Chapter 294: Never Find Your Bodies

“Alright,” Harrison said, thrilled when Frederick agreed. He walked over, wine glass in hand, and clinked glasses with Frederick several times.

“Frederick, you’ve finally come around. You know what? On my way here, I kept thinking… if we couldn’t reach an agreement tonight, would this be the end of our friendship forever?”

“To be honest, after all these years, I can’t bear to let go. I know that without you, no matter who I support, no one will ever be able to fulfill all the ambitions and dreams we once had.”

“But I truly can’t get over Anna’s death. You know what? These past four years, I keep dreaming of her calling out to me, crying ‘brother’ and begging for help over and over. I guess blood really is thicker than water. Heh, it hurts so much…”

Harrison laughed as he grabbed the wine bottle and started chugging frantically. Frederick remained silent. As if infected by Harrison’s mood, he, too, grabbed a bottle and joined him, taking drink after drink straight from the bottle.

“Anna, if your brother had known your identity earlier and protected you, would you still be alive today?”

Harrison was still grieving and blaming himself for Anna’s death four years ago.

“What if everything from four years ago never happened? What do you think life would be like now?”

At that moment, Frederick genuinely wished none of it had ever happened four years ago.

“Too bad it did happen. But hey, at least we’re still together, still best bros. Haha…”

Harrison answered Frederick’s question, then stood up and walked away with the bottle in hand. Still together? Frederick’s mind drifted to Claire at Harrison’s last words. He continued taking occasional sips of his drink.

After who knows how long, a commotion erupted outside. Suddenly, a small, thin figure stumbled through the door.

“Please, no, I’m begging you… please…” The girl sobbed, scrambling backward on the floor.

Frederick looked up to see several sleazy-looking guys with beer bellies leering at her.

“Don’t worry baby, we’ll be real gentle with you.”

“We’re gonna show you a real good time.”

“Back off!” Frederick let out a cold laugh, grabbed his bottle, and hurled it with a crash.

“Fuck! Who the hell did that?! You got a death wish or something?”

The bottle had found its mark, hitting the thug square in the head just as he was reaching for the girl.

“I’m giving you three seconds to get out of here. Otherwise, I’ll make sure they never find your bodies.”

Frederick didn’t even bother to look up as he lit a cigarette and held it between his lips.

“Well, well… in all my years, nobody’s ever dared talk to me like that. Get your ass over here! I’ll teach you a lesson you won’t forget!”

The lights were dim in Eclipse Nightclub. Frederick was still far from the pot-bellied man, who had barged in barking like a mad dog without even seeing who was in the private room.

“Is that so?” Frederick raised an eyebrow and flexed his wrist as he stood up, ready for action, when the manager burst in.

“Mr… Mr. Hawthorne, please don’t be angry. These men are just ignorant! I’ll remove them right away.”

The manager first placated Frederick, then whispered…

Immediately, their faces turned pale as sheets.

“We’re so sorry, Mr. Hawthorne. We had no idea who you were.”

“We deserve to be punished! Please be generous and forgive our ignorance.”

“Yes, we’re leaving right now!”

The men started slapping themselves repeatedly in front of Frederick.

“Mr. Hawthorne, would you…” the manager approached cautiously.

“Get out!” Frederick had no patience to deal with them.

“Hurry up and leave!”

The manager let out a sigh of relief and quickly pushed the pot-bellied men out.

“Sir, thank you… thank you for saving me.”

Only then did the girl on the floor rise and crawl towards Frederick.

“You… Claire?”