Chapter 195

Alvin said to Bowen as he emerged, "Wuhrer was in distress, so the hospital gave her a sedative. She’s resting now!"

Bowen gave a cured laugh, his gaze growing even icier and more unhinged.

He said, "Go keep an eye on Aubree at the hospital. I’ve got some business to take care of."

"Keeping an eye on her for him? What’s that supposed to mean?" Alvin wondered but brushed off the odd phrasing the next second. "Did they say who sent them?" he asked.

Bowen said coldly, "The Timberlake family."

So it was the Timberlake family after all, Alvin thought.

Curling his lips into a mocking sneer, he said, "They must have a death wish."

Meanwhile, at the Timberlake family home, Gareth paced anxiously back and forth in the living room. "Why hasn’t there been any news yet? Did today’s operation succeed or not?" he wondered.

He knew full well this would cross the Turner family, but he’d already made plans. Once he got his son out, he’d take his family and leave Rithol City altogether. "If I can’t fight them, at least I can flee," he thought.

Gareth gnashed his teeth in fury. "Bowen shows no regard for our ties at all. He’s having Jacob thrown in jail over what I consider such a trivial matter," he fumed inwardly. "Even if Jacob did something to Aubree, would she lose out by being connected to the Timberlake family?"

Just as he was thinking this, his wife Mandy came downstairs. The moment she saw him still at home, her temper flared. "What are you still doing here?" she stormed. "Why aren’t you doing something to get Jacob out? He’s your only son!"

Gareth, already irritated, snapped, "Can’t you see I’m working on it? If the plan succeeds, we’ll get Jacob out, alright?"

"What do you mean by that?" Mandy asked.

"I sent men to kidnap Aubree," Gareth replied.

"What did you just say you did?" Mandy’s voice shot up in disbelief. "Bowen only went after Jacob because of Aubree, and you still dare to mess with her?"

Gareth thought she was overreacting. "What’s all the fuss about?" he scoffed. "I’ve got it all planned out. Once we trade Aubree for Jacob, our whole family will leave Rithol City. We can develop in other cities anyway. We’ve already compromised. Given our daughter’s connection to them, the Turner family will have to give us a pass."

He took it for granted and thought smugly, "Over the years, I’ve reaped plenty of benefits from the Turner family thanks to my daughter. Do the Turner family people not know? Of course they do. But since they owe the Timberlake family, they have to pretend not to see!"

Mandy hesitated. "Will they let us off? I heard Bowen's running the Turner family now. He’s a heartless bastard."

"Relax. It’s all under control." Gareth had barely finished boasting when thunderous pounding erupted at the front door.

"Who’s there?" Mandy called out nervously.

Gareth said nonchalantly, "That must be my people coming back."

With that, he stepped forward to open the door. The moment it cracked open a sliver, someone outside landed a brutal kick with explosive force, sending the door flying inward.

If Gareth hadn’t reacted with quick reflexes and dodged, that brutal kick would have landed on more than just the door.

Mandy’s face drained of all color the moment she recognized the intruder.

Gareth was just about to unleash a torrent of curses, but the moment he looked up, he froze completely on the spot.

Bowen strode in, flanked by bodyguards. "Mr. Timberlake, long time no see," he said.

"B-Bowen…" Gareth was stunned.

Bowen strode up to him, his gaze coldly assessing. "Mr. Timberlake," he said, "don’t you have anything to say to me?"

Gareth had been running himself ragged trying to get Jacob out of trouble, and his hair had grown noticeably grayer. Now, face to face with Bowen, the once arrogant and self-assured man was reduced to a haggard, cowering figure, shrinking back, not daring to say a word.

Bowen sneered, "Cat got your tongue? I only greeted you politely out of respect for your daughter. Did you think you were hot stuff, Gareth? How dare you lay a finger on what’s mine? Who the hell gave you the nerve?"

"I might’ve let Jacob off with just a few months in jail if I were feeling generous. But you just had to go begging for death, didn’t you?"

With each word Bowen uttered, Gareth’s face grew paler. "I don’t know what you’re talking about," he stammered.

Gareth flatly denied it.

Bowen let out a chilling laugh. "Playing dumb, huh?"

In the next second, Bowen swung a vicious backhanded punch that smashed into Gareth’s face, sending him crumpling to the ground, his body going limp from the blow.

Bowen sneered, "Do you need a reminder?"

Gareth’s face contorted in sheer terror as he stumbled backward. He was genuinely terrified, afraid that Bowen might just beat him to death right there.