Chapter 606: Raymond is a Flexible Person
Claire bailed, and the crew started messing with Bradley again.
Bradley clenched his teeth, trying to tough it out.
He had to hang in there and spill the beans to Ethan about Claire's dirty deeds.
"Dude's got some serious grit," one of the goons sneered, stomping on Bradley's fingers. "Heard he’s been playing piano since he was a kid. His hands are prettier than a chick's."
Bradley fought through the pain, his mind getting all fuzzy.
In his haze, he drifted back to his childhood, hiding out with his mom in Maple Grove to dodge Howard.
"Mom, why do we keep moving and switching schools?" He never got why his mom was always running from Howard back then.
"Bradley, you're too young to get it."
"Mom, I met a guy today. He said he's my dad."
"Bradley, he is your dad."
"Why can't we live with Dad? Other kids live with their parents."
"Because I messed up. I took something that wasn’t mine. I am guilty."
Bradley would never forget Leah holding him, saying it was all her fault, that she was a sinner.
"Dad's got a family. He's got his own kid. So we can't live with him. We gotta hide 'cause I don't wanna be a homewrecker."
"Bradley, you're an illegitimate kid, the son of a mistress."
"Bradley is an illegitimate kid, the son of a mistress!"
Those taunts, the endless school changes, the strange places, and the nights crying alone with his mom.
All those memories felt like chains, almost choking him.
"My mom's not a mistress. She didn't know that guy had a family. She only found out after she had me. He lied to my mom!"
"My mom did nothing wrong! Nothing wrong!"
He had once screamed like a madman, but no one cared about the story of an illegitimate kid.
"Mom, I hate him."
"But Bradley, we can't run anymore."
They had been on the run for years, and Howard had been hunting them just as long.
That day, Claire's crew went after Howard with a knife. Leah could've dodged, but she took the knife for Howard.
Loving him was her sin. The only way to end it was to give her life.
"Bradley, you've finally grown up. I am too tired."
"Finally free."
Leah's last words to Bradley were that she was free.
She no longer had to live in guilt and self-blame.
"Bradley, only people with a conscience feel pain, are condemned by their conscience, and are bound by morality. But conscience is fundamental to a person. We can't be so selfish as to abandon it."
"Bradley, wake up."
"Bradley?"
"Bradley!"
Bradley thought he was about to die, that this time he really would die.
But just as his mind went blank, a hand suddenly yanked him out of the abyss.
"Bradley?"
"Ambulance!"
Brandon found Bradley just as he was on the brink of death.
Bradley probably didn't even know that the last call he made was to Brandon.
"Brandon, has something happened to Bradley? He didn't come to the office, but Howard did." The day after Bradley's incident, Ethan called Brandon.
Brandon remembered that Bradley had made a weird call that night.
He hadn't wanted to answer, but when he did, the person on the other end said strange things. Bradley didn't speak and then hung up.
Brandon figured something was up with Bradley and only got Raymond to start digging and searching for him the next afternoon.
Brandon didn't even know why he was getting involved. Claire and Howard going at each other wasn't exactly a bad thing, even if Bradley bit the dust.
But he still showed up to save him.
And if he’d been any later, Bradley would've been a goner.
"Brandon." Bradley opened his eyes, thinking he was dreaming.
No one would come to save him.
"Ambulance is on its way. Cops are chasing the kidnappers. Don't sweat it," Brandon said in a deep voice, looking at Bradley's messed-up hands and pulled nails, his face grim.
"It's really you." Bradley smiled weakly, using all his strength to reach into the inner pocket of his clothes.
Inside was a small recording pen he had hidden in advance.
"Ethan, it can help him." Bradley's fingers trembled from the pain.
"You." Brandon frowned, his face darkening. "You knew Claire would come after you?"
This lunatic.
Bradley knew Claire would come after him but still let her people take him. What was he risking his life for?
To gain Ethan's trust by suffering? Or to curry favor with Ethan?
"My mom said we owe Ethan, no matter what."
It had to be repaid.
Bradley curled up in pain, coughing up blood.
Brandon stared at Bradley. He was suspicious and didn't easily trust anyone but Ethan, but Bradley seemed to be an exception.
Even though he knew this guy was inherently dangerous.
"Ambulance is here." Brandon picked up Bradley and quickly walked to the ambulance.
"Brandon, our people caught one of the kidnappers and sent him to the police station."
Brandon looked at his subordinate coldly. "Break his arms and legs before handing him over to the cops."
The subordinate nodded, shocked.
After work, Jasmine didn't go home, leaving Ethan sulking on the couch at his place.
"Dad, why hasn't Mom come back?" Justin was hungry. Dad had made dinner, but it was cold, and Mom still hadn't come back.
Ethan snorted, lying on the couch, feeling jealous.
Jasmine had sent him a message on Facebook around four, saying she wouldn't be home for dinner and was meeting someone.
Ethan had been in a hurry to pick up Justin and Joe and hadn't seen the message.
He had personally gone to the grocery store, cooked dinner, and waited a long time before seeing Jasmine's message saying she wouldn't be back.
"Dad, I'm hungry." Joe didn't care about Ethan's mood and started eating at the table.
Justin was torn, wondering whether to wait or not.
Ethan picked up his phone and, after some thought, called Jasmine.
However, Jasmine didn't answer.
"Raymond, find out who my wife is having dinner with," Ethan called Raymond.
"Hey, no need to check. I know. It's Ian," Raymond said smugly. "All day long, I owe you guys. Have you ever paid me for these investigations?"
"Who funded your research institute last year when it ran out of money?" Ethan asked calmly.
"Hold on, I'll get the address for you right away," Raymond replied, showing his flexibility.
Ethan hung up, waiting for Raymond to give him the address.
Ian had the nerve to ask Jasmine out and even wanted to take his son. He had some nerve.
What was he planning?
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