Chapter 189: Mom, I Don’t Want to Go to Jail

Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Mom, I Don’t Want to Go to Jail

Elara Langley cherished her life, so she confessed everything without a moment’s hesitation. Leon Quillan immediately had a doctor come over to treat her wounds.

"Miss Langley, you are not to leave until this matter is settled."

Afterward, Elara Langley and Theodore Caldwell were placed under house arrest in the villa together.

Leon Quillan returned to report to Jared Hawthorne.

"President Hawthorne, Elara Langley has confessed everything. She said Miss Garland was the one who instigated it. Half a month ago, the Langley Family’s capital chain broke, and they fell into a financial crisis. Miss Garland approached her, and the two of them made a deal. Miss Garland would save The Langley Group, and the price was for Elara Langley to make a move against your wife."

"Sheryl Garland?"

Hearing this name, Jared Hawthorne’s brows furrowed sharply.

"That’s right."

Sheryl Garland should be in Caelus right now.

He immediately called Noah Nash.

"If you’re free, come over to my place now."

Noah Nash was filled with confusion. "Elias, what happened?"

"Come over and we’ll talk." Jared Hawthorne gave him the address of a villa in the suburbs.

「An hour later.」

The two met at the suburban villa.

Noah Nash raised an eyebrow slightly. "Why did you specifically ask to meet here?"

Jared Hawthorne cut straight to the chase. "How has Sheryl Garland been lately?"

"Her injuries should be more or less healed. My aunt said she’s been behaving herself lately, just staying at home. I guess she learned her lesson from what happened last time."

"I doubt that."

"What do you mean?"

"She hired people to kidnap Vesper and even planned to have her trafficked to Veridia."

The casual smile on Noah Nash’s face vanished instantly, his eyes darkening. "You’re not joking with me, are you?"

Jared Hawthorne said coldly, "Do you think I’m in the mood to joke about something like this? We’ve caught everyone involved, and they’ve all confessed. Do you want to see them for yourself?"

He fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Is your wife okay?"

"She was frightened, but she’s unharmed."

Noah Nash’s tone turned solemn. "If she really did this, I won’t cover for her again."

Last time, Jared Hawthorne had done him a favor and let Sheryl Garland go, but her actions this time were too vile, completely crossing the line. If he insisted on protecting her again, it would only create an irreparable rift between him and Jared Hawthorne.

Afterward, Noah Nash met with Elara Langley in person. As he heard the entire story from beginning to end with his own ears, the last shred of hope in his heart was completely shattered.

’She’s only twenty, yet her mind is so vicious.’

’Is this really the well-behaved cousin I used to know?’

’She’s become a stranger I barely recognize!’

’Vesper Grayson is pregnant, on top of everything. If even the slightest thing had gone wrong, my decade-plus friendship with Jared Hawthorne would have been completely over.’

Meanwhile, far away in Caelus, Casey Nash was quite surprised to receive a call from Noah Nash.

"Noah, what made you suddenly decide to call me?"

"Aunt, where’s Sheryl Garland?"

"She’s in the living room watching TV. Do you need her for something?"

"There’s something I have to tell you. Sheryl has gotten into huge trouble."

After hearing what Noah Nash said, the smile on Casey Nash’s face froze instantly, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"Noah, could there be some kind of misunderstanding?"

"If it were a misunderstanding, I wouldn’t have made this call. Aunt, the nature of this incident is extremely vile. I really can’t protect her this time."

Casey Nash was silent for a long time. Her voice was tinged with helplessness when she spoke. "Alright, I understand."

After hanging up, Casey Nash walked into the living room. She saw Sheryl Garland curled up on the sofa, eating potato chips while watching a variety show, looking completely relaxed.

Without a word, she walked straight over and turned off the TV.

"Mom, what are you doing! I was at the best part! Turn it back on!"

Casey Nash stared at her, her gaze heavy and her expression utterly serious.

"What exactly did you do before you came to Caelus?"

Sheryl Garland’s heart tightened. She feigned confusion, probing, "What do you mean by that? I’ve been behaving myself. What could I possibly have done?"

