The Ex and Her Riches

Charles panted heavily, easing the pain in his back. Struggling, he mumbled, “I didn’t take the key from Karl, break into the top floor or steal anything…”

“How dare you still try to defend yourself!”

The cane slapped hard against Charles’ back. five times consecutively, giving him no chance to catch his breath.

The flesh underneath his blood-stained shirt didn’t bleed but was swelled up and purplish. There was no spot unscathed.

Each hit cut his swollen flesh deeper while bright red blood splattered gruesomely.

“Um…”

A muffled grunt escaped from Charles’ mouth. His straightened back collapsed. As he propped himself up with one hand, his arm trembled uncontrollably from the pain.

“Craig, I really didn’t do it…”

Fear rose in Lucas’ heart. Standing beside the pillar, he couldn’t bear to see Charles’ badly-injured back.

Jasmine covered her mouth and shed tears as her heart ached.

Being forced to witness such a cruel punishment was torture to them.

Only Craig remained nonchalant. His ruthless glare was void of sympathy.

He then analyzed the situation in detail.

“You were the only one there tonight and got close to Karl when you almost ran into him on your way. I checked the top floor earlier. Someone opened the cabinet, and a bottle of very important serum was missing! Before the welcome party started, you waited and didn’t leave the floor. I asked the housekeeper to get you to hurry up, but you weren’t in your room and were nowhere to be seen. I bet you were stealing on the top floor at that time. Am I right?”

As he reached the end of his sentence, he raised his voice in rage and whipped Charles’ bruised back ruthlessly before the latter could straighten his back.

“Tell me! Where is the stuff? Why did you steal from your own family? Did you conspire with Gwendolyn Harris to deceive me? Tell me!”

The howling of wind continuously sounded.

Blood splattered on his white shirt as the blood-stained cane swung.

couldn’t straighten his back anymore from the agony and curled into a

cranny in

Defends Himself

Craig didn’t let Charles off the hook. He was sure that Charles tried to sabotage him based

Charles,

swung the cane

former’s arms

keep denying it.

Thwack!

sound of lashing resonated in their cars and sounded

teeth and bearing the pain. Charles almost lost consciousness from the agony and started

beating after hiding abroad and barely living a peaceful life abroad for a year. The torture was

second cane snapped after several

long time and tossed the broken cane to

rolled

“Guard.”

and replied

the new canes soaking in a bucket, Craig ordered with

“Yes.”

the ground, Charles could see the bodyguard beside him picking up a cane despite his blurred vision.

beat me to my death, I will never admit what I never

rather be wrong than letting

coldly, “Since you wouldn’t say anything, prove your innocence with your

with quivering blue eyes, Charles slowly picked it up

him. He’s badly injured but still

forward to hold Charles and stop him from taking his life with the dagger while tears

at the Central Intelligence Agency are

himself. We are family, after all. Even if Charles is only

sight of the bruises on Charles’ back shocked her as she sobbed

and pleaded, “Mr. Craig,

“A coincidence?”

a piercing gaze. “You safe-keep the keys to the top floor all