Chapter 301: Have a Safe Journey!

Jared Hawthorne certainly wouldn’t do anything to Kevin Hawthorne, let alone take his life. If he finished him off in M-Country, wouldn’t he become a heartless monster just like him?

He also didn’t want his grandfather to suffer the tragedy of outliving his own child at this age. Of course, he wouldn’t let Kevin off the hook that easily either.

He wouldn’t hide this matter from Master Hawthorne. His grandfather had the right to know exactly what Kevin had done back then. As for how to deal with him, he would let Master Hawthorne decide.

“Send him back to the old manor.”

With that, Jared withdrew his gaze and turned to walk out, not caring about the expression on Kevin’s face.

“Jared Hawthorne, you might as well kill me! I’m not going to the old manor! Don’t touch me!”

Soon, his shouts faded away. Leon Quillan’s methods were much rougher than Maxim Chandler’s. Instead of drugging his water, Leon simply struck the back of Kevin’s neck with a sharp chop, knocking him unconscious on the spot.

“Let’s go. I’ll give you a ride,” Leon said. Like picking up a baby chick, he effortlessly hoisted Kevin over his shoulder.

“Can’t you be a little gentler?” Maxim asked. “Aren’t you afraid the Second Master will hold a grudge when he wakes up?”

“He’s petty. If he wants to hold a grudge, he’ll be prejudiced against you no matter how nice you are to him. What you’re worried about won’t happen. After all, he can barely fend for himself right now. If Master Hawthorne finds out what he did to President Hawthorne, he’ll probably exile him for real!”

When that time came, there would be no Second Master of the Hawthorne family anymore. It wasn’t even certain if they would ever see him again. He had completely ruined his own life of wealth and leisure with his sheer stupidity!

Jared sat in the car, his entire figure sinking into the shadows. He was enveloped in an impenetrable aura of gloom.

He was utterly disappointed in Kevin, but more than that, he felt a bone-chilling coldness. Just because of a casual chat between his grandfather and father back then, his own uncle had harbored murderous intent toward him.

He originally had no intention of taking the helm of the Hawthorne Group. He had only returned to the country to look for Vesper Grayson. If he hadn’t felt sorry for his elderly grandfather shouldering such a massive family business alone, he never would have taken over the company. Taking a step back, even if he secured his position as the person in charge, he would never have mistreated his uncle.

His phone suddenly rang.

Jared glanced down at the screen. A soft warmth instantly rippled through his icy eyes. He swiped to answer and pressed the phone to his ear.

“Honey, are you done with your business? When are you coming back?”

Her soft, gentle voice instantly dispelled all the coldness around him, and his tense heart slowly melted.

“Yeah, I just finished. If nothing unexpected happens, I’ll be back tomorrow.”

“Really? Then let me know before you head back. I’ll have the maid prepare a table of good food to help you regain your strength.”

“Alright, I’ll call you before I leave. How have you been lately?”

“I’m doing well. Everyone is taking great care of me.” Vesper gently stroked her lower abdomen and shared her daily life with him in detail. “By the way, the finished product of the soothing essential oil I developed is out. Mom tried it and gave really great feedback.”

“That’s wonderful. My Prue is always so outstanding.”

Praised so openly by him, Vesper’s cheeks grew slightly hot. Suddenly remembering the main issue, she asked in a low voice, “Did you find out who the mastermind behind the assassination attempt on you was?”

“I did.”

“Who is it?”

“Uncle Kevin.”

“Could there be a mistake?” Vesper was full of astonishment, unable to believe it.

“There’s no mistake. We have all the witnesses and physical evidence, and he’s admitted to it himself!”

Jared’s expression grew solemn as he briefly recounted the whole story. Hearing this, Vesper stood frozen on the spot, unable to recover her senses for a long time. She knew that while Jared was decisive and seemingly cold, he actually valued family deeply. It was easy to imagine how heavy a blow this matter was to him.

“Are you okay?” she asked softly and cautiously.

“Don’t worry about me.”

“Uncle Kevin is just an exception. You still have me, Grandpa, and so many people around you who care about you…”

Before she could finish her comforting words, the man’s deep, affectionate voice came through the receiver.

“Prue, I miss you so much right now. I really want to hold you.”

Vesper’s face burned hot, and a sweet feeling blossomed in her heart. This was the first time she had heard Jared express his longing so directly.

“I miss you too,” she paused, then added, “And the baby in my belly misses Daddy too.”

At 9:00 a.m.

Master Hawthorne had just finished washing up when the butler, Ian Bell, knocked hurriedly on his door.

“Master Hawthorne, are you awake?”

“What’s so urgent this early in the morning?” The old man opened the door and looked at him in displeasure.

“It’s the Second Master. He’s downstairs.”

“Why is Kevin here again?” The last time he moved back in, it took a lot of coaxing to get him to move out again.

“I’m not sure. Judging by his appearance, the Second Master doesn’t seem to be in a good state. I don’t know what happened to him. The young master’s assistant, Maxim Chandler, brought him here.”

Master Hawthorne frowned, a look of confusion on his face. “Why are those two together?” When things are abnormal, there must be something wrong. Kevin surely had done no good again. “Let’s go down and take a look!”

