Chapter 418 The Truth Behind the Death
Xavier was taken aback.
He couldn't help but scoff, "You call this repaying a favor? It sounds more like revenge. What's your background? What school did you graduate from? How many languages do you speak? Do you even know what Miss Chelsea does for a living?"
"Can't I just be an enforcer? Like… well, like you," Aspen said with little conviction.
"I come from a mercenary background, and you want to be like me? In what way?" Xavier couldn't help but laugh.
Aspen looked utterly shocked. "A mercenary? Like the ones on TV?"
"Miss Rhoads, sir, and the young lady and gentleman await your return. Let's go." Xavier lost the desire to continue the argument.
"Mrs. Solomon, it's my lack of education that's holding me back, but I'm a good person with a good character. It would help if you considered it," Aspen pleaded.
Everyone was looking to advance.
He could tell that Darwin's wife was as formidable as him.
If he could work closely with her, his life would only improve.
"Later on, the Solomons will investigate Aria's case. I will send someone for you; show me then that you can work for me," Fiona said flatly and got into the car.
Xavier found himself speechless.
It was hard to say whether Chelsea was kind or ruthlessly tough for a moment.
Take her kindness, for example.
Just recently, she somehow managed to shatter the defenses of a grandfather and his grandson in one fell swoop.
Then there was the guy who couldn't be subdued, even after a beating.
In the end, he was sobbing uncontrollably, full of regret for his actions.
But speaking of her toughness...
Well, there was this one tough guy, the kind that seemed like a joke even to consider following her. But when he said he wanted to work for her, she told him to prove his worth.
Isn't it true that some people shouldn't be given the chance?
Whether it's the Rhoads family, Solomon, or Monsoon Investment.
How could that gangbanger, who would go weak at the knees and sit down at the slightest provocation, measure up to them?
It was only after spending time with Xavier and Fiona that it became clear.
Ms. Chelsea and her crew ranged from untouchable elite college ice princesses to seedy street peddlers.
These seemingly insignificant individuals played an incredibly effective role whenever Chelsea needed them most.
On the drive back, Fiona felt tired, slumping against the headrest, drowsy.
Halfway home, her phone rang. It was Mike.
Fiona answered with a single word: "Speak."
"Aria's gone," Mike said, almost cheerfully, just stopping short of outright jubilation.
Fiona sat up, frowning. "What's going on? Didn't I say no to beating older people? Can't you learn anything?"
Given his background, Mike played strictly by the rules and lacked a moral compass.
In movies and TV shows, honorable hitmen often claim not to harm the elderly, children, or pregnant women.
But for someone like Mike, there were no taboos.
"Chelsea, you've got it all wrong; it wasn't me!" Mike hurriedly retorted, "It was his grandson who stabbed him!"
Fiona was speechless.
Once she fully understood the situation, she had no intention of using vigilante justice on Reed. The whole mess started with the Solomons, and Reed was severely injured.
On top of that, Charles was still sick.
She didn't want to add to the bloodshed.
She had instructed Mike to take both men to the station that night.
But before leaving, Reed asked to retrieve his bank cards to give to Mike for Fiona.
Reed had mentioned it before to Fiona, so Mike agreed.
After a short trip to his room, Reed returned and handed Mike the cards. "There's almost three million in these two cards. Please give them to Mrs. Solomon. And if you can, buy a lollipop for Chicago. I didn't mean to hurt her."
Mike remained unmoved.
He didn't care for Reed's guilt-ridden speech about Chicago.
"Our young lady doesn't accept food from strangers. Let's move now," he snapped.
Snatching the card, he shoved it into his pocket and urged Reed to hurry along.
Reed's steps were heavy.
Aria sat on the outermost chair of the foyer, sobbing and gasping for breath.
Periodically, you could hear him curse, calling someone an ingrate or worse.
"Just wait for him, will you?"
Reed stood still, not budging an inch.
Mike almost kicked him in the back out of frustration.
Thinking of the hassle of explaining the injury if he took him to the police station, he impatiently motioned his men to drag the older man over.
Aria was propped up in front of Reed.
"Can we go now?" Mike asked, impatient as ever.
Reed looked at Aria. "Grandpa, I have one last question."
Aria turned to him, his gaze hollow. "You want to know if I had anything to do with your parent's death, right?"
Mike, who had been ready to urge them on, stopped, even considering grabbing some popcorn to chew on out of interest.
"Yes!" Reed affirmed.
Aria chuckled. "They didn't have to die."
Reed's expression twisted as Aria spoke, his facial muscles quivering uncontrollably.
Seeing Reed's reaction, Aria's smile faded, and his demeanor turned cold and severe. "Your parents were stubborn, you know. After Grandma Solomon learned they had ratted her out, she met them once to outline a compensation plan. But before the payment began, they heard the real deal from the locals, realized something was off with the housing deal, and came to find me."
Reed clenched his teeth hard.
Aria laughed again, seeming to find the whole thing absurdly funny.
"Do you know how much money could be made from the Mountain View Estates project? I told them they'd get a third of the profits, wouldn't have to invest a dime, and could join as partners. But no, they had to be ungrateful! Blocking someone's fortune is like killing their loved ones—how could I let them off?" Aria said, looking at Reed as if it all wasn't enough. His tone softened slightly, "Do you know how I lured them out that day?"
Reed guessed what was coming.
His eyes reddened.
Aria burst out laughing. "I had someone kidnap you; your parents were searching for you everywhere. I told them I saw you near the drainage ditch, and they rushed right over..."
"You're not human!" Reed roared with rage.
"So what? I'm in my seventies or eighties; I won't see jail. You foolish boy, you turned against me and gave the money I gave you to the Solomon family! Once you're out of prison, penniless and with a record, you'll be begging on the streets!"
Mike observed Aria's arrogant demeanor.
His temper flared exponentially.
All the lessons about respecting elders he'd learned were instantly forgotten.
He was about to make his move when suddenly...
"I want you to pay with your life!" Reed bellowed, breaking free from the lax grip of the bodyguards who were too caught up with the unfolding drama.
A utility knife slid from his sleeve, slashed violently across the old man's throat, and then the blade plunged into his chest, piercing his heart.
Two swift moves, both aimed squarely at taking Aria's life.
No hesitation.
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