was picked up by Edward's secretary, Bart. It couldn't be anyone else but them!"
The secretary's tone was very anxious. "And the watchers said Anna didn't look like she was being forced - it seemed like she went with them willingly! Mr. Alexander... Anna wouldn't change her mind and decide to testify in court, would she?"
"You're asking me? How would I know?"
Calvin exploded in anger, completely different from his refined public image, scaring Ashley into shivering.
"What - what should we do next? Please give your orders, Mr. Alexander!"
Calvin tightened his belt, his eyes vicious. "That Anna, whether she's changed her mind or not, whether it's voluntary or not, she's a threat. She can't be kept!"
Hearing this, Ashley's pupils shrank in fear as she clutched the blanket tightly.
The secretary confirmed the order again, "You mean eliminate her?"
"She's with Evelyn and Edward right now, so don't alert them yet. If we draw their attention, it'll be harder to make a move."
Calvin walked to the window and lowered his voice. "Wait until Anna goes back, then find the right moment in the next couple of days. The faster the better."
"Understood!"
"Oh, don't use our own people."
Calvin pulled his lips into a sinister smile. "Whose business it is, use their people to solve it."
After the call ended, he had completely lost interest. He dressed quickly and headed for the door.
"Calvin!" Ashley called out timidly.
"What?" Calvin looked completely impatient, not even glancing at her.
Their marriage was a political arrangement with a weak emotional foundation. Plus, after years of marriage, this woman hadn't given him any children, and Ashley's family influence was getting weaker - he had even less regard for Ashley, who was like a decoration.
Ashley's dark emotions tore at her nerves as she said hesitantly, "Calvin, I think... maybe we should just let it go."
Calvin frowned at her. "Let it go? What nonsense are you talking about?"
"That girl, just let her go. She's pretty pitiful..."
Before Ashley could finish, Calvin glared at her with bloodshot eyes, rushed over, and slapped her hard across the face!
"What did I tell you? Don't ask about my business, don't interfere! And now you're sympathizing with that lowly girl - are you challenging me? Everything I do is for the Alexander family!"
Ashley was hit so hard her vision went dark and her ears rang!
She changed her tune in panic, trembling. "No... I'm not sympathizing. I'm thinking of you, too. After all, having blood on your hands isn't good. If the police trace it back to you, even without direct evidence, it'll affect your reputation. I'm afraid Gilbert will use this as an opportunity to attack you, shake your image and position in the company."
"Besides, even if you and Randy are close, there's no need to kill someone for him."
Hearing this, Calvin's expression softened slightly. He sneered, "You think I'd be stupid enough not to leave myself an out? What a foolish idea."
"I'm helping Randy to please Dad. Such an obvious relationship - can't you see it? And who said I'm going to kill anyone? My hands are clean. Even if they investigate, they won't trace it to me."
Calvin stared at her with a threatening look, gripping her jaw tightly. "Ashley, we're in the same boat. I think for the sake of your father, who retired from politics, you'll definitely keep this secret, right?"
Ashley nodded through her tears.
Evelyn and Edward brought Anna to their home in Mugden for safety.
The grand and elegant mansion, along with the quiet, mirror-like lake in the backyard, greatly shocked this girl from a poor background. She thought a wealthy heiress's home would be extravagantly luxurious, but she never expected it could be so warm and tasteful, just quietly displaying top-tier refinement that was beyond her reach.
"Anna, don't be nervous. Just make yourself at home."
Evelyn didn't disturb May but personally washed and cut fruit to bring over.
Anna sat stiffly on the sofa, her limbs seeming bound, not daring to touch anything, very tense.
"Juice? Coke? Coffee? I'll make it for you." Edward's expression was cool, but his voice was gentle.
Anna looked at Evelyn, then at Edward, and the next second couldn't hold it together - she burst into tears.
Her delicate face was covered with tears that fell onto her hands, clenched on her knees.
"Anna, don't cry." Bart fumbled to pull out several tissues and handed them to her.
Seeing the thin girl's back bend down, shaking as if she couldn't catch her breath, he hadn't seen anyone cry so hysterically in a long time. He felt indescribably uncomfortable.
Though she was crying without restraint, her genuine manner was actually quite endearing.
"Evelyn, did I scare her?" Edward's tall figure stood frozen in place, looking at his Evelyn in panic and confusion.
"Yes, your expression is always so serious, like someone owes you hundreds of millions in unpaid project fees." Evelyn couldn't help teasing him.
Edward frowned at Bart with a questioning look: Am I really that serious?
Bart nodded in confirmation: No doubt about it, your expression could be used for authentication.
Evelyn quickly went to sit beside Anna, considerately wiping her tears and helping her blow her nose.
"Anna, go ahead and cry. You'll feel better after crying it out."
She didn't press her for reasons, not wanting to put any psychological pressure on her.
"I... just didn't expect... that you would... treat me... so well..."
