In a private room, Eric Kendall was meeting with a private investigator.

He looked nothing like his usual playboy self. His handsome face was now etched with a bone-deep chill.

"Young Mr. Kendall, this is basically everything we’ve found."

The private investigator handed him a file. "Back then, your stepmother was consistently purchasing a Chinese herb called Aristolochic acid. Long-term use of this herb is a major cause of kidney failure and uremia. Considering she was a nanny for the Kendall Family at the time, she had both the opportunity and motive to secretly add small amounts of it to your mother’s food over an extended period."

Eric Kendall’s eyes were bloodshot. He gripped the file the investigator handed him so tightly that he nearly tore through the pages.

The memory of his mother’s death from uremia, her final gaunt and withered appearance, sent a wave of grief through every fiber of his being.

Seeing his dark expression, the private investigator added cautiously, "A method like this is truly vicious and difficult to detect. So much time has passed now, it will be very hard to find any evidence."

A dark, sinister glint filled Eric Kendall’s eyes. ’Even if there’s no evidence, even if the law can’t touch her, I will make that woman pay in blood!’

’Mia Kendall, Bobby... Not a single one of them will escape!’

Just then, a waiter knocked on the door. "Young Mr. Kendall, there’s a Miss Kendall outside who says she’s here to see you."

Eric Kendall snorted, hiding the hatred swirling in his eyes behind a calm facade.

He said to the private investigator, "Alright, you can go for now. I’ll call you if I need anything else."

"Understood, Young Mr. Kendall."

As the private investigator opened the door, he came face-to-face with Mia Kendall.

Mia Kendall glanced into the private room. She had expected a scene of wild debauchery but was surprised to find it so quiet.

’I’d almost prefer it if there were more people inside,’ she thought. ’Even a bunch of women would be fine.’

’Anything would be better than being alone with Eric Kendall.’

The waiter had been holding the door open for a while now, but Mia Kendall just stood there, lost in a daze.

Just then, Eric Kendall’s cold, heavy voice came from inside. "Didn’t you say you had something to discuss? What are you standing out there for?"

"Oh, I... right, I do."

Mia Kendall answered incoherently and hurried into the room.

Eric Kendall nonchalantly placed the file behind his back and asked, "What is it?"

Mia Kendall couldn’t shake the feeling that something about Eric Kendall had changed.

’I can’t quite put my finger on it.’

’He just seems sinister. A little scary.’

But she didn’t have time to dwell on it. She quickly explained that Eve Vaughn had been taken away by the police.

Mia Kendall said anxiously, "I need to get Mason Lawson to save Evie. I heard Evie’s cousin has connections at the police station. If this goes on, she’s definitely going to suffer."

Although Eric Kendall had no desire to help Mia Kendall, he wouldn’t be helping her—he’d be helping Eve Vaughn.

Besides, this girl was Mason Lawson’s woman.

’Since I know about it, I can’t just stand by and do nothing.’

Mia Kendall pleaded, "Eric, I’m begging you. Please give me Mason Lawson’s number. Please? Can you do that for me?"

Eric Kendall said coldly, "I’ll tell him. You go home and wait for news."

"I’ll wait right here," Mia Kendall said stubbornly. "I’m not going anywhere until I see Evie come back safe."

Eric Kendall gave her a chilling look. "Are you leaving or not? If you don’t, I won’t make the call. Let’s see if your best friend can afford the delay."

Under Eric Kendall’s threat, Mia Kendall had no choice but to leave.

As she left, she said, "You... you have to tell Mason Lawson right away. Make him go save Evie. You have to!"

...

A small room in the detention center was damp and cold.

The young woman huddled in a corner, shivering. The late autumn night was bone-chillingly cold. ’How much longer do I have to stay here?’

Several marks from cigarette burns dotted her arm. With no food or water, she was in a truly wretched state.

Helplessness and misery enveloped her, and Eve Vaughn found herself thinking of the man who had always protected her.

’But he probably has a new woman in his arms by now, doesn’t he?’

At that thought, Eve Vaughn’s eyes stung, and she sniffled.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of a lock turning not far outside, followed by hurried footsteps.

Outside the cell, Mason Lawson, his face grim, was walking inside under the guidance of the police bureau chief.

"President Lawson, I am so sorry. We failed to investigate this matter thoroughly," the bureau chief said respectfully at his side. "You really didn’t have to come bail out Miss Vaughn personally. You could have just sent an assistant to handle the paperwork."

Mason Lawson quickened his pace and said coldly, "If I didn’t come, she would be scared."

The bureau chief didn’t dare show his confusion. ’That Eve Vaughn must be some relative of President Lawson’s, right?’

’A niece or something?’

The door to the room where Eve Vaughn was being held opened. The young woman looked toward the doorway in disbelief. It felt like a dream.

He stood there in a gray cashmere overcoat, tall and straight, like the cool sunlight of a winter day—indolent and aloof.

However, when he saw Eve Vaughn’s disheveled hair and the marks on her face, a shadow of gloom passed through his dark eyes.

Seeing this, the bureau chief hurried over. "Miss Vaughn, Mr. Lawson is here to pick you up. Can you... can you stand on your own? Or, should I give you a hand?"

Eve Vaughn shook her head and, supporting her sore and numb knees, got to her feet.

Mason Lawson slowly walked up to her and reached out, tucking a few stray strands of her messy hair behind her ear.

His voice was cool, laced with clear displeasure. "Your face, how did this happen?"

Fearing Mason Lawson would misunderstand, the bureau chief quickly explained, "That must have happened when Miss Vaughn was fighting with the victim."

Mason Lawson’s brows furrowed as he looked at the chief. "Chief Carter, let me be clear. Eve Vaughn is also injured. Who exactly is the victim here?"

"Yes, yes, you’re right. It was a slip of the tongue."

The bureau chief was desperate to usher this powerhouse out of his station. He turned to the officers behind him and said, "What are you two waiting for? Go process Miss Vaughn’s bail paperwork, now!"

These two officers were the ones who had interrogated Eve Vaughn earlier.

Only now did they realize that both girls involved in today’s fight had powerful backing. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

’The one in the hospital is backed by a captain, but the one right here... her backer is someone the Bureau Chief answers to!’

Thinking about how they had tried to force a confession from Eve Vaughn, the two officers were terrified and now eager to process her bail paperwork and get them to leave as quickly as possible.

Although Mason Lawson was displeased that the police had locked Eve Vaughn up for so long without getting the facts straight, Bureau Chief Carter had come to handle the matter personally. Mason had to give him some face and not make the situation too ugly.

Besides, looking at the young woman’s state, Mason could see she was clearly terrified.

’It’s better to just get her home first.’

He took Eve Vaughn’s hand, ready to leave.

But Eve Vaughn cried out in pain, "AH! That hurts!"

Mason Lawson flinched. He immediately rolled up her sleeve and saw the red marks of burns.

His dark pupils contracted. "How did this happen?" he asked in a sharp voice.

The two officers who had interrogated Eve Vaughn earlier exchanged a glance, their faces full of guilt.