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Chapter_287
Within the grim confines of Banyan City Penitentiary, Bryce, accompanied by a lawyer, quietly led Whitney through the corridors. The atmosphere in the visiting room was thick with an uncomfortable silence, the chill of the walls pressing in. As Whitney’s gaze settled on her uncle, Keegan, her breath caught in her throat. He was a mere shadow of the man she once knew—gaunt, pale, and hollow, as if life itself had drained from him. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she whispered, “Uncle…”
Keegan, equally shaken, struggled to rise from his seat with the help of a cane. His red-rimmed eyes looked up at her, his voice cracking with emotion. “Whitney… It’s been three years. I feared Ludwik had taken revenge on you, made your life a living hell.”
Whitney’s mind spiraled. The last three years of her life were a tale too complicated, too painful to describe in simple words.
Bryce, noticing the grief consuming Whitney, gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder, his voice low but steady. “Let’s focus on the matter at hand.”
Turning to her uncle, Whitney steadied herself. “Uncle, this is the lawyer I’ve hired. He’s recording our conversation. There are no bugs here, so quickly, tell us everything about what happened last month. You’re the only one who knows the truth.”
Keegan’s face darkened, and he slammed his hand on the table, urgency in his voice. “It was a setup!” he exclaimed. “A month ago, my cellmate was thrown into solitary without warning. Then they brought in a new inmate—Lyle, a burly ex-truck driver. I kept my distance from him, but that night… he forced pills down my throat.”
Whitney’s fists clenched at her sides as Keegan continued. “I didn’t know what those pills were, but after three days, I started feeling violent, delirious. They accused me of starting a fight with Lyle, but I can’t remember any of it. Then, Lyle dragged me to the bathroom, shoved another pill down my throat, and I blacked out. When I came to, I was holding a sharpened toothbrush, its end buried in Lyle’s throat.”
The silence in the room was heavy, laden with injustice and despair.
Kelvin, the lawyer, broke the silence with a grim analysis. “Drugs are the key.”
Whitney acted swiftly, drawing a blood sample from her uncle, hoping to find traces of the drugs used to manipulate him. “Think, Uncle. Did Lyle say anything—anything that could help us?”
Keegan furrowed his brow, his voice bitter. “Lyle bragged about his nephew working as a secretary for some high-profile lady. He said his family had made a fortune and moved abroad.”
“A clear case of hiring a hitman,” Kelvin concluded, his voice tight with realization.
Whitney nodded, taking mental notes of the crucial details. With the blood sample secured, she began formulating a plan to investigate Lyle’s family, which seemed to point back to Elaine.
Leaving the prison as night fell, Bryce, sensing Whitney’s heavy heart, placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice quiet but reassuring. “You’re doing good work, Whitney. Trying to clear your uncle’s name and reclaim Skye Gem Ltd. It’s not easy, but you’re making progress.”
“Thank you,” Whitney said, her spirits lifting. The thought of Skye Gem Ltd.’s relaunch buoyed her, and in that moment, she turned to Bryce. “I’d like you to join Skye Gem Ltd. as its Chief Advisor.”
Bryce smiled, eager and thankful. “I’d be honored.”
Meanwhile, in the dim light of a bustling bar, Elaine was caught in the arms of a mysterious man. Her initial protests melted into reluctant surrender as their passion built. What started as shock soon gave way to a smoldering intrigue as the man’s identity became clear—it was an old flame, one she hadn’t expected to reignite.
Elaine’s gaze flickered nervously as her emotions battled within her. With a dismissive sigh, she pulled away from him. “Jarvis, whatever happened between us is ancient history. We’ve gone our separate ways. What are you doing here, running from New York to Miami?”
Jarvis, leaning back slightly, gave a soft chuckle, his eyes softening. “I’ve missed you. After all these years, I still can’t shake the memory of you.”
Elaine’s eyes narrowed, the familiar feeling of irritation rising. She observed Jarvis as he turned, his tall frame blocking the glasses on the table. With a subtle motion, he dropped a powder into one of the glasses. Elaine’s sharp gaze caught the movement, but she said nothing, pretending not to notice.
Jarvis was once considered a catch in New York, the adopted son of a high-profile general, Jason Lippert. But compared to Ludwik—Jason’s biological son—Jarvis seemed insignificant. Back then, their brief fling had been a fleeting moment, one that hadn’t amounted to anything.
Feigning innocence, Elaine casually remarked, “Westside, I’m Ludwik’s fiancée now. We’re getting married soon. You should forget about me.”
Jarvis smiled teasingly, his hands finding her waist and pulling her closer, spinning her onto his lap. “Back then, you couldn’t have Ludwik since he was married, so you turned to me. Now, I hear Ludwik isn’t doing so well. Can you really handle playing the lonely widow, Elaine?”
He leaned in, his breath warm on her skin, lips brushing against hers.
Elaine’s resolve wavered slightly, but she quickly pulled away, sliding off his lap. “I love Ludwik. Everyone knows he’s the one for me. Save your efforts.”
Jarvis’ smile faltered, a glimmer of disappointment flashing across his face. “So heartless?” he murmured, reaching for his glass. “But we can at least share a drink for old times’ sake, right?”
Elaine hesitated, annoyance swirling within her, but she reluctantly picked up the glass and drank it in one swift motion. “Ludwik’s waiting for me at home. I should go.”
As she stood to leave, a strange warmth surged through her body. Her breath quickened, confusion flooding her mind. She turned, her eyes narrowing, and saw Jarvis standing by the doorframe, a sinister smile playing on his lips.
“What… what did you put in that drink?” Elaine asked, panic creeping into her voice.
Jarvis stepped closer, lifting her chin gently with one finger. “I saw your little act with Ashton earlier. Recorded it, too. I know all about your secrets, Elaine. Like how you still have two kidneys.”
Elaine’s blood ran cold. Her face paled.
Jarvis grinned slyly. “Ludwik doesn’t know about that, does he?”
