Ch. 1531..1540

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1531

“You should be grateful that my family doesn’t intend to get even with you, and yet, here you are still asking to marry me? Are you completely delusional? “Take a good look at yourself in the mirror! What makes you think you can marry me? You think way too highly of yourself!”

After venting her frustrations on the man, Gabriella hung up the call immediately.

Similarly, Carl gritted his teeth and smashed his phone to the ground. He had failed to secure his bride, lost his chance to inherit the Ward family’s fortune and rights, as well as his status as the heir to his own family business!

Moreover, Gabriella’s hand in marriage had been his only hope. In an instant, Carl felt that he had no way out.

Larry, this is all your fault! Since you’ve been so cruel to me, don’t blame me for returning the favor!

A trace of hatred flashed in Carl’s eyes.

He attributed his devastation and utter failure to Larry and Joan, believing that if it had not been for the pair, he would not have ended up in such a sorry state.

But he seemed to have forgotten that he had brought everything upon himself, and he had no one else to blame.

But there was no turning back for Carl anymore. He could either walk the path to self-destruction or destroy others.

That night, Carl went drinking at a small bar. He was drowning his sorrows when a gang of thugs recognized him and went up to him.

“Carl, is it? I heard you were looking for us.”

The one who was obviously the leader of the gang of thugs spoke first.

Although Carl’s family was not very influential, they were still deemed noble. Moreover, Carl had always been generous to the thugs, so they often hung out together.

However, it was uncertain whether the thugs would have the same opinion of Carl if they were to find out that Carl had been stripped of his status as the family heir.

“Ugh, I’m not doing well recently. Come, drink with me.”

Carl casually called out to them when they appeared before him.

They had heard a thing or two about what the man had been through lately, but they were not very informed of the details.

“It’s going to be okay, Carl. This messy situation will blow over soon. Come on, let’s drink our troubles away.”

One of the thugs patted Carl on the shoulder.

“That’s right, Carl. Don’t overthink it. Let’s drink,” echoed the other two.

“Yes, of course. Let’s drink!”

Carl said no more as he raised his glass.

After several rounds of drinks, Carl pretended to strike a casual conversation. “You guys have been around these parts for a fairly long time, haven’t you? Do you know any desperadoes who could… I don’t know… pack a hefty punch?”

“Carl, I won’t say I’m well acquainted with them, but we do know quite a number of desperadoes around here by name. I’m telling you, each one of them has quite an impressive body count.”

“Do you think you guys can get in contact with any of them? Anyone at all.”

Carl asked for a favor as he eyed the gang. A hint of urgency flashed in his eyes

“If it’s contacts you want, there’s one man I know who can definitely reach them. Why do you ask, Carl?” one of the thugs asked in confusion.

“Nothing much. It’s just been on my radar. I’ve heard that these people are some of the most vicious ones around, and they live every day as though it’s their last.” Carl sighed wistfully.

“Oh, no. See here, Carl. We cannot afford to provoke these people. We don’t mind you asking, but please just leave it at that. Don’t get involved with them,” the gangsters kindly reminded him.

“Relax. I’m not that dumb.” Carl smirked.

“Alright, let’s not talk about this. Let’s all drink till we drop, boys! It’s my treat tonight!”

Several hours later.

“Carl… My man, thank you for the drinks today. We’ll be leaving now. Next time we meet… our treat!” the leader exclaimed.

“You guys take it slow, alright? See yourselves out.”

Carl was feeling a little dizzy too, but he could still maintain a clear mind.

The thugs staggered out of the bar, supporting one another’s weight as they wobbled, leaving Carl behind.

He had managed to fish out information and contact numbers of several desperadoes from the mouths of the thugs themselves while they were in their drunken state.

Carl snickered and downed his final glass of wine before turning to leave.

The following morning, Larry got up when it was bright and early. He turned to check on Joan who was snoozing next to him, kissed her lightly on her cheek, then rose from their bed and headed to the study.

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1532

The past few days had been emotionally tiring for Joan, so Larry felt that it might be good to take her out for some rest and relaxation to get her mind off things.

While he was dealing with some work in the study, Joan crept into his workspace and approached him from behind.

In fact, Larry had already detected the sounds of the intruder when Joan came into the room, but he pretended to be oblivious to it and played along.

Just when Joan was inches away from him, he quickly turned around and grabbed her by the waist.

Joan let out a soft cry before falling into Larry’s arms.

“How did you know I was here?” Joan asked in discontent.

“Dummy, I could smell your perfume.”

Larry smirked as he buried his head in her hair.

He was instantly filled with joy when he took in Joan’s pretty face as though he just could not get enough of it.

“Joan,” Larry whispered her name.

