Chapter 1197 Enemies Meet, Eyes Blaze with Hatred
Tina instinctively stepped back, shielding Austin. "But what?"
Charles responded, "But there are a few things we need to clear up! And you need to break Hannah's hypnosis! Once that's done, I'll let you both go. But you can't stay in Country Z. You have to leave and never come back. Keep an eye on him. If I find out he's after Hannah again, no matter what you say, I won't let him off."
Tina eyed him suspiciously. "You're not tricking me, are you?"
Charles chuckled, a hint of mockery in his voice. "Do you really think I need to trick you? With all the men I have at my disposal, I could easily use force. Why would I bother with deception?"
After a pause, to reassure her, he added, "I always keep my word. Lying to a woman is beneath me."
Hearing this, Tina sighed in relief and nodded. "Alright! I agree!"
Charles said, "Then come with us."
Tina stopped resisting, holding Austin's hand, and followed obediently.
Austin still seemed deeply affected, clutching Tina's arm and anxiously asking, "Charles is wrong, right? How could Hannah wither away with me? How could my light disappear?"
Tina couldn't bear to upset him, but she knew she couldn't keep deceiving him. If he didn't face reality, he'd never give up on Violet.
"Ever since Violet got you out of prison, you two have been together for almost a month. During that time, did she seem happy?" Tina asked.
Austin was speechless. He thought hard but couldn't recall a single moment of happiness.
During that month with Hannah, not only was she unhappy, but she was also irritable, often losing her temper. Every time he spoke to her, she was extremely impatient. If it weren't for Oliver being in Charlotte's hands, he believed Hannah might have killed him herself.
Seeing his silence, Tina guessed the answer. "You already know, don't you? I think you love a vibrant Violet, not a lifeless shell."
Austin fell silent, his mind in turmoil.
When did he start loving Hannah? Besides that stormy night, there were the times she always smiled brightly, her beautiful eyes curving like crescent moons, sweetly calling him.
"Austin, these candies are so sweet. Mom doesn't let us eat them, but I secretly took two. One for you, one for me."
"Austin, Mom said if you fall, just blow on it and it won't hurt."
"Austin, he bullied you, but I already avenged you! He dared to call you mute. How awful. He's the mute, that chubby kid! Don't be afraid, Austin, I will always protect you."
"Austin, Mom said you're sick? Does it hurt a lot? Mom said if you take the medicine, you'll get better! I got you some candied fruit! After you take the medicine, eat a couple of these, and it won't taste bitter."
"Austin, they all say I've grown taller. Look, have I grown taller?"
"Austin, today is your birthday. This is a gift I made for you, a self-portrait! Do you like my drawing?"
"Austin..."
"Austin..."
He gradually became captivated. He didn't know when it started, but he couldn't take his eyes off her. Wherever she went, his gaze followed. Later, he began to envy Charles. Because every time Violet was with Charles, her eyes were only on him, leaving Austin, her brother, aside.
At first, he didn't know what to call it. He thought it was possessiveness. A brother's possessiveness over his sister. As he grew older, the possessiveness grew stronger. By high school, the feeling reached its peak. He started competing with Charles, wanting to see who mattered more to Violet.
Clearly, he lost completely. As long as Charles was around, Violet's heart had no room for anyone else. He was insanely jealous. Until one night, while studying with Violet, she fell asleep on the desk. Watching her sleep, staring at her small, rosy lips, he was mesmerized, leaning closer and closer. If Violet hadn't woken up just then, he would have kissed her.
From that moment, he realized his feelings for Violet were different. He couldn't accept it, thinking he was perverse for liking his own sister. Until Charlotte, his biological mother, appeared...
Recalling the past, Austin felt a wave of bitterness. He loved seeing Hannah smile, especially when she smiled at him, her eyes curving. How long had it been since he saw her smile like that? So long that he almost forgot what it felt like.
If because of him, Hannah never smiled again. He couldn't bear to imagine it.
Austin and Tina were escorted into a car by the bodyguards. Austin seemed dazed, lost in his thoughts. Tina, worried about him, held his hand, silently staying by his side.
An hour later, everyone was taken to the underground wine cellar at Sunshine Manor. Charlotte, Harper, Austin, and Tina were finally all together. Harper had also woken up. The bodyguards filed in, forming two rows on either side. Charles, Martin, and Carter sat in chairs. Patricia, having heard that Karen was Charlotte and wanting to witness the interrogation, sat next to Charles.
Charlotte and Harper knelt on the ground in front of them. Austin, still lost in thought, sat on the ground, hugging his knees, staring blankly at the floor. Tina sat beside him, her hand resting on his, silently giving him strength.
"Charles, Martin, Patricia, you ruined me, you ruined Hunter. Even if I die, I'll take you all down with me!" Seeing Charles and Martin, Charlotte's eyes turned red. She immediately tried to rush at them, but a bodyguard kicked her in the back of the knee, causing her to fall. She seemed oblivious to the pain, trying to get up again, but the bodyguards pressed her shoulders down, forcing her back.
She struggled several times, but the strength difference was too great, and the bodyguards kept her down. Despite this, she continued to shout defiantly. "Martin, I'm your sister. You can't do this to me. You stole my life in the first half, and now you've killed the man I love. My whole life is ruined because of you! I'll never forgive you. Even as a ghost, I'll haunt you and your family day and night until you all join me."
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