Anna's eyes were swollen from crying, her voice breaking. "I know... you're doing this because... I'm a witness who can identify Randy.
But... still... thank you... for respecting me..."
Anna's tear-stained face and broken words made both Evelyn and Edward's breathing tighten, as they felt her pain.
Bart's brow furrowed tightly. He held back again and again, barely controlling his indignant emotions that were about to break through.
At seventeen, in the prime of her youth, her body and mind were already covered in scars - wounds that might never heal.
All of this was caused by Randy!
"Anna, we're not treating you well and respecting you because you're a witness. Every kind girl in this world deserves respect."
Evelyn pulled the crying Anna into her arms, her own eyes rimmed with red. "Tragedy brought us together. But please believe me, I will never let tragedy happen again."
With the comfort, Anna's crying gradually subsided. After drinking some hot cocoa that Edward brought over, her emotions slowly calmed down.
"Anna, have you thought it through?"
Evelyn put her arm around Anna's shoulder, speaking earnestly. "Standing up means there's no turning back - fighting the Alexander family to the end. Mr. Wellington and I will do everything we can to protect you, but it will inevitably affect your life and your mother's.
So if you feel pressured, or if you made this decision on impulse, I still suggest you..."
"Ms. Taylor, do you know... who gave me the courage to stand up and face all this?"
Though Anna still had a crying expression, her eyes were exceptionally bright, washed clean by tears. "It was... Jennifer, your sister."
"Jennifer?" Evelyn's beautiful eyes widened slightly, her heartbeat suddenly skipping a beat.
But Edward's expression remained calm.
As if he had expected it - expected that Jennifer's brave stand wouldn't be a meaningless sacrifice.
Girls understand girls best.
"Jennifer's bravery moved me."
Though Anna wasn't yet eighteen, she had maturity beyond her years. "Maybe many people think Jennifer dares to speak up only because she's the richest man's daughter and isn't afraid of retaliation - that's why she's so confident.
But I know the pressure she faces is even greater than ordinary people. This will have a huge impact on her future life. We'll be forgotten by the world, but the harm she suffered will become a mark of shame, mentioned again and again, reopening her wounds each time.
I watched her livestream from beginning to end, and cried from beginning to end. I cried for my own misfortune, but I felt more ashamed of my own cowardice. So I want to stand up, support Jennifer... and fulfill myself."
Her thinking was so clear and admirable.
Bart's breathing became heavy as he gazed deeply at Anna, his heart full of guilt.
Before meeting her, he thought this girl from a poor background would mainly be seeking Evelyn and Edward's protection.
"I'm so glad you think this way."
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears as she hugged Anna again. "When there's a chance later, I'll introduce you to Jennifer. You'll become great friends."
...
That night, Anna completely and fully recounted how Randy had assaulted and tormented her.
Her father died early, her family was poor, and to support her education, her mother worked three jobs, working until dawn almost every day. Even when exhausted to the point of nosebleeds, she couldn't bear to go to the hospital for a checkup.
Later, she grew up and finally turned seventeen - old enough to secretly work part-time to help with household expenses. Only then did her mother have a regular schedule.
By chance, she applied for a job and because of her good looks, got hired as a server at a top nightclub. Though tiring, the income was actually quite good for a student like her.
"I thought if I just worked hard and stayed there, I could gradually improve my and my mother's terrible living situation. Turns out I was too naive."
Anna closed her eyes, full of regretful tears, as the scene from that night flashed through her mind again - Randy forcibly dragging her into the private room's bathroom, brutally pressing her against the wall, savagely raping her.
That man's disgusting obscene words still tormented her mentally to this day, waking her from nightmares almost every night.
Afterward, when Randy discovered it was her first time, he actually mocked her.
"Being fucked by me - now that's a first time worth remembering."
"Turns out I was like all the other girls - from the day I was chosen, I was already secretly priced and marked, already a plaything for those tycoons."
That night, Randy stood on the second floor hunting, looking down through the glass window at the dazzling, decadent dance floor.
With one glance, he noticed Anna opening bottles for customers.
"That chick is mine tonight."
The painful memory ended.
Anna felt as if her entire soul had been drained. She leaned weakly in Evelyn's arms, tears of despair wetting her cheeks.
The victims, just staying alive already takes all their strength.
The perpetrators can live bright and shiny lives as if nothing happened.
What kind of damned world is this where right and wrong are confused, where good and evil don't matter!
Edward listened silently to her account the whole time.
Though he showed little expression, the bloodthirsty killing intent in his eyes revealed his inner rage.
And Bart, usually emotionally insensitive, was so heartbroken he turned away, secretly wiping tears from the corners of his eyes.
"Anna, this won't just be let go. Absolutely not."
Evelyn's voice was hoarse with bone-deep hatred, heartbroken and tearful. "If the Alexander family are demons, then I'll help you slay them. If they're darkness that covers the sky with one hand, then I'll help you tear them apart. You're not fighting alone."
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