Chapter 119:

Kieran found Joanna waiting for him in a dimly lit, cramped room filled with torture instruments. The windowless room and flickering light created an oppressive atmosphere. Joanna sat on the cold marble floor, clutching her garment. As Kieran approached, her body trembled with fear, while his eyes gleamed with deadly intent.

"Did you really think this was the way to execute the task our family assigned you?" Kieran asked, his voice measured and gentle, yet to Joanna, his words sounded like a death sentence. He was the most feared member of the Foster family.

Joanna remained silent. "What? Are you lost for words?" Kieran inquired.

Observing her quiet demeanor, he sighed. "Since you have no explanation, I'll forgo politeness. You were clearly in the wrong." He took a torture device from a cabinet, and Joanna's eyes filled with desperation. That night, her cries echoed through the dark, cramped room of the Foster household.

The next day, Joanna returned to her room, covered in wounds. She found an unread message on her phone. After reading it, her despair deepened.

"Jayden, you want to drive me to death, don't you?" she whispered, her eyes wild.

That afternoon, despite the Foster family's restrictions, Joanna stole a car and fled the city. She drove to a mountain and deliberately drove her car off a cliff.

A woman in red high heels witnessed Joanna's fatal descent from the opposite side of the cliff. Elyse, who had just returned home from the hospital, soon heard the news. When Jayden relayed the tragic event, she immediately suspected him.

"Did you do it?" she asked.

Jayden, fiddling with his watchband, replied nonchalantly, "You think I did it? Show me the evidence."

Elyse rolled