“What is it?”

Joan was also enjoying the rare moment of bliss.

Larry had been taking care of recent events while she spent the past few days in anxiety, so they were both physically and mentally drained.

“Let’s go somewhere for fun today. We haven’t really been anywhere as a couple yet.”

Larry felt guilty when he realized that he was always swamped with work and rarely spent time with Joan or went on trips with her.

“Do you mean it?”

Joan lifted her head from Larry’s arms and exclaimed in joy.

She had always wanted to spend time with Larry in the great outdoors, admiring what nature had in store.

But since Larry was always busy, she could not bear to trouble him and ask him to take her sightseeing, so she never brought it up.

Nevertheless, Joan had a strong desire to travel, especially with her loved one.

She might have never mentioned it, but the idea had crossed her mind countless times.

“Of course I do.”

Seeing the look of surprise on her face, Larry could tell that Joan had waited a long time for this day. It made him feel even more guilty.

Larry made a promise in his mind. I’ll definitely spend more time with you in the future.

“That’s great! So, where are we going?” Joan squealed excitedly.

“Wherever you want.”

Larry’s voice was filled with adoration for her.

“Oh, how wonderful! We’re finally going on a trip!”

Joan was brimming with childlike happiness. Just the thought of going on vacation with Larry and their child filled her with joy.

Larry was pleased to know that Joan was genuinely excited at the idea of going on a trip.

“Joan, we’ll get to travel more often from now on. You can do whatever you desire. As long as you’re happy, I’m willing to do anything.”

Larry’s eyes were full of affection as he looked into hers. At that moment, he felt like he was seeing the entire world.

Joan was instantly moved by Larry’s confession. Choosing to be with him was the best decision she had ever made.

They did not have much planning or preparations. Larry simply handed over the company matters to someone he trusted before the two embarked on a journey at the drop of a hat.

Sometimes, happiness was just that simple.

Larry had to return to settle some important work-related affairs within a week, so they did not intend to go anywhere too far.

They swiftly packed their luggage and boarded a tour bus.

Other than a road trip, taking a tour bus was another great option to travel.

Throughout the journey, Larry and Joan spent their time in the bus bantering happily.

This was the most relaxing time the couple had since they established the relationship. They could put aside all their worries for now, and their hearts only had room for each other.

“Larry, look at the view over there!”

“Larry, isn’t it gorgeous?”

“Dear, take a photo of me, will you? Come one, let’s take one together!”

“Dear, I want to eat that!”

“Larry, you idiot! People are watching!”

Joan was like a chirping bird, filling Larry’s entire world with joyful notes.

 

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1533

Alas, how time flies when one was having fun. Those few days passed in the blink of an eye, drawing Larry and Joan’s vacation to a gradual end.

They were then in Horington, a city that was a near distance from Marsingfill. Also, it was the final stop of their vacation.

“Ah, time truly flies! Larry, we’re going home tomorrow, but I’m really happy! In fact, I’m over the moon!”

The two of them were ambling along the street in Horington, and a blissful smile bloomed on Joan’s face.

“I’m glad you’re happy! In this case, we’ll go on vacations more often in the future. After some time, when there’s less work at the subsidiaries, we’ll go abroad and travel all the countries you love,” Larry promised with a smile.

Joan had told him that she loved Pillere, mainly because of its romantic atmosphere, rich civilization and culture, local customs, and most importantly, the fact that lovers could be spotted everywhere on the streets.

But when she went there, he wasn’t by her side.

Now, you have me by your side. I’ll be with you forever! Larry mused joyfully as he gazed at her.

“Sure! Let’s go to Pillere!”

Without even thinking about it, she blurted out the place she wanted to visit most.

She wanted to go to the most romantic place with the person she loved most.

“Okay, we’ll go to Pillere.”

Larry nodded, for he didn’t mind going anywhere she liked.

“Then, let’s also go to Norham, Beskary, Irushea…”

Joan held up her fingers as she named every single place she liked, looking incredibly adorable as she pondered with her head tilted.

“Oh yes, let’s also go to Lightspring! That’s a must! Do you remember why we’ve got to go there?”

She then stared at Larry mischievously, seemingly having thought of something.

“Of course, I do. We’re going there to visit Kobe.”

Larry smiled as well, for that was a beautiful memory they shared.

During college, Larry was the school campus beau whom thousands of females students idolized. It wasn’t only because of his handsome looks, but there was also another major reason— his outstanding basketball skills.

Before he got acquainted with Joan, he streaked about the basketball court every day, competing with various skilled players on campus.

He wasn’t the tallest in terms of height, nor was he the brawniest in terms of physique. However, one thing no one could deny about him was that his skills were the best among them all.

