Chapter 1175:
From behind the closing gate, the butler addressed Cillian and his group with measured courtesy. “The mountain road is long, and transportation is scarce. If you depart now, you may still reach the city before nightfall.”
Kristen was on the verge of erupting. She gripped the railing, eyes bloodshot with fury. “Rylie! You think you can humiliate me like this?” she screamed. “This isn’t over!”
The butler remained impassive. “You say that every time, Miss Fowler. Might I ask — who do you believe you are? Do you genuinely consider yourself in a position to threaten Mrs. Morgan?”
His words only stoked her rage, which she immediately redirected at Frank. “Didn’t you swear this plan would work?” she snapped. “Didn’t you promise we’d win? So why did you let her disgrace me again?”
From the beginning, Cillian and his family had been wholly dependent on Ares Global. Even as Kristen vented her fury on them, they could only endure it in silence.
𝗧𝗋e𝘯di𝗇𝗴 n𝘰𝘃е𝗅ѕ o𝗻 g𝘢𝘭n𝘰v𝖾𝗹𝘀.𝘤о𝘮
Frank escorted her down the mountain, draping a coat over her shoulders and apologizing repeatedly. She jabbed a finger at his chest, her words cutting deep. “I don’t know what I ever saw in you. I defied my father for you. I followed you to Eshea. You’re pathetic. You’ll never measure up to Brad. You’re brothers — yet worlds apart.”
Frank’s gaze darkened, veins standing out at his temples as he struggled to contain his simmering anger, unable to respond.
“Let’s find a hotel and regroup,” Cillian said grimly. “Carter will make his move soon.”
But after hauling their luggage into the bustling city center, they were turned away from five prominent luxury hotels in succession. The staff offered practiced, polite smiles and a uniform explanation: “Management has declined your reservation.”
Frieda, utterly drained, leaned heavily against the counter. “Who is this ‘management’?” she demanded. “What right do they have to refuse guests?”
The receptionist smiled politely and discreetly signaled security. “All luxury hotels in Crolens are owned by or affiliated with the Owen family. If luxury accommodations are not required, you may wish to try a motel.”
The commotion drew stares from other guests, making Kristen feel like a spectacle. The humiliation was unbearable.
When Frank finally checked them into a roadside motel, Kristen stared at the flimsy bed and breathed in the stale air, her resentment boiling over. She dug through her bag, pulled out a phone, and dialed a number she normally avoided at all costs.
The moment the call connected, Phil reported to Brad with excitement. “Kristen just made a call. I’m initiating a trace now.”
Beside Brad, Rylie’s fingers flew across a keyboard. “The number is highly encrypted — protected by multiple firewalls and virtual servers. Tracing it won’t be easy,” she observed, frowning slightly but staying focused. “I’m deploying a reverse-tracing virus. Phil, I’ll provide backup from here.”
“Understood,” Phil replied.
Streams of data cascaded across their screens as Rylie typed rapidly, the tension in the room palpable.
After a long stretch of intense silence, both she and Phil spoke at once. “Got it.”
The instant Rylie hit Enter, a bright red marker flashed onto the digital map, pinpointing the location with precision.
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