Chapter 132: The Mysterious Person Behind the Astraeus Group

Chapter 132: Chapter 132: The Mysterious Person Behind the Astraeus Group

I ignored Julian Fletcher and pulled Asher along, ready to head home.

"Cecilia..." Julian Fletcher called out my name, his voice laced with anxiety.

"Julian, don’t frighten me... She isn’t Cece, she just bears a slight resemblance." Mrs. Fletcher’s face went white as she hurriedly pressed Julian Fletcher down, keeping him from sitting up. "Your wound is deep. Don’t move around."

Nearby, Erin Whittaker shot me a look, her eyes red and swollen. Her gaze was clearly a challenge.

It was as if she was telling me she had won again.

’At least, thank God, Julian Fletcher is awake.’

’If Julian Fletcher were willing to marry her, she wouldn’t have to go to such great lengths to get in touch with that mysterious man from Astraeus Group.’

"Julian... It’s so good that you’re awake. I thought you..." Erin Whittaker burst into tears. "I wanted to go with you. It’s a good thing Mrs. Fletcher found me."

Julian Fletcher’s gaze never left me. He looked like he had a lot to say.

Seeing Julian Fletcher’s lack of reaction, Erin Whittaker’s eyes grew even redder.

"Julian, it’s good that you’re awake. Rest up, and from now on, treat Erin Whittaker well," Mrs. Fletcher sighed.

I walked to the door and glanced back at Julian Fletcher.

Julian Fletcher’s eyes were still fixed on me.

I gave a cold laugh and left, holding Asher’s hand.

"Don’t look at him..." Asher seemed unhappy, his grip on my hand tightening slightly.

"He’s blind," Asher cursed Julian Fletcher under his breath.

I nodded and smiled at Asher. "You’re right."

Madeline Quinn followed behind Zeke Shaw. He seemed to be in a very bad mood, his mind elsewhere.

It was probably because of what that genius, Lucas Grant, said to him today.

"Your heart can’t be that fragile, can it?" Madeline Quinn asked quietly.

Zeke Shaw didn’t say anything.

"More fragile than glass," Madeline Quinn sighed, chattering away at Zeke Shaw. "Zeke, don’t listen to that so-called genius’s nonsense. What’s his problem, anyway? He looks more like a gangster to me."

I smiled as I watched Madeline Quinn constantly trying to comfort Zeke Shaw.

Madeline Quinn and I met after my parents passed away, when I transferred to Julian Fletcher’s high school. We made a pact to get into the same university. She loved medicine, while I preferred math. It’s just a shame I didn’t have Asher’s kind of innate talent, so I had to settle for a more mainstream major.

Madeline Quinn is a great girl. Like me, she doesn’t have many friends; we really only have each other.

Her family situation also made her quite introverted, and she’d often just stare off into space. The two of us really clicked; we were a perfect match.

’Sometimes I think friendship is the purest form of affection. There are no blood ties between friends, just a simple liking for each other.’

When I was at my most helpless, Madeline Quinn was always by my side, helping me. She cried with me and laughed with me, no questions asked.

Even after I died, she relentlessly searched for the real killer.

"You take care of Officer Shaw," I said, waving to Madeline Quinn.

When Madeline Quinn saw Owen Foster arriving, she nodded, got into Zeke Shaw’s car, slammed on the gas in reverse, and sped away with him.

From the side of the road, I could see the look of terror on Zeke Shaw’s face.

I still remember the year we graduated from high school. Madeline Quinn and I learned to drive together, and we used to say that if we ever actually drove on the road, we’d both be menaces.

"Young Master, Young Madam." Owen Foster opened the car door, gesturing for us to get in.

"Have the police finished taking your statement?" I asked.

Owen Foster nodded. "We did sponsor Ash, but we had no idea he was involved in a murder."

I didn’t ask any more questions and got in the car.

During the drive, my mind was on the note Lucas Grant had given me.

He asked me to find some time to meet him tomorrow at noon, and not to tell Asher.