His sharp breakthroughs, graceful shots, precise three-pointers, and swift dribbling always elicited cheers from the female fans on the sidelines.

Even his opponents respected him a lot, for he posed a challenge to them regardless of whether he was on the defensive or offensive end.

Due to a myriad of reasons, his opponents then gave him a nickname, dubbing him “Little Kobe.”

After all, not only did he possess a rich arsenal of offensive maneuvers, aggressive defense, and realistic fake moves, but also Kobe’s deadly mamba-like temperament.

Of course, his idol was none other than Kobe.

Back then, Joan was also one of Larry’s fans.

She liked to go to the basketball court to watch him play, and unknowingly, it became a habit.

She loved how he looked when he sweated, his elegant and cool movements, as well as his handsome looks.

Slowly, he started inching his way into her heart, and she fell in love with him.

When she realized that she had fallen in love with him, she felt rather uneasy since she wasn’t the kind of person who was good at expressing herself. Instead, she was already contented to just look at him silently.

When someone had taken a fancy to someone else, the person in question would be seized by a fervent desire to know everything about the other person.

Thus, she started paying attention to everything about him at all times—every single detail about his life, his personality, likes and dislikes, habits, idols, and even beliefs. All those were things she wanted to know about him.

But even when she had gotten to know everything about him, she didn’t dare approach him because he was too outstanding, so much so that she felt inferior.

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1534

Although Joan was very beautiful, a bizarre sense of inferiority plagued her.

She felt that she wasn’t worthy of Larry. Thus, she told herself that she would just love him from afar since he deserved better. That was her perception.

Nonetheless, fortune smiled on her, for they still made each other’s acquaintance. What was more, it was on the basketball court familiar to them both.

That day, as she was apt to do, she went to the basketball court to watch him play. She sat on the sidelines, a negligible distance from him, so they were only a few meters apart.

Girls of that age were always filled with wonderful fantasies of love. To top it off, he was the perfect Prince Charming in her eyes.

Thus, her mind wandered. If only he would look at me! Perhaps we can become friends, then maybe we’ll even become a couple as the relationship progresses!

Well, the thoughts of a girl in love were inexorably straightforward and simple.

As she stared at him, a silly smile overtook her entire face.

Just when she was engrossed in her glorious fantasy, she was abruptly jolted awake. No, accurately speaking, she was knocked awake.

The ball in the basketball court accidentally shot out of the court and hit her on the head squarely.

It so happened that the culprit was none other than him, Larry.

The sudden bolt of pain had Joan clutching her head and crouching on the ground. The pain was so strong that tears almost escaped her eyes.

“Are you okay, miss?”

Upon seeing that he had hurt someone, Larry hastily sprinted over and inquired about her condition.

Is he talking to me? Stunned, a burst of delight instantly flooded Joan.

She quickly lifted her head and smilingly replied, “I-I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt at all.”

After saying that, she actually massaged her head.

At that, he stared at her. At the sight of her smilingly telling him that it didn’t hurt despite the tears shimmering in her eyes, his heart fluttered.

It felt like he was captivated by her, but he couldn’t be entirely certain. Nevertheless, the feeling he had toward the beautiful girl in front of him was one he had never experienced.

“How about I treat you to a meal as an apology?”

After saying that, he himself was taken aback because he had never voluntarily asked a girl out.

And much to his surprise, she actually declined.

“No, no, it’s okay. I’m perfectly fine,” she declined without even thinking about it.

She craved having contact with him, but when it was poised to happen, fear had her taking a step back again.

Meanwhile, the other girls on the sidelines had already lost their minds ever since Larry trotted over in this direction, and they were all shouting fanatically.

“Wow, my idol! My idol is coming over to me!”

“Dream on! Look at yourself in the mirror! He’s heading over to me!”

“Hey, stop that nonsense! I’m the nearest to him, so he must be here for me!”

“Stop arguing! He’s here!”

When the girls on the sidelines saw Larry approaching Joan, jealousy ignited within them, and their eyes blazed scarlet.

Then, the moment they heard him asking her out for a meal, their hearts lodged into their throats.

Phew! What a relief! That fool declined the invitation!

When they heard her declining without even an ounce of hesitation, their hearts immediately settled back in their chests. Inwardly, they exclaimed happily, I’ve still got a chance!

“Handsome, she rejected you, but I don’t mind having a meal with you!”

“Yes, yes, that’s right! I don’t mind eating with you either!”

“Choose me! Choose me!”

“Buzz off! I’m the most suitable candidate!”

Once again, the girls on the sidelines exclaimed loudly.

However, Larry wasn’t the least bit affected. Pinning his gaze on Joan, he enunciated, “What if I insist?”

