Chapter 301
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“I lost my leverage to Caitlin.”
Ximena’s leverage was none other than Freya. Caitlin had Freya in her grasp, using the woman to threaten Ximena.
“That’s just an excuse!”
“I know I’m no match for her, but this explosion today… she still couldn’t get the manuscript.”
“It seems there are others, like us, who want the Yun’s Aromatic Codex. But don’t worry–if you keep your eyes on Caitlin, she’ll find a way to get it.”
“I understand, Master.”
In XEG’s CEO office, Ximena ended the call, feeling the weight in her chest grow heavier. If she didn’t obtain the Yun’s Aromatic Codex today, she wouldn’t be able to release herself from this burden.
This was the punishment for her betrayal of Number Zero all those years ago.
But no matter what, the real issue now was dealing with Freya. Ximena couldn’t stand her anymore.
In an underground secret studio in New York, Zeke arrived and opened the network marked with the logo of the poisonous spider. He noticed someone had placed an order under the bidder’s web.
He pressed a button, and within moments, a pair of identical sisters appeared before him.
“Boss!”
Sienna and Teresa greeted him respectfully.
The two sisters were Zeke’s trusted right–hand assistants, fully obedient to him.
“I have a task for you.”
Zeke’s long fingers tapped the table. Teresa picked up a piece of paper, read it, and then immediately swallowed it.
“Got it, Boss. We’ll take action right away!”
The sisters headed out but were stopped by Zeke before they left.
“Anything else, Boss?”
“After the mission, go find Caitlin. You need to stay close to her and protect her.”
Zeke stressed the words “protect her,” making sure they understood.
“Understood.”
After receiving the orders, Sienna and Teresa left the underground studio.
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In a secluded house with a small yard, the gate was locked. The food for the resident was delivered via drop–offs.
A large package of food fell from the sky, and Freya, hearing the sound, rushed out of the house.
Freya had been locked in this small building for a while. No one was abusing her, and no one came to demand debts. Aside from being unable to contact the outside world or leave, she found the situation bearable.
She picked up the package and brought it inside, opening it to find a variety of food and supplies.
She thought to herself, Sebastian and Caitlin weren’t bad people. They didn’t leave her to fend for herself.
What she didn’t know was that the Grim Reaper was approaching her.
While Freya was eating, a shadow moved behind her. Teresa, with her face covered, held a thin steel wire in her hand.
Taking advantage of Freya’s moment of distraction, she suddenly wrapped the wire around her neck and pulled back.
Freya suddenly found it hard to breathe. Her hands instinctively went to pall at whatever was choking her.
She could feel someone behind her strangling her, but she had no idea who it was.
Soon, a woman appeared before her, a terrified expression on Freya’s face.
“Who… who are you?” she gasped, trying to ask why they were attacking her.
“Someone is willing to pay a high price for your life,” Sienna coldly told her.
The suffocating terror overwhelmed Freya as she turned purple, her eyes bulging. She struggled, but soon her body grew weaker, and she slowly lost the ability to fight back.
Eventually, she went limp, her head hanging down.
Teresa released her grip, and she exchanged a glance with Sienna. They nodded, and began to proceed with their next steps.
Several hours later, Ximena received an email. Opening it, she saw a video.
The woman in the video, lying on the ground, was unmistakably Freya. She was dead, and her hand had been chopped off. The sight was bloody and gruesome, but thrilling.
Ximena smiled sinisterly, pleased with how things were going. This was perfect. Now, Caitlin couldn’t threon her with Freya
anymore.
While Ximena watched the video, Zora appeared behind her. Seeing the gruesome scene on the screen, Zora screamed, “Ah! Mom,
what’s this?”
Ximena didn’t hide anything. “This is what happens when Freya betrays me. Do you see? No one can threaten me anymore . ”
Ximena had done terrible things, but she had always kept her daughter away from the bloodshed. She had protected Zora , raising her like a princess in a castle, safe and untouched by the darkness.
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But now, since Zora had seen it, it was time to let her understand the harsh realities of the world.
Zora’s face turned pale. “Mom, you… you killed her… you killed her…”
“Don’t shout, Zora!” Ximena snapped. “I didn’t do it myself. I just paid someone to handle it.”
Ximena grabbed her daughter’s hand and spoke slowly, “Don’t be afraid, my dear. You have to understand–if you want to accomplish something big, you must learn to be ruthless.”
“Whoever succeeds doesn’t do it without stepping on others along the way.”
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“From now on, if you can’t get what you want, or if there’s something standing in your way, you can use this method to make it disappear. Do you understand?”
Zora began to calm down, a cold look in her eyes. “Mom, I hate Caitlin. Can we get rid of her in this way?”
“Of course not!”
“Why not?”
“She must live. Only when both parts of the manuscript are united will I get what I want.”
“Is the manuscript hiding treasure? Do you want the treasure too?”
“No, that’s not what I want. You’ll understand one day.”
The next day, at the hospital.
Caitlin had just visited Quincy, who was recovering well. When he saw her, he immediately started demanding to be discharged.
“Caitlin, can I leave now? I feel fine!”
Quincy sat on the bed, trying to look more energetic.
Caitlin glanced at him. “Not yet. Whether you leave or not isn’t up to me. It’s up to the doctor to say you’re good to go.”
“Right, you troublemaker. Stay in the hospital like you’re supposed to!” Faith chimed in, pushing Quincy back onto his pillow.
Quincy groaned, “Caitlin, she’s bullying me!”
“Is that so? They say ‘spare the rod, spoil the child,“” Caitlin teased.
Faith blushed, slightly embarrassed. “Caitlin, don’t joke around. There’s nothing between him and me.”
“Alright, I’m just messing with you. Thanks for taking care of Quincy, you’re a real lifesaver. I’ll make sure you get a nice bonus!”
“Thanks, Caitlin!” Faith smiled warmly.
After saying their goodbyes, Caitlin walked out of the room and bumped into two familiar faces at the door. “Sienna, Teresa? What are you two doing here?”
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