Right Person, Wrong Time

"But if we stop now, we'll be throwing away everything we've accomplished," Ryan protested. It was clear he didn't want to give up on this opportunity. After all, such chances were rare, and who knew when the next one would come along.

"No, I'm ordering you right now. Halt all actions. If you don't comply, I'll stop cooperating with you in the future. Think it over." Kendrick's voice was firm as he spoke, interrupting Ryan's attempt to convince him further. With that, Kendrick hung up the phone.

Kendrick stared at his computer screen, feeling a mix of annoyance and confusion. It seemed like both Benjamin and Colton had become aware of his existence and had unearthed his past identity. Although he had concealed his identity as the sole heir of the Hofstead Family when he gained power, he had made numerous enemies over the years in the business world, making retaliation inevitable.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, he had hoped that his and Ryan's actions had been subtle enough to go unnoticed. Unfortunately, it seemed that they were exposed after all.

With a loud thud, a vase was forcefully smashed onto the ground, shattering into pieces. Kendrick's frustration was evident.

Meanwhile, Ryan glared at his phone, seething with anger after Kendrick abruptly ended the call. Who does Kendrick think he is to just order me to stop? Why should he disregard all the efforts I've put in? If that is how things are, then Kendrick should prepare for what I'm about to do next.

Ryan's stony gaze was fixated on a photograph of a person he had grown to hate over his lifetime. In the photo stood White Nicholson.

"Take action. Spare no effort in destroying the Gardner Family." Ryan picked up his phone and dialed a number he had been frequently contacting lately. His voice was icy as he gave his orders.

Ryan had recently learned the man's name: Kendrick, the only heir of the Hofstead Family. Ryan knew Kendrick wasn't always privy to local affairs. Many things were brought to his attention only after they had occurred. As long as Ryan executed his plan discreetly enough to avoid Kendrick's associates, he could gradually eliminate the Gardner Family without Kendrick catching on. Soon, the Gardner Family would be his, and dealing with Kendrick abroad would be a breeze. After all, Ryan now held a trump card over Kendrick.

A faint smile curled Ryan's lips. Now, he needed to meet with someone else.

Evelyn was alone at home, feeling dejected. Colton had already been out of the country for over half a month, yet she still had no news about him. She was his wife, so why was she kept in the dark about his whereabouts?

It was unacceptable.

"Madam, please have some food." A maid approached with a plate of reheated dishes.

She had watched Evelyn struggle day by day, and at first, she had guessed that Evelyn's status was low, but she didn't realize how low it really was. Evelyn didn't even have the right to know her husband's schedule.

Although the maid knew some things about Colton, she was, after all, still loyal to the Gardner Family. She knew her priorities.