Joan’s heart pounded wildly even as she inwardly chastised herself for being stupid. Isn’t this exactly what you want? So, why are you so hesitant now?

Meanwhile, the other girls were screeching inwardly, No! Don’t say yes!

“W-When?” Joan stammered.

“In just a few moments. Wait for me here.” After Larry had said that, he strode back toward the basketball court.

Having taken his leave from his friends on the court, he walked back to her.

“Let’s go. We’ll go for a meal.”

Without the slightest bit of hesitation, he started forward as soon as he had finished saying that.

Joan silently trailed behind him with conflicting emotions blanketing her face; there were anxiety, apprehension, and even faint anticipation.

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1535

Behind Joan, the sound of hearts shattering pierced the air.

Larry, who had been walking in front, started slowing down until he was side by side with Joan.

“What’s your name?”

As he looked at the girl before him, he felt his heartbeat gradually accelerating. Could this be the so-called love at first sight?

“I’m Joan Watts.”

Joan’s voice was a mere whisper, yet Larry could hear her clearly.

“I see. I’m Larry Norton.”

He then smiled, appearing to be in high spirits.

I know, Joan mumbled inwardly.

After having exchanged those two utterances, neither of them said anything else.

Larry didn’t know what to say, while Joan was so nervous that she was at a loss.

In no time, the two of them arrived at the school cafeteria. At that time, Larry had never dated, so he had no idea that he should be taking a girl to a high-end restaurant when treating her to a meal.

“What would you like to eat?” Larry asked softly.

“Why don’t I pay for it myself? You don’t need to treat me,” Joan murmured with her head lowered.

“No way! I said I’ll treat you, so it’s my treat!” Larry declared in a voice that brooked no argument.

“In that case, you decide. I’m fine with anything.”

Joan was still acting very much cautiously.

After simply ordering two lunch boxes, Larry and Joan started eating.

Later, Joan kept using this incident to tease Larry, making him exceedingly embarrassed. Of course, this only happened when they had gotten familiar with each other in the future.

Neither of them had ever thought that the first meal they shared upon getting acquainted was a lunch box at the school cafeteria.

Throughout the meal, they both said nothing, merely finishing the food silently.

“I’ll be leaving first.” Looking at Larry, Joan then stated, “Thank you for the meal.”

“You’re welcome. Let’s go.”

Larry got up to leave as well.

Thereafter, Larry still went to the basketball court to play basketball every day, and it was even more frequent than before. Meanwhile, Joan sat at the same place and watched him play.

Nothing changed, with the exception that they both interacted more. On the court, Larry would gaze in Joan’s direction from time to time, while Joan always flashed him a smile in return.

Therefore, the basketball court on campus became the place they got acquainted.

After Larry had was done playing basketball in the afternoon, he always went to the cafeteria to eat with Joan. Joan, on the other hand, stopped protesting after having declined his invitation a few times. Hence, eating together gradually became a habit of theirs.

It wasn’t as romantic as one would have imagined, nor was it a passionate love story. Instead, they merely got together with the flow, when things felt right.

On the day they confirmed their relationship, Larry said to Joan, “Meet me at the basketball court tonight.”

Despite having no inkling why he asked her to meet him, Joan still went to the basketball court at the agreed-upon time.

Larry was standing there with a basketball in his arms, his silhouette elongated under the streetlights. Despite the dim streetlights, one could still discern his chiseled and handsome countenance. While innocent youthfulness remained on his face, he already had a faint sense of an imposing aura.

As he watched Joan walking toward him, step by step, his lips curved into a smile that was utterly captivating.

At that time, Joan noticed him staring at her intently, his gaze brimming with affection that almost had her melting into a puddle.

All of a sudden, she sensed her heart skipping a beat. She knew that something was about to happen, and it had her feeling both nervous and expectant.

“Is something the matter that you asked me here, Larry?”

A touch apprehensive, Joan dared not look at him but kept her head ducked instead.

“Yup.”

Larry’s voice was filled with an enthralling allure, and it made her heart race all the faster.

“Joan, the reason I asked you here today is that I’ve got a question for you. Will you be my girlfriend?”

His voice wasn’t as calm as usual. Instead, it was tinged with a trace of urgency and anticipation.

Upon hearing that, Joan’s mind abruptly went blank.

Did he just ask me to be his girlfriend? Am I going to be his girlfriend?

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1536

Joan was stumped for a moment before she suddenly felt so happy that she couldn’t quite breathe.

Oh my God, I didn’t even dare dream of this, yet it has come true today!

“Forget it if you won’t be my girlfriend.”

Upon seeing that Joan wasn’t saying anything, Larry thought that she wanted to turn him down, so he spun around dejectedly to leave.