’Lucas Grant is with the police, so meeting him shouldn’t be dangerous...’

’But why does he want to see me in secret?’

He said he wanted to take me somewhere.

’Where is he going to take me?’

"Cece..." Asher noticed my distraction and gently took my hand.

"Young Master, you’ll need to attend the charity gala on the first of next month," Assistant Foster said, glancing at Asher in the rearview mirror.

"Not going," Asher said sullenly.

He had social anxiety and hated attending these kinds of events.

"Now that you’ve just taken over the Lancaster Group, you really should make an appearance at this type of event," Assistant Foster urged, sounding resigned.

"So annoying..." Asher grumbled, getting a little sulky.

I rested my head on my hand and watched Asher, suddenly amused by him.

His sulking face looked just like a child being forced by his parents to visit relatives.

"Asher, we have to go to this charity gala," I began, then sighed. "Master Lancaster has been released on bail. Word is someone took the fall for his illegal activities. Brandon Lancaster is convinced we’re involved, so now that Master Lancaster is out, he won’t let us go." I continued, "I heard a major figure will be attending this gala—the president of Astraeus Group. He’s become almost mythical these past few years."

Asher paused for a moment, then looked at me from the side. "Cece wants to go?"

I nodded. Whether it was finding the real killer or doing anything else, the first prerequisite was to survive.

Master Lancaster clearly didn’t want Asher and me to live.

If we could get to know the mysterious president of Astraeus Group this time, it might be a huge help to our position in the Lancaster Family.

"Yes. That mysterious tycoon is very powerful. He could help us out of our current predicament and solidify your position in the Lancaster Group," I said in a low voice.

Owen Foster must have hit the brakes a little too hard. I nearly lost my balance and fell into Asher’s arms.

Asher frowned at Owen Foster.

Owen Foster spoke apologetically. "My apologies... My mind wandered for a moment."

"Assistant Foster, do you know anything about the president of Astraeus Group? After all, you’re in the same circles." I wanted to know if Owen Foster had ever met the president of Astraeus.

"I’m sorry, Young Madam. Astraeus Group is a company that has risen to prominence in recent years, but its founder is very mysterious. No one has ever seen him, there’s very little media coverage, and he’s practically a recluse," Owen Foster said, shaking his head.

As the assistant to the chairman of the Lancaster Group, even he had never met the president of Astraeus Group.

’This person really is mysterious.’

"I did some research. Some people online claim to have seen the president of Astraeus Group. They say he’s an old, ugly man with a limp, which is why he rarely appears in public and almost no one has seen him." I wasn’t sure if the online rumors could be trusted.

Asher, who was drinking some mineral water, froze. He coughed, apparently having choked on it.

I instinctively reached for a tissue to wipe away the water that was trickling from the corner of his mouth down his neck.

His Adam’s apple... It was so well-defined, so striking.

He swallowed, and his Adam’s apple bobbed.

I blushed and instinctively pulled my hand back.

’I’ve heard you’re not supposed to touch a man’s Adam’s apple.’

Sure enough, Asher reached out, pulled me into his arms, and lowered his head to kiss me.

Assistant Foster sighed and raised the privacy partition, continuing to drive as steadily as a special forces soldier.

"You..." I tried to push Asher away.

"You started it..." Asher whined pitifully.

’Is he saying I seduced him first?’

"I was just helping you wipe off the water..." I muttered under my breath.

"I don’t care..." Asher cupped my cheeks petulantly, about to kiss me again. "You’re mine."

I was helpless to resist, so I gave in and let him kiss me.

"Asher..."

I whispered his name, my breath growing hot.

’Why is it that I’ve forgotten only the things related to you...?’

"Master Lancaster has incited several senior executives to go on strike. You’ll need to go to the company tomorrow morning, Young Master." Owen Foster clearly didn’t want to interrupt us, but he spoke up after taking a call.

I breathed a sigh of relief. If Asher was going to the office tomorrow, I could sneak out at noon to meet Lucas Grant.

I wanted to know what he was going to show me.