Seeing Master Hawthorne coming down, Maxim stepped forward respectfully.

“Master Hawthorne.”

“Assistant Chandler, did something happen at the Group?”

“The company’s operations are all normal. I came today under President Hawthorne’s orders to bring the Second Master over and truthfully report a matter to you. How to handle it afterward will be entirely up to you to decide.”

Master Hawthorne sat down on the sofa. Seeing Maxim’s serious expression and Kevin’s dejected face, his eyes invariably darkened.

“Speak for yourself. What kind of bastardly thing have you done this time?”

Kevin remained silent. He didn’t dare to speak. He hadn’t expected that Jared would actually bring this matter before Master Hawthorne.

“Speak!” Master Hawthorne lost his patience.

Kevin moved his lips. “Dad, please don’t get mad when I tell you.”

“That depends on what you’ve done!” Master Hawthorne took the tea Ian handed him to moisten his throat. His cloudy eyes fell heavily on his son. “Don’t dawdle! If you’re unwilling to speak, I’ll have Maxim tell me!”

Rather than letting Maxim tell it, it would be better for him to confess himself. Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth and, with the posture of risking everything, spilled out the whole story of how he had hired assassins to hunt down Jared back then. The living room instantly plunged into dead silence.

Extremely shocked, Master Hawthorne stood up furiously and pointed at his nose, burning with uncontrollable rage. “You truly are a fine son I raised! The Hawthorne family’s lineage is dwindling, and we finally have a proud genius like Elias. By wanting his life, you are destroying the foundation of our family and severing the Hawthorne bloodline! You deserve a thousand deaths!

“I didn’t let you take over the Group precisely because you’re a born fool, incapable of handling great responsibilities! If you had earth-shattering talent like Elias, wouldn’t I have entrusted you with an important role?

“How did I give birth to an animal like you? You have terrible judgment and fail as a decent human being. You can’t even be a good husband or father. You’ve reached middle age and still achieved absolutely nothing. Tell me, what use are you?”

This was the first time Master Hawthorne had spoken so bluntly, degrading him to worthlessness. Kevin’s face turned blue and red. He wanted to retort, but looking back at his past, he realized he truly was a failure at everything. He had even been deceived by a woman for over twenty years. Not only did Nancy Linton divorce him, but his biological son wasn’t close to him either. He had lived such a failed life! His spine slumped in an instant.

“You’re right. I am a piece of trash who can’t do anything well. I really did all those things. I’ll accept however you want to punish me.”

Master Hawthorne had thought he would argue and make excuses; he hadn’t expected him to be so honest this time. His fury dissipated a little.

“You are my son. Giving birth to a failure like you is also my fault! Your reputation in Northolme is ruined. Go to New Zealand, and don’t come back unless there’s an emergency!”

Kevin abruptly raised his eyes, his fingers curling into fists. “Dad, are you driving me away?”

“I’m telling you to go to a new place and start your life over. Think about what you’ve done. Do you really think anyone in Northolme still cares about you?”

No one. There was no one who would forgive or welcome him. Everyone was avoiding him. He had become an absolute loser!

Seeing him silent, Master Hawthorne let out a sigh.

“You should be glad that you are my son and glad that Elias went easy on you. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here talking to me right now!”

With what he had done, if he were handed over to the law, only prison awaited him.

“I understand, Dad,” Kevin replied.

A week later, Kevin left Northolme and flew to New Zealand.

Before leaving, he took a distant look at Liam Hawthorne. He watched his son dressed in a sharp suit, surrounded by subordinates, and speaking with measured grace—far surpassing how he had been at that age. Liam had more drive and brains than Kevin did in his youth. Since Liam had taken over the company, it had been continuously developing in a positive direction.

He then went to see Nancy Linton.

Nancy was annoyed the moment she saw him. Assuming he was there to beg for reconciliation again, she shot him an impatient look.

“Kevin, it’s impossible for me to remarry you. Just thinking about the things you did in the past makes me sick. I don’t want to be disgusted for the rest of my life!”

“I didn’t come to ask for us to get back together this time. I know you wouldn’t agree anyway.”

Nancy raised her eyebrows, thinking that at least he finally had some self-awareness.

“Then what are you doing here?”

“I came to say goodbye. I’m leaving Northolme, and I probably won’t be back for a very long time.”

Nancy was surprised. She stared at him for a few seconds to confirm he was serious and not joking.

“Then I wish you a safe journey!”

She didn’t ask anything. She didn’t ask why he was leaving or where he was going. After all, none of that had anything to do with her anymore.

Kevin let out a bitter smile. “Nancy, do you hate me terribly?”

“I wouldn’t call it hate; you’re just a thing of the past to me now,” Nancy said with a relieved smile. “The pain I went through will become my motivation to keep living in the future. I won’t stop pursuing my own happiness just because of one failed marriage. I hope you can do the same. Don’t deny all women just because of one deception. There are still many good women in this world.”

Kevin froze for a moment before smiling. “Then I wish you find your share of happiness in the future. Before I leave, can I give you a hug?”

Nancy frowned. “Let’s skip the hug and just shake hands.”

Their hands lightly clasped in the chilly air, and the residual warmth in their palms faded in an instant. From this moment on, their bond as husband and wife was completely severed, and their paths would never cross again!