“I do!” Joan hastily blurted.

After all, how could she turn him down when this was something she wanted more than anything else?

All at once, Larry promptly whirled around in surprise. As he did so, he wore a wide smile on his face.

“Here, this basketball is for you. It was my birthday present from my father, and there’s Kobe’s signature on it!”

He handed the basketball in his hands to Joan.

With astonishment written all over her face, Joan took the basketball.

Is this my first gift from him? Undeniably, this gift is truly unique.

After getting together, Larry and Joan soon fell deeply in love to the point of no return. As for everything that happened later, well, that was already common knowledge.

As they both snapped back to reality at the same time, they laughed in concert as nostalgia teemed in their eyes.

“Regretfully, Kobe has already retired, so you won’t get to see him play basketball anymore,” Joan lamented with dismay.

“It’s okay. As long as you’re by my side, it no longer matters where we go and who we see,” Larry insisted smilingly.

At that, a wealth of warmth enveloped Joan.

“Let’s go! This is our last stop, so let’s wander around. We’ll see what’s delicious and fun here!”

Taking Joan’s hand, Larry started walking forward.

At the mention of food, Joan’s eyes lit up.

“Sure, sure! Let’s go and see what’s delicious here!” she urged.

“I heard that there’s a very delicious snack ahead,” Larry drawled, deliberately teasing her.

“What’s that?”

“I’m not telling you! Haha…”

“Hey, that’s unfair! Stop right there!” Joan cried out huffily.

Nonetheless, she allowed Larry to continue strolling forward while holding her hand.

Meanwhile, Carl presently was waiting for someone in a restaurant. Although he had been waiting for a long time without any sign of the other person, he was dead certain that she would come.

A while later, a woman with a nice figure in a black coat walked into the restaurant. Her face was obscured since she was wearing sunglasses, but one thing was certain—the woman was very beautiful.

The woman glanced around the restaurant. The second she caught sight of Carl, her eyes lit up, and she strode toward him.

When she reached his table, she sat down right across from him before slowly removing her sunglasses. It was none other than Gabriella.

As Carl stared at Gabriella before him, he beamed.

Back when he drank with a few ruffians, he obtained the contact information for a few desperadoes who straddled the edge of society from them.

At present, his life was bleak and miserable. Not only had he lost the golden opportunity of getting his big break by cozying up to the Ward family, but he had also lost the right to inherit his family business.

Thus, all those who had once followed him around and fawned all over him had also started giving him attitude.

During this time, he had experienced the cruelty of life and the fickleness of human beings.

For that reason, he hated Larry and Joan. If it weren’t because of them, he would never have ended up in such a sorry state.

Therefore, he was frantic to get his revenge against them. It was only when they were eliminated could he obtain gratification.

To that end, he had contacted a few desperadoes, hoping that they would help him finish Larry and Joan off. If that wasn’t possible, he wanted them to at least suffer some grievous injuries, perhaps breaking their arms or legs. Only by doing so would he be able to experience the rush of perverse pleasure.

Thereafter, he swiftly received a reply from the desperadoes. It was very simple to have them do a job—as long as the person offered enough money to entice them to take the risk, they would do it. But if the money was a mere pittance, they would never agree to the job.

Naturally, Carl expressed his understanding of their stance. After all, despite living a life fraught with risk, those desperadoes weren’t vulnerable to judgment by the law since they hid in the darkness.

However, once they make a move, they would be quickly targeted by the police.

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1537

Thus, such danger wasn’t something the desperadoes would simply risk.

“How much do you want?” Carl asked through gritted teeth, prepared to be paying them a king’s ransom.

“Who’s your target?” the person on the phone questioned.

“Larry Norton, but Joan Watts is fine, too,” Carl snarled while clenching his jaw.

“Okay, then. The price for Larry Norton ranges between five million to ten million, while Joan Watts will cost you between two million to five million. As for who exactly you want us to eliminate, you should consider it carefully.”

“What?” Carl almost jumped out of his skin. “Why is it so expensive? Don’t simply rip me off just because I’m asking you guys for a favor! If you guys don’t work out, I can also go to someone else!” he hissed through gritted teeth.

Hah! They’re asking for such an exorbitant amount that I can’t afford to pay it even if I rob the bank!

“This will be the price no matter who you go to. Even ten million is a pittance to me when you’re going against the president of Norton Corporation and his fiancée. Considering Norton Corporation’s influence in Marsingfill, we won’t be able to stay here anymore even if the police don’t find us!

“If we were found out by Norton Corporation, we would end up a hundred times worse than if we were arrested by the police. You can take your time and consider it carefully. Perhaps we’ll be even happier if you go and have someone else do it!”

