Chapter 412 Run for It
It turned out Reed was none other than Aria's eldest grandson.
"Aspen, stop making false accusations!" Reed spoke sternly, "When have I ever concealed anything from you?"
Turning to Fiona, he candidly addressed her, "Mrs. Solomon, feel free to question your people; they'd confirm that I've never hidden anything. I've been looking after the victims of the chemical plant accident for years on behalf of my grandfather. This includes Ember. If I had something for Ember, I'd simply go myself. There's no reason for me to involve Aspen!"
Aria, tapping his cane fiercely on the ground, retorted, "The respect I've shown you, Aspen! How could you repay me by wrongly accusing Reed?"
Reed asked him, "Why won't you admit it? You're the one behind this, aren't you?"
It was as if something had dawned on him. Looking at Fiona, he exclaimed, "Mrs. Solomon, Reed was the one who urged me to step out just now. He warned me about the platform where I was betting on horses, claiming they are often rigging things, and it needs close watching! No, to be precise, getting into betting was his idea in the first place! Reed, you seem so harmless; who would have thought you were playing such a deep game?!"
"Aspen, don't be ridiculous. Reed is the brightest in our town, the only one with a degree from a prestigious university. You're saying he got you into betting? Who are you trying to fool?"
The middle-aged woman interjected shrilly, "If you're going to frame someone, at least find a credible story."
Between a top university graduate and an orphan, a dropout loitering around society since his teens, it was apparent whom the people would believe.
"I'm not lying! Are you so self-righteous? Can you not see you've got the wrong enemy? Investigate him more!" Aspen broke down in tears, "I didn't incite anyone to kill! What reason would I have?"
"You have one."
Aria uttered somberly.
Aspen looked at him. "Grandpa Aria, are you so determined to protect your grandson that you'd toss aside your integrity and lie?"
Aria met his gaze. "Seems like you're aware of how your parents died."
Aspen froze. "Didn't you say they died in a car accident?"
"Cut the act. You must know they worked at the chemical plant, your father as a technician and your mother as the head of finance. After the scandal broke out, they mysteriously died near the wastewater area." The middle-aged woman's voice was sarcastic. "We only found out after asking the investigators that your parents blew the whistle on the plant. Everyone speculated they were killed in retaliation by Aunt Mei-Ming."
"Impossible!"
Aspen roared.
"How could that be? No one has ever told me that; I had no clue! I didn't know a thing!" His voice was frantic with hysteria.
Struggling to his feet, he lunged towards Aria.
"Grandpa Aria, tell me this is a lie! My parents didn't die like that!"
He never reached Aria, as Xavier's men pinned him to the ground.
Fiona watched the young man writhing in pain, remaining silent throughout the ordeal.
"Look, Mrs. Darwin, I know we're not close, but this thing ties back to that pollution case years ago. His parents died a horrific death, leaving him all alone. Thankfully, this mess didn't cause much harm. How about we give the kid a break? For his parents' sake?" Aria pleaded with Fiona, his face a portrait of reluctant appeal.
Fiona glanced at him, her face betraying nothing. "He tries to kill me, and you expect me to let him off? Do you think I'm some saint, old man?"
Aria was taken aback.
"Since we've caught the instigator, you're all free to go," Fiona said as she turned, signaling to Mike. "This one's yours now."
"Understood."
Mike nodded, then cracked his neck as he eyed Aspen, knowing Aspen's fate was sealed as dead as a doornail.
"The rest of you, go see the blonde for the paperwork. Leave your bank details; fifty grand will be in your accounts shortly." Mike grabbed Aspen off the floor, found a rag out of nowhere, stuffed it in Aspen's mouth, and dragged him away like a dead dog.
The others who had been held up dispersed as well.
The blonde was impatiently processing banking information.
Most people flocked over.
A few remained by Aria's side.
"Grandpa, are you alright?" Reed gently stroked Aria's back. "Do you need your medicine?"
"No need," Aria said. "Alas, I still need to talk to Darwin. His wife is tough, and this guy won't have a chance with her. But at least... we should bring his body back and let him rest in peace."
"Only you would be so kind-hearted, Grandpa Aria. He tried to drag Reed down with him. Reed is our family's brightest and most promising person," the middle-aged woman spat disdainfully.
Reed was her pick for her family's son-in-law.
Though they rarely socialized, Reed had Darwin's backing and was now connected with the Rhoads family through marriage.
Their power undeniably grew stronger.
Reed was proving himself; marrying her niece would be advantageous.
Her family would have solid support then.
With these thoughts, she watched Reed as he helped Aria toward the main house.
She grew even fonder of Reed; he might not be too handsome, but his respect and care for the elders were unmatched.
Reed and his grandfather returned to the main house in silence.
"Grandpa, have a seat. I'll get you some hot water and heart medicine," Reed said softly.
Aria remained silent.
After seeing his grandson leave, he slowly rose and opened an oak cabinet. He pulled out something from inside.
Upon returning with the water, Reed attended to the older man as he took his medication.
"Rest up. I'll go calm them down," Reed offered.
"Reed," Aria said, gripping Reed's hand with a complex gaze from his clouded eyes.
"What is it, Grandpa?" Reed asked.
"Neither Darwin nor his wife are good news," Aria said earnestly, his eyes reddening. He passed the object he had taken out to Reed. "This is the key to my Swiss bank account. Buy a ticket overseas immediately and leave!"
"Grandpa..." Reed looked at Aria in shock.
"If you don't hurry, once she catches on, you won't be able to leave!" Aria urged. "Go now! Don't worry about me; I'm one of Grandma Solomon's people. They can't touch me!"
Reed stared at him.
"You knew all along?" he asked, his voice strained.
"You're naive! So naive!" Aria exclaimed in pain and frustration.
Then, with a fierce push, he urged him, "Go now!"
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