Chapter 147: What is Julian Fletcher Up to Again?

Chapter 147: Chapter 147: What is Julian Fletcher Up to Again?

Assistant Foster was fast, precise, and ruthless. Jacob Miller confessed quickly, admitting that Brandon Lancaster’s assistant had given him one million yuan to stir up trouble at the company, though he wouldn’t admit to pushing me.

I didn’t press the matter further. The whole point was just to drag out the person behind it.

In truth, everyone knew full well it was Brandon Lancaster.

But Brandon Lancaster always managed to get away with it.

’But it doesn’t matter. I’ll just have to cut down his key supporters, one by one, then find a way to replace them with my own people...’

After all, a man like Brandon Lancaster had Master Lancaster backing him; he was deeply entrenched.

Asher had gone with the nurse to get the test results. I looked at Owen Foster and spoke meaningfully, "Master Lancaster is getting on in years, and Brandon Lancaster is his only son. If something were to happen to that sole heir, how heartbroken Master Lancaster would be. Assistant Foster, I know you’re a smart man. Whatever your reason for getting close to Asher, I believe we have a common enemy."

’And that’s Brandon Lancaster and Master Lancaster.’

The moment the old master had his accident, Assistant Foster chose to stand behind Sebastian Lancaster, which was a declaration of war on Brandon Lancaster and Master Lancaster.

Those two are ruthless. Now that Assistant Foster had chosen Sebastian Lancaster, he had to win; he couldn’t afford to lose.

"Yes." Assistant Foster nodded. "I will carry out any instructions from you and Sir."

"Can we plant one of our own people near Brandon Lancaster?" I asked.

Owen Foster paused. "Brandon Lancaster may not be as meticulous as Master Lancaster, but he’s very strict about who he keeps close. I’ve thought of a few ways, but you can’t get near him unless you’re one of his confidants. Besides, the people around Brandon Lancaster are all hand-picked by Master Lancaster."

I smiled. ’Master Lancaster really keeps a tight leash on his son.’

’All children have a rebellious streak. I can’t believe Brandon Lancaster doesn’t have one.’

"Let’s try a different approach. Waiting for Master Lancaster is useless. We need to target Brandon Lancaster’s bed partners. Even heroes have a weakness for beautiful women," I said gravely. The first time I met Brandon Lancaster, I knew the men of the Lancaster family were all lechers. Dylan Lancaster was, and so was Brandon Lancaster.

But there was a difference between Brandon Lancaster and Dylan Lancaster. Brandon treated women as playthings; he cared more about his career.

’It’s just that sometimes, playthings can get out of hand.’

Assistant Foster glanced at me, his expression a little complicated, and then he nodded.

’I wonder, if Master Lancaster lost his only heir, Brandon Lancaster, would he have any trump cards or leverage left?’

’If that happened, it would only be a matter of time before Sebastian Lancaster established his authority at the company.’

"Cece, the doctor said everything’s normal. We just need to come in for regular check-ups." Asher returned. He still seemed so naive, so utterly innocent, like a blank sheet of paper.

’A voice inside me kept telling me: protect this blank slate.’

"Mm, congratulations, Mr. Lancaster." I took the prenatal check-up report and inexplicably congratulated him.

I froze the moment I said it.

’Why did I congratulate him? Did he use to really want to be a father?’

’Or had I made some kind of promise to him in the past?’

Asher’s body clearly stiffened. He pulled me into a tight hug, his voice hoarse. "Cece... Thank you."

He thanked me, but I still felt guilty.

’I was the one who forgot him, abandoned him, and even fell in love with someone else.’

’Does he really... not hate me at all?’

’Sometimes I wonder, if the truth eventually came out and it turned out Asher really had lost control and killed me, I wouldn’t even blame him... I was the one who wronged him first. I forgot him, fell in love with someone else when he was at his lowest, and even had another man’s child.’

"Let’s go home." I wanted to take him home; my heart felt heavy, as if something were weighing it down.