After saying that, the assassin hung up the phone.

As Carl listened to the disconnect tone on the other end, he felt exceedingly conflicted.

That assassin is right. If I want to make a move against Larry Norton and Joan Watts, I must pay a hefty price. However, I simply don’t have that much money now. If I were still the heir to the family business, I’d be able to produce five million easily by utilizing some connections, much less two million.

But the thing is, I’m no longer the heir! On top of that, Dad has frozen my primary bank card out of fear that I’ll act recklessly. So, it’s already a feat if I can fork out half a million. No, I need someone else to bear the cost with me. Furthermore, two minds will definitely be better than one in planning this assassination.

Thus, he thought of a person who detested Larry and Joan to the bone, just like him—Gabriella.

If I pull Gabriella into the boat with me, my financial burden will be reduced significantly. Besides, the Ward family’s connections extend further than mine, so this matter can be done more imperviously.

Most importantly, if she agrees to this, she’ll undoubtedly be bound to me. And it’s different this time, for once the matter comes to light, she might even lose her life. Therefore, she’ll definitely choose to be with me for the sake of her life!

Having made up his mind, he then resolutely contacted Gabriella. Gabriella didn’t even bother picking up his call in the beginning, but she later truly couldn’t stand his persistent harassment calls, so she finally answered it.

“Gabriella, it’s me, Carl.”

The first thing Carl did was to introduce himself as though afraid that she wouldn’t know that it was him.

“I naturally know who you are!” Gabriella huffed.

If it weren’t for you, why else would I be avoiding picking up calls?

“Why on earth did you keep calling me? Just spit it out if you’ve got something to say!” she demanded impatiently.

After all, she found it a waste of time to even say a single word to him.

“I have a very important matter to discuss with you, one that’s definitely of interest to you.”

Carl’s voice was unhurried.

“Well? Cut the crap!”

Gabriella was so incensed at him leaving her hanging despite knowing full well that she was impatient that she blurted a crude word.

“Be patient and listen to me.”

Carl didn’t take her wrath and censure to heart. Instead, he slowly told her his ultimate goal.

“I want to find someone to bump off Larry Norton or Joan Watts. Even if I don’t kill them, I want them to pay in blood!”

His voice was vicious, making it clear as day that he harbored bone-deep hatred toward Larry and Joan.

“What?”

Shock seized Gabriella, and her jaw dropped.

Carl’s words were like a sledgehammer that hit her right in the chest, leaving her overwhelmed for a long time.

Although she had long since loathed both Larry and Joan to the marrow, she had never thought of doing such a thing.

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1538

It wasn’t that Gabriella didn’t want to do so, but she didn’t even dare entertain such a thought!

After all, the Ward family was already in such a desperate state that it was gasping for breath when they merely had some business conflicts with Norton Corporation. Thus, if she were to plan an assassination of the leader of Norton Corporation, the consequences would definitely be devastating once the matter came to light.

“Have you lost your mind, Carl Johnson?” Gabriella was both shocked and livid. “If you want to die, do so yourself! Don’t drag me down with you!”

She was living a dismal life now, but she was still the high and mighty young lady of the Ward family, not to mention a socialite at the upper echelons of society. Despite being rather embarrassed at the recent turn of events, she believed that everything would pass.

However, if she were to assassinate Larry and Joan, she would certainly lose everything were it to come to light even if the attempt succeeded. Worse still, she might even pay with her life.

“I know your concerns, Gabriella, but are you really that indifferent when you see Joan Watts by the side of the man whom you once loved deeply? What’s more, he even relegated you to your circumstances now because of that b*tch, Joan Watts!”

Knowing that she wouldn’t agree, Carl started reeling her in with various enticements.

“Joan Watts’ position now should have been yours, but that’s not the case now. Don’t you hate her when you think of how happy she is with Larry Norton?”

“Of course, I do! How could I possibly not hate her?”

Hatred glinted in Gabriella’s eyes. How I wish that Joan would just drop dead!

“But this matter is simply too serious. I don’t have such capability.”

“No, that’s not true. You simply lack the guts to do it because you worry too much. The loathing you harbor toward Joan Watts have you wishing that you could slash her into ribbons, but you can’t do anything to her because of Larry Norton. Also, you’re afraid of losing your identity now because it’s more than sufficient to allow you to enjoy life. But have you ever considered…”

At that, Carl deliberately paused for a moment so that Gabriella could hear him loud and clear.

“Once the Ward family’s current power and influence cease to exist, will you still have the identity of a socialite of the upper-class society? Don’t think that I’m trying to scare you, for you know the situation of the Ward family now better than me. Once the Ward family collapses and goes bankrupt or your father surrenders his position as chairman, those he had once offended or disregarded will walk all over you, mocking and oppressing you. Is that a life you want?”

Step by step, he battered at her defenses, breaking them down.

Upon hearing his words, an inexplicable wave of fear gripped Gabriella out of the blue.

She was naturally well aware of the Ward family’s situation at the moment. It was already at a precarious point, tottering on the edge of destruction. Once the Ward family goes bankrupt, I’ll lose my glamorous identity now and become the target of scorn and oppression!

At the thought of those she had once trampled under her feet looking at her with contemptuous expressions and the smug gratification on their faces as they picked on her, she felt as though she was going to lose her mind.

I’ll never allow such a situation to happen! Never in a million years!

“Nonetheless, this matter is still too risky. Even if we do attempt it, how are we going to do it? Larry and Joan are protected by bodyguards 24/7, so we might not necessarily succeed even if we do attempt an assassination. And once this matter comes to light, we’ll be facing relentless retaliation from Norton Corporation.”

As her thoughts went in this direction, she again hesitated.

“You don’t need to worry about this. I’ve already made arrangements for the most part, but I still need your help. Also, we need to plan this out again.”

Carl continued persuading her when he noticed her wavering.

“How about this? I’ll give you a few days to consider it. Three days later, if you’ve made up your mind and would like to join hands with me, come and look for me at eight o’clock at night. We’ll discuss and plan it out in detail. I’ll send you the location by phone.”

Gabriella remained silent, making it apparent that she was still weighing the pros and cons of this matter.

Seeing that she wasn’t saying anything, Carl didn’t continue bugging her.

“Alright, it’s decided, then. Think about it carefully, but as I said, why don’t you try fighting for it if you don’t want all those things I said to become a reality in the future?”

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1539

After saying that, Carl hung up, leaving Gabriella with her chaotic thoughts.

Those three days were the most arduous days in Gabriella’s life.

Throughout the three days, not only did she consider Carl’s proposition carefully, but she also paid close attention to the changes in the Ward family’s financial situation.

On the fourth day, the financial capability of the Ward family had already fallen to its lowest point in history.

Although Landon was doing his best to persevere, she couldn’t see the slightest ray of hope.

If this continues, bankruptcy is only a matter of time.

Recalling Carl’s words, her defenses slowly collapsed.

She really couldn’t think of a better way to save the Ward family and herself. The only method was the one he proposed.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. While she was still struggling inwardly, she was gradually inclined toward Carl’s proposition.

In the end, she decided to seek Carl out.

No matter what, I can just go and see what he says. If I don’t agree, I can just turn around and leave without getting myself involved in the mess.

As that thought occurred to her, she finally stopped hesitating and drove to the location he sent her.

In other words, it was the aforementioned restaurant.

Carl wore an expectant smile on his face as though having known that Gabriella would definitely come.

“You’re here, Gabriella? What would you like to eat?” he inquired gentlemanly.

“I’ve got no appetite,” Gabriella answered bluntly.

All the while, her eyes were fixed intently on him.

“Oh well, I’ll just eat by myself, then.

As Carl said that, he picked up the fork and knife on the table before eating his steak unhurriedly.

Gabriella waited for him to speak, for it was only when he initiated the conversation would she be able to take the reins. In that case, she could nonchalantly extricate herself from the collaboration and leave.

However, Carl said nothing. Instead, he acted as though the steak in front of him was the sum of his world at that very moment.

Both of them were waiting for the other to speak, so the atmosphere fell silent in a flash.

At long last, it was Gabriella who snapped and broke the silence.

“Tell me about your plan.”

She didn’t want to waste time with him here, so she went straight to the chase.

At that, Carl smirked triumphantly.

“Patience, Gabriella. Haste makes waste. I know you’re very eager to have our collaboration go smoothly, but patience is a virtue.”

The moment his words fell, Gabriella was consigned to a passive position.

Ugh! What a scoundrel! Gabriella cursed inwardly. Then, she declared, “I think you’ve made a mistake here, Mr. Johnson. I’m not here to collaborate with you. I’m only here to listen to the so-called plan you asked me here to discuss.”

Gabriella spoke coldly without a hint of expression on her face.

“There’s no rush about the plan. It’s been a long time since we last met, so let’s have a chat first,” Carl murmured with a smile.

But on a closer look, one would see that the smile carried a hint of smugness for having cornered his prey.

“We haven’t seen each other in a long time, so did you miss me, Gabriella? I missed you like crazy,” Carl drawled, grinning.

His words had repulsion invading Gabriella. Sick of being kept hanging, she issued an ultimatum and hissed, “If you’re not going to talk business, I’m leaving.”

