Chapter 196
"The Hilton Group has never worked with him before." Max tilted my chin up, his voice low and steady, "Claire, even when you were in a mess in Elmwood Springs, I had him rush to save you when it happened. I gave him the entire rescue team, yet he insisted on waiting until you called the next day for help. That's when I started doubting him. If he cared about you, he would have acted sooner. He set you up with me just to get you pregnant and then have both you and the child die. He wanted me to feel the pain of losing everything allConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
over again."
His long fingers traced my jawline, his eyes darkening to a deep crimson.
"In the past life, in Room 6088, it was also Richard who drugged you. He even had someone lure you into my room. This time, after being reborn, I called Ronald immediately after being drugged, ensuring you wouldn't get pregnant. I didn't want history to repeat itself..." Suddenly, I lay in his arms and was too stunned to utter a word. Max knew everything. He was silently protecting me, clearing the obstacles in my path.
"Max..." I whispered, even as I pushed him away. He got out first and opened my door, saying, "Say goodbye to the past. I'll lead the way forward."
He extended his hand, signaling me to follow him. But for some reason, my feet felt as heavy as lead. I couldn't believe Richard would betray me, harm me, or kill me.
"Still don't believe it? You can ask him yourself," Max said, his voice tinged with a defeated resignation.
In the end, I stepped out of the car. Whatever the outcome, it was time for a conclusion.
But when we arrived at the detective's office, Ronald was frantically ruffling his hair.
Upon seeing us, he hurried over and said, "We have all the evidence we need, but Tracey changed her testimony. She's claiming she did everything and that Richard had nothing to do with it." "Tracey's willing to sacrifice herself to save Richard."
That was my first thought, and how come I didn't know? Richard and Tracey had such a good relationship. Both were willing to die for each other.
"Is there no other way?" Max's brow furrowed slightly.
Ronald shook his head. "No, and the old ones of the Hilton family are banding together to protect him." He sighed as he looked at me.
The Hilton family's elders protecting a bastard? Against Max?
"Are you going to be in danger?" I looked at Max worriedly, and he ruffled my hair, "No."
Ronald muttered, "How could you not be? Richard has been joining forces with those old guards for years to suppress you. You've been holding up against the pressure of an entire family on your own
Max shot Ronald a look, and he immediately fell silent.
"They can't hurt me," Max reassured me, probably to ease my worries.
"Really? With the older generation of the Hilton family on my side, how much pressure do you think you can withstand alone? You might as well step down as the head of the family now," a familiar voice came from behind us.
I turned around and saw Richard exiting the prison, surrounded by several bodyguards.
His sinister gaze swept over us. "Claire, come here," he commanded.
I took a step back, hiding behind Max.
"Claire, we're at the top now. When
you were a kid and wanted an amusement park, I had the orphanage demolished and made the Hilton Group turn it into an
amusement park. So, you Met
the
Hilton family supports me. No one supports Max."
I looked up at Max, whose expression remained indifferent, unangered.