Chapter 289
Bill dragged Ambrose back to the hotel room, shoving him into the bathroom. Before Ambrose could utter a sound, Todd was already on him, delivering a brutal kick.
“You bastard!” Todd yelled, his eyes burning with fury. “Are you trying to sell out the Vale Family just to get Stellan back?” He grabbed Ambrose by the collar, shaking him violently. “You have evidence? What evidence did you keep?”
Ambrose, gasping for breath, tried to defend himself. “Todd, you’ve been tricked by Alaric. How could I have any evidence? He’s just trying to sow discord among us and split the Vale Family!”
Before Ambrose could finish his sentence, Todd’s fist collided with his stomach, the air knocked from his lungs.
“Still not admitting it?” Todd sneered, delivering another punishing blow. “If it’s not you, then tell me—how did Alaric know about all of this?”
“He guessed it himself!” Ambrose wheezed, struggling to stay upright. “When the entertainment center was finished, he told me that Stuart sent me to sabotage the Storm Family. Afterward, I returned to the Vale Family. It was all Alaric’s speculation. I denied everything. I never told him anything. As for evidence, how could I have any?” Ambrose’s voice faltered, panic flooding his veins. “Todd, don’t fall for his trap. He’s just trying to manipulate you.”
Todd’s face twisted with contempt as he punched Ambrose in the face again. “You think I’m an idiot?” Todd’s voice was a low growl. “I know what you’re thinking. You hate Stuart. You hate me. You hate the whole Vale Family. You wish Stuart and I would both drop dead so you could take over, right? You’ve been thinking it all along. It makes perfect sense for you to tell Alaric everything. Plus, you’re still hung up on Stellan. You want her forgiveness by pulling the Vale Family out of this mess. It’s not impossible!”
“I didn’t!” Ambrose cried, tears of frustration welling up in his eyes. “I swear, Todd, I didn’t! You’ve been tricked by Alaric! He’s lying to you!”
Todd was beyond reasoning. He grabbed Ambrose and punched him again, sending him crashing into the vanity mirror. The mirror shattered, sending glass shards across the floor, and Ambrose crumpled to the ground in a heap, blood soaking into the tiles.
“I’ve never been beaten by anyone,” Todd muttered, rage seeping from his voice. “And now, it’s all because of you, you bastard!” He let his anger loose, raining down punches and kicks on Ambrose until blood pooled on the floor, staining the once pristine bathroom.
“Enough,” Bill’s voice cut through the chaos, calm and controlled. “How can you believe everything Alaric says? If he’s trying to sow discord, then you’re playing right into his hands. Don’t kill Ambrose.”
Bill turned on the shower, the sound of water drowning out the heavy breathing of both men. As the water ran, it began to wash the blood off the floor, the bathroom becoming a scene of muted violence.
Ambrose lay curled on the ground, barely conscious, his body bruised and broken. Todd, panting and exhausted from the outburst, slumped onto the sofa, his anger still burning but his body drained.
“That bastard Alaric,” Todd muttered under his breath. “One day, I’ll slash his face off.” He touched his own scratched face, feeling the sting of his own injuries.
Bill remained silent, his face a mask of unreadable calm.
“Bill,” Todd continued, a note of genuine surprise in his voice, “You’re so skilled in fighting. You’ve never lost to anyone. How did you lose to Alaric?”
Bill’s eyes narrowed, his voice laced with irritation. “Alaric joined the military at eight and later became a special forces instructor. What did you expect?” he scolded. “You’ve already acquired the jewelry company, yet you still had to provoke him.”
Todd winced at the reality of Bill’s words. He knew it was a mistake, but the damage was done. There was no going back now.
“Bill,” Todd asked, his voice tinged with anxiety, “Do you think Alaric will really trace the Storm Family incident back to us?”
Bill glanced toward the bathroom, where the sound of the shower was the only thing breaking the silence. “It’s been years, and all the evidence has been destroyed,” he replied. “Unless Ambrose really has something to hold over us.”
Todd’s unease deepened at Bill’s words. He thought for a moment, then said, “In that case, to be safe, let’s just kill him.”
Before Todd could move toward the bathroom, Bill’s voice stopped him cold. “Sit down!” he barked.
Todd froze. Bill’s expression was stern, and there was no arguing with him. Bill’s loyalty to Stuart was unwavering, and Todd knew that if he defied Bill, he would be on his own.
Bill’s eyes bore into him as he continued, “Alaric’s words alone make you want to kill Ambrose to silence him? That would make you a laughingstock. Plus, this is a law-abiding society. Murder is punishable by death!” He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.
“Listen to me, Todd. I’m here to protect you, on Stuart’s orders. I’m Stuart’s man, not yours. I act in the Vale Family’s best interests, not yours. Ambrose is capable and useful to the Vale Family. If you kill him, don’t expect me to cover for you. Even though Ambrose is an illegitimate child, he’s still Stuart’s son. Do you really think you can get away with killing him?”
Todd stood frozen, conflicted and uncertain. “But what if he really does have evidence?”
“If he does,” Bill replied, “he knows that if he’s exposed, he’s a dead man. Do you think he wouldn’t have a backup plan? What if he has his associates ready to release the evidence if something happens to him? What then?” Bill’s words hit Todd like a punch to the gut.
Todd didn’t have an answer. He slumped down into a chair, defeated.
Bill exhaled sharply, his tone softening. “Get someone to take him to the hospital. If you really hurt him badly, you’ll be in trouble.”
Todd didn’t hesitate this time. “Fine, I’ll call his subordinate now.”
He reached for his phone and dialed Denny. Moments later, Denny arrived, his face twisted in fury when he saw Ambrose’s state.
Opening the bathroom door, Denny was immediately hit by the overwhelming smell of blood. Ambrose lay unconscious on the floor, soaked in blood.
“Mr. Vale!” Denny rushed to Ambrose’s side, helping him up despite the man’s limp form. His voice was filled with anger. “That bastard Todd. Hitting you like this… Mr. Vale, hang in there. I’ll take you to the hospital now.”
Ambrose barely registered the words, his head spinning as Denny lifted him and carried him out of the room.
Back at the hotel, as Denny rushed Ambrose to the hospital, Silas arrived with urgent news for Alaric.
“Mr. Knight,” Silas reported, “Ambrose has been taken to the hospital. He’s seriously injured.”
As expected, if it weren’t for Bill, Ambrose would probably be dead by now. Todd’s ruthlessness knew no bounds.
“Got it,” Alaric said, his tone cool and composed.
At that moment, Cormac knocked on the door, and Alaric gestured for Silas to leave.
After Silas exited, Cormac stepped into the room, handing Alaric some documents. “Some payment applications, Mr. Knight. For your review.”
Alaric felt a slight discomfort at the formal address. “Just call me by my name. There’s no need for such formality between us,” he said, trying to ease the tension.
Cormac hesitated, clearly still awkward in their relationship, despite recent improvements.
“Fine. Call me whatever you want,” Alaric added with a chuckle, trying to diffuse the situation.
“How about dinner tonight, with Aurora and our families?” Alaric asked, eager to shift the mood. “What do you think?”