“Alright, then, Gabriella. Since you’re in such a hurry, let’s talk about the plan first,” Carl concurred languidly.

In the next moment, he had even schooled his expression and put his smile away.

Without waiting for her to start, he began speaking. “I’ll tell you about the general plan first. It’s actually very simple. Larry Norton and Joan Watts are currently on a vacation. However, there have always been tons of work to be done at Norton Corporation, so he can’t be away for too long. Hence, he’ll probably return in these few days to handle business. What we need to do is to plan for something to happen during their vacation so that they can’t make it back to Marsingfill,” he snarled resentfully.

“Of course, we’re not doing this ourselves,” he added. Seemingly having anticipated her question, he continued, “I’ve already contacted a few assassins. They’re all desperadoes whose lives are always in the balance as they act as assassins. They don’t care who’s hiring their services, asking only for money. So, we don’t need to reveal our identities. As long we pay a certain amount, they will do their jobs.”

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 1540

After saying all that, Carl said nothing further since he knew that Gabriella would surely have questions for him.

“Don’t the assassins know who you are when you’ve already contacted them?”

After all, Gabriella had some knowledge about assassins from hearsay.

The majority of them were purportedly locals though there were also plenty from other countries. They had undergone specialized training and lived solely to carry out assassinations. Besides, they merely asked for money without ever bothering about who hired them. Hmm… they’re indeed the best choice to do this.

“They’re assassins, so they never asked for my name. For safety purposes, even the phone number I’m using to contact them is registered under a false name. Thus, you can rest assured about that.”

“Since you’ve already done all the preparations, why did you seek me out?” Gabriella was very much puzzled.

“Don’t tell me you sought me out just to pull me into this so that I’ll shoulder the risk with you? You’re truly vicious, Carl Johnson!” Gabriella snarled furiously as she gritted her teeth.

The more she pondered upon it, the greater her conviction that such was indeed his intentions.

Nevertheless, she naturally didn’t dare raise her voice as they were speaking of something shady.

“Why would you think that? Of course, I wouldn’t do such a thing when I love you so much,” Carl hurriedly cajoled in a soft voice when he saw that she was on the verge of blowing her top.

“I sought you out because I need your help in terms of connections and financial support.”

Carl finally revealed his ultimate goal.

“What do you mean?” Gabriella asked despite seemingly comprehending something or other after listening to him.

“I’m no longer the heir of the family business now. Although it was merely an insignificant family in the grand scheme of things, it still provided me much help in terms of financial backing. Now, however, I have nothing except for the few hundreds of thousands in my bank card,” Carl admitted helplessly.

At the thought of his predicament, he was all the more reminded of the culprits who brought about all that—Larry and Joan. And so, the hatred within him blazed all the hotter.

“The amount of money I have now isn’t enough to hire assassins. In fact, it’s far from enough. Therefore, I hope you can supply me with a sum of money. Also, I won’t be able to investigate their exact movements with my current capabilities. But without providing their location, the assassins won’t be able to carry out the assassination. Thus, I need the Ward family’s backing to know their real-time movements in detail.”

After saying all that, Carl said nothing further. He merely stared at her and awaited her decision.

“The assassins have no idea who we are? Are you a hundred percent sure about that?” Gabriella asked, seeking confirmation once again.

“They definitely won’t know who we are, and I can stake my life on that!” Carl asserted firmly, only stopping short at swearing it.

“So, how much does it cost to hire the assassins?” Gabriella inquired further.

“That depends on what you want them to do to Larry Norton and Joan Watts,” Carl replied grimly. “Since the former’s identity is rather unique, the price will be higher. As for the latter, it’ll be relatively cheaper.”

He then told her the price quoted by the assassins. Upon hearing that, Gabriella herself sucked in a breath.

“What? It’s that expensive?”

She was shocked, but at the thought of Larry’s unique identity, she felt that it did make sense.

As a deposit was required in the hiring of assassins, Carl and Gabriella decided to pay them two million after discussing the matter among themselves. Besides, they came to an agreement that Larry and Joan were only to be injured instead of killed.

After all, if the president of Norton Corporation died, the Ward family would also be implicated regardless of their involvement.

Hence, the best solution was to have the two of them injured and hospitalized.

By doing so, Norton Corporation would definitely plunge into chaos and ease its suppression of Ward Group. Ward Group could then have a respite amidst all that. On top of that, it would certainly be extremely beneficial toward its development in the future.

Gabriella and Carl then discussed the plan meticulously before confirming it in the end.

Both of them obtained great satisfaction from the plan. For Gabriella, not only would the Ward family gain a certain degree of respite, but she would also be able to avoid the series of consequences following the Ward family’s bankruptcy.