"Elara Langley. You know her, I presume?"

Sheryl Garland’s body suddenly went rigid. Her eyes darted around in panic as she forced herself to appear calm. "Who is Elara Langley? I don’t know her."

"How could I have given birth to such an ungrateful monster!"

Overcome with fury, Casey Nash raised her hand and slapped her hard across the face.

"How dare you bribe an outsider to kidnap Miss Grayson and plot to have her trafficked! How can someone so young be so malicious? Is this how I raised you? You’ve disappointed me so much!"

Sheryl Garland’s face instantly turned deathly pale. She clutched her cheek, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Mom, you actually hit me? Someone throws baseless accusations at me, and you just believe them?"

"Then why would they single you out to frame, and not someone else?" Casey Nash was filled with disappointment. "Your cousin just called me. Elara Langley has confessed everything, and they have solid proof of your dealings with her."

Sheryl Garland looked as if she had been struck by lightning. Her face was ashen, and she was rendered speechless.

Panic was the only thing left in her heart. ’How could I have left evidence? That bitch Elara Langley, how dare she betray me!’

’We agreed it would be foolproof. Once it was done, everything would be fine. How did she get caught so quickly, and how could she have sold me out completely?’

"What else do you have to say for yourself?" Casey Nash slumped back onto the sofa, her tone heavy. "The Hawthorne Family is taking a hard line and insists on pursuing this to the end. Even your cousin is unwilling to get involved again. Ask yourself, with your father’s and my abilities, do you think we can still protect you this time?"

"My cousin is really not going to help me?" Sheryl Garland’s face was chalk-white. She scrambled to Casey Nash’s side, her eyes red as she begged, "Mom, I don’t want to go to jail! Please, you have to help me!"

"Why didn’t you think about the consequences when you were acting so recklessly?" Casey Nash’s expression was grim. "Tomorrow, you’re coming back to Northolme with me to apologize to Miss Grayson in person. If she refuses to forgive you..."

She didn’t say the rest, but the outcome was self-evident.

Casey Nash was filled with regret. She had spoiled and indulged her only daughter too much, giving her everything she ever wanted since she was a child. That’s how she had been spoiled into this lawless person, one who would cause such a monumental disaster.

Sheryl Garland bit her lip, her face full of resentment. "Does it have to be this way?"

"Jared Hawthorne values Vesper Grayson more than anything. As long as Miss Grayson is willing to relent, forgive you, and plead on your behalf, you can avoid prison. Do you want to waste the best years of your life rotting in jail?" Seething with disappointment, Casey Nash shoved her hand away, her tone hard and final. "Right now, nobody can save you but yourself! You have to lower your head, admit your mistake, and beg for forgiveness!"

...

"Elias, my aunt said she’s bringing Sheryl back to Northolme tomorrow." Noah Nash’s tone was somewhat tentative. "How do you plan to handle her?"

A layer of ice seemed to cover Jared Hawthorne’s eyes. His voice was indifferent, yet it carried an authority that brooked no argument.

"Noah, I already showed you plenty of respect last time. This time, she crossed my bottom line. If I don’t teach her a lesson she’ll never forget, she’ll only become more brazen in the future and cause even bigger trouble. You should be glad that Vesper is safe and sound. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be as simple as just punishing her."

Noah Nash knew well that he was always swift and decisive, his methods ruthless. Sheryl Garland was simply courting death this time; she had attacked the one person he would protect above all else.

"I understand what you mean, so I absolutely won’t try to protect or defend her again." Noah Nash was also unwilling to completely alienate Jared Hawthorne over a foolish cousin. But his aunt had raised him since he was a child. If Sheryl Garland really went to jail and got a criminal record, his aunt would surely be heartbroken.

He hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he still spoke up to plead for her.

"Could you not send her to prison? Maybe send her to a correctional facility for discipline instead?"

’Once she goes to prison and gets a criminal record, her reputation will be ruined for life. Her future prospects for marriage and a career will all be destroyed.’

Jared Hawthorne’s expression remained impassive as he coolly replied, "How she is dealt with will depend on what she does."