Chapter 610: Claire's Ruin
Jasmine clutched her chest, wincing in pain, and stumbled out, almost eating dirt.
Ben caught her just in time, shooting daggers at Tom. "Dude, can you spit it out already?"
Tom, looking like a kicked puppy, started explaining, "Ethan got into a car crash, but the driver had mad skills. So, he's just got some scratches. The other driver's been nabbed, and the footage makes it look like it was on purpose. Cops have him now."
Jasmine took a shaky breath. At that moment, her legs turned to jelly, her vision blurred, and she was about to lose it.
She couldn't even imagine what would've happened if Tom had taken any longer to spill the beans; she might not have made it to the hospital.
"Can you, like, finish a sentence?" Samuel snapped at Tom, looking pissed.
Tom looked like he wanted to crawl into a hole and didn't say a word.
"I'll get you there," Ben said, helping Jasmine as they headed out.
Samuel pointed at Tom, then followed them out.
Tom glanced around the empty office and quickly texted Connor: [Just told them about Ethan's accident, and Jasmine went white as a ghost. She almost fainted; it was wild.]
Connor sent over a grand.
Tom grinned like a kid on Christmas and hurried after them, sticking close to Jasmine.
This cash was sweet: salary, bonus, Ethan's praise, and Connor's bonus. Life was good.
Back home, Ethan touched the cut on his forehead. Despite all the precautions, something had slipped through. Howard wanted him dead. Hiding wasn't an option; he had to strike back.
"Got any dirt on that driver?" Ethan called Raymond.
"Still digging. I'll speed it up," Raymond said, sounding exasperated. "Ethan, you only asked me to check thirty minutes ago; it's not magic."
"Handle the cops. Even if you can't off him, make sure he's locked up for a few days," Ethan said, his voice low and seething with anger.
Howard had seriously pissed him off.
After hanging up, Ethan called Brandon, "Go mess with Claire again. Send Howard the dirt on Claire's affair."
Ethan was ready to stir the pot.
Howard had pushed him too far.
No more Mr. Nice Guy.
"Are we going full hunt mode?" Brandon's voice had a hint of excitement.
He'd been itching for this.
"To take down an enemy, you gotta hit where it hurts, preferably a kill shot," Ethan said, drumming his fingers on the table. "It's time. Howard won't come at me unless he's desperate."
Howard making a move meant he was out of options.
Ian was way smarter than Henry. Howard knew he couldn't fully sway Ian, so he had no way out.
He was ready to sacrifice his own son to save his skin—how pathetic.
Just as he hung up, the door flew open, and Jasmine rushed in, throwing herself into Ethan's arms.
Ethan smiled and hugged her tight, afraid she might collapse. "What's up? Off work early?"
"Are you... okay?" Jasmine asked, her eyes red and puffy.
She wasn't trying to cry, but she couldn't help it.
Ethan's heart ached, all his anger melting away at the sight of her.
Ben sighed in relief, stood at the door, nodded at Ethan, and quietly closed the door as he left.
Jasmine clung to Ethan, clearly shaken.
"It's just a scratch. I'm fine, really," Ethan reassured her.
Jasmine hugged Ethan tighter, her voice muffled against his chest. "Don't you dare let anything happen to you."
"I promise."
Meanwhile, Howard was on the phone with one of his lackeys, who sounded hesitant. "Sir, we found something."
Howard's face darkened. "Did you find Bradley?"
"No, it's something else."
Howard rubbed his temples, feeling the weight of exhaustion. 'All this time, and still no results,' he thought.
"Spit it out, what is it?" Howard demanded.
"We found out that Mark and Claire... well, they seem to have a thing going on. We tailed Claire tonight and caught Mark getting real cozy with her."
Howard's face twisted in anger. "Send it over."
After hanging up, his lackey sent the photos and videos to Howard's phone.
Howard watched the footage, his hands shaking with rage.
"Where's Mark?" Howard barked into the phone, kicking the table. "That traitor! I've trusted him for years, and he stabs me in the back!"
"That bitch and that bastard, they're dead meat!" Howard shouted, losing it.
"Mark's still at the Douglas family villa. He snuck in through the back."
Howard sneered. "Perfect. Get the reporters and follow me!"
Fuming, Howard stormed downstairs, jumped into his car, and ordered the driver to take him back. He was ready to blow this wide open and use the scandal to kick Claire out of the Douglas family.
Even if it meant going down with them!
"Tell our guys, once the reporters leave tonight, make sure no one walks out alive," Howard said in a low, menacing voice.
He wanted Mark dead.
"Got it."
When Howard barged into the Douglas family villa with reporters in tow, Claire and Mark were still tangled up in bed.
Claire screamed, totally blindsided by Howard's return.
"Howard, have you lost your mind?" Claire wasn't scared of Howard seeing her; they were already at each other's throats.
If Howard could have a side piece, why couldn't she?
"Slut!" Howard charged at her and slapped her hard.
"How dare you?" Claire, just as furious, fought back, and soon both of them were bleeding.
Mark was still fumbling with his clothes when the reporters burst in.
Howard, trying to keep his cool, shoved Claire away and stood tall.
Mark looked like a deer in headlights, realizing Howard was out for blood. He tried to bolt but was blocked by Howard's goons.
The reporters started snapping pics of Claire and Mark.
"Mrs. Douglas, what were you thinking betraying Mr. Douglas?"
"Mrs. Douglas, seeing another man, have you considered the feeling of Mr. Douglas?"
Claire was shaking with rage, glaring daggers at Howard. "You bastard, if I can't have peace, neither can you."
Howard slapped her again, even harder.
"Slut, you've shamed the Douglas family! Let's divorce!" Howard shouted, making sure everyone heard.
Claire's hands trembled with fury. "Divorce? No way!"
She wasn't about to let him kick her out that easily!
"Then get ready for court!" Howard spat, turning to leave.
Claire glared at the reporters. "Get out, or I'll sue you for trespassing and invasion of privacy!"
The reporters exchanged looks. "Mr. Douglas owns the place, and he let us in."
Then, they kept snapping away.
Claire lost it, screaming for them to leave. Finally, Larry and the bodyguards rushed in and kicked them out.
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