"The doctor asked to see me." Asher was being mysterious, saying the doctor had more to discuss with him. I didn’t think much of it and let him go.

Sitting in the hallway, I waited for Asher to come back, but then I saw Julian Fletcher.

His wounds must have mostly healed by now. After all, a scourge on the earth lives for a thousand years.

He was walking with a middle-aged man, talking about something I couldn’t make out.

As he rounded the corner, he saw me. He froze for a moment, looking like he wanted to say something but stopped himself.

I ignored him, but when my gaze fell on the middle-aged man, my heart suddenly clenched. He looked familiar, so familiar.

’Who is this man...’

I tried hard to remember the middle-aged man, but nothing came to mind.

He saw me too and walked over with a smile.

I instinctively recoiled and rose to my feet, wanting to escape.

He scrutinized me, his eyes seemingly able to see right through me. "Hello, Miss Silvia Lynch. My name is Victor Quinn, and I’m a psychologist."

’I froze. A psychologist...’

"I was Ryan Caldwell’s elementary school classmate. We were childhood friends, his best friend, in fact." He seemed to be saying it for my benefit, stressing his unusual connection to my father.

I stared at him, stunned.

’Ryan Caldwell is Cecilia Caldwell’s father.’

"When Cecilia was sick as a child, I was the one who provided her with psychological counseling," Victor Quinn said with a smile.

He looked middle-aged, but he had a natural charisma that gave him a powerful presence in a crowd.

Julian Fletcher stood to the side, carefully observing my every move.

I was annoyed. The way they were scrutinizing me felt as if I were a lab rat in a cage.

"I don’t care whose friend or doctor you are," I frowned.

Victor Quinn smiled. "My apologies. I was being presumptuous."

Julian Fletcher chimed in with an explanation. "It was my mom who found Dr. Quinn to give me psychological counseling."

I sneered. "What, have you actually gone crazy? If you’re crazy, go to a psychiatric hospital."

Victor Quinn remained silent, his smile gentle, but I found it incredibly creepy.

"Silvia..." Julian Fletcher had learned his lesson today; he called me Silvia, not Cece. "I’m sorry. It was my own psychological issues that led me to mistake you for Cecilia Caldwell. I apologize for the trouble I’ve caused you."

He was suddenly acting like a gentleman, and I found it unsettling.

I snorted, wondering what scheme he was plotting.

"My apologies for being so forward," Julian Fletcher apologized again and left with Victor Quinn.

His behavior was so abnormal that it set me on edge. My left eyelid kept twitching.

They rounded the corner. I crept after them to eavesdrop. Julian Fletcher was asking Victor Quinn, "Were you able to see anything?"

"Your theory may be correct," Victor Quinn replied.

"Then... what should I do..."

"Cecilia has a strong sense of self. When stimulated, she escapes from reality by sealing away memories she’s unwilling to recall. Through psychological guidance, we can make her..."

I couldn’t hear the rest of what they were saying.

I frowned. ’I just knew those two were up to no good.’

"Madam." Owen Foster called from behind me. "The car is here."

He startled me. I looked at him. "Did you see that man with Julian Fletcher? His name is Victor Quinn. He said he’s a psychologist."

Owen Foster nodded calmly. "I know him. He’s the best psychologist and psychiatrist in all of Meridia. He’s an authority. The old master once hired him to treat the young master."

"And he failed to cure him?" I asked reflexively.

"He said the young master wasn’t sick," Owen Foster said in a low voice. "So much for him being an ’authority’."

I took a deep breath. "Yeah, what kind of authority is that."

"He claims the young master isn’t sick, yet he says Miss Cecilia, who isn’t sick, is. It’s quite laughable, really," Owen Foster said lightly. "I heard he’s also a doctor from that psychiatric hospital—the same one the young master was trapped in."

I instinctively looked at Owen Foster. I felt his words carried a hidden meaning, that he’d said them deliberately for my benefit.