Chapter 182: Still Alive

“Frederick, Anna was just another woman you fancied. Without her, there would be others. Sure, you might be heartbroken for a while,”

Frederick, Anna was just another woman you fancied. Without her, there would be others. Sure, you might be heartbroken for a while.

“But that’s just a matter of time. For me, it’s different. Anna was my flesh and blood, my real sister.”

But that’s just a matter of time. For me, it’s different. Anna was my flesh and blood, my real sister.

Harrison’s blood boiled, thinking about Anna’s death and how Claire had stolen his sister’s identity all these years. The more he thought about his past kindness to Claire and all the hardships Anna had endured, the more guilt and rage consumed him. And everything traced back to one person—Claire’s birth mother, Effie. That selfish woman, desperate for her daughter to enjoy all the privileges of being the Prescott family’s heiress, had switched the babies without a second thought.

“Harrison, things aren’t what they seem.”

Harrison, things aren’t what they seem.

Frederick understood Harrison’s anger. He hated Claire, too. After all, he and Harrison had worked together to put her behind bars.

“Not what they seem? Then what is it, Frederick? You think I don’t know what’s been going down while I was abroad?

Not what they seem? Then what is it, Frederick? You think I don’t know what’s been going down while I was abroad?

Chapter 182: Still Alive

over heels for Claire!

It started when you bailed her out of prison, keeping her close at the Halfmoon Manor. You were already in too deep back then.

“And then you slept with her. Now you’re clearing her record and planning to put a ring on her finger. If that’s not love, what is it, huh?”

And then you slept with her. Now you’re clearing her record and planning to put a ring on her finger. If that’s not love, what is it, huh?

Harrison was dead confident Frederick had fallen for Claire. Harrison’s hysterical questioning took aback Frederick.

“What’s wrong? Finally speechless? Got nothing left to say?”

What’s wrong? Finally speechless? Got nothing left to say?

Harrison nodded heavily and took a few steps back as he stared at the silent Frederick.

“Take a look at this.”

Take a look at this.

Frederick lit a cigarette, took a drag, and then pulled out his phone. He opened an encrypted file and handed it to Harrison. Harrison was in no mood to look at anything and almost swatted the phone away. But the photo on the screen instantly caught his attention. The face in the photo was identical to Anna’s. Who else could it be?

‘Anna? What’s going on?

Where did you find Anna?

›Chapter 182: Still Alive

even correctly looking at the image.

I didn’t find her. Someone sent this to me. I still haven’t traced who—all I know is it came from a foreign email address.

“I’ve had Richard pulling out all the stops to investigate, but every time we get close, someone’s always one step ahead, throwing up roadblocks. Whoever it is knows our operations inside and out.”

I’ve had Richard pulling out all the stops to investigate, but every time we get close, someone’s always one step ahead, throwing up roadblocks. Whoever it is knows our operations inside and out.

As Frederick finished speaking, Harrison’s head snapped up. “Arthur!”

In Kingstown, within the Hawthorne family, Frederick’s greatest rival and enemy from childhood had always been Arthur.

“It has to be him. I can’t think of anyone else.” Frederick took a long drag from his cigarette.

It has to be him. I can’t think of anyone else.

“But what’s Arthur’s angle here? What threat could Anna possibly pose to him? Why is he blocking your attempts to find her? Or was he behind everything that happened four years ago?”

But what’s Arthur’s angle here? What threat could Anna possibly pose to him? Why is he blocking your attempts to find her? Or was he behind everything that happened four years ago?

Harrison’s hostility toward Frederick had thawed slightly, his attention now wholly focused on Arthur’s involvement.

“I don’t know. Take a look at this file.”

I don’t know. Take a look at this file.

Frederick shook his head, pulling out his phone and opening another encrypted document. Harrison’s brow furrowed as he took the phone, falling silent.

Chapter 182: Still Alive

“Everything’s been off since Claire got out of prison. It’s like some invisible puppet master is pulling all the strings.

Everything’s been off since Claire got out of prison. It’s like some invisible puppet master is pulling all the strings.

“Whoever’s behind this is no amateur. They’ve even forced my hand on certain things, like that slum video incident.

Whoever’s behind this is no amateur. They’ve even forced my hand on certain things, like that slum video incident.

“You know about that one too. But their motives are strange. It’s almost like they’re trying to force Claire and me together. Even my engagement to Claire came out of nowhere, straight from my father.

You know about that one too. But their motives are strange. It’s almost like they’re trying to force Claire and me together. Even my engagement to Claire came out of nowhere, straight from my father.

“Harrison, you know my position in the Hawthorne family. I had no choice but to play along. Right now, you’re all I’ve got. If you leave too…

Harrison, you know my position in the Hawthorne family. I had no choice but to play along. Right now, you’re all I’ve got. If you leave too…

“Of course, if you need to walk away, I understand. As the Prescott heir, you’ve got plenty of options. You don’t have to stick with me.”

Of course, if you need to walk away, I understand. As the Prescott heir, you’ve got plenty of options. You don’t have to stick with me.

Frederick carefully explained once he saw Harrison had cooled down. Even though the Prescott family was no longer the wealthiest in Kingstown, they remained a prime target for various power players.

“Frederick, what do you take me for? When you risked your life to save me back then, I swore that I, Harrison, would never choose anyone else but you. However, my family remains my bottom line.”

Frederick, what do you take me for? When you risked your life to save me back then, I swore that I, Harrison, would never choose anyone else but you. However, my family remains my bottom line.

Realizing it was all a misunderstanding, Harrison let go of his frustration.

Chapter 182: Still Alive

with surgery, she didn’t have many years left. The only reason he tolerated Claire now was for Elizabeth’s sake. Once Elizabeth passed, he’d make sure Claire would pay dearly for everything.

“I know,” Frederick said.

I know, Frederick said.

Frederick crushed out his cigarette and grabbed Harrison’s arm. He knew what Harrison meant by “family.” Anna was his sister, and he had no intention of letting Claire off the hook either.

“So, are we still going ahead with the engagement today?”

So, are we still going ahead with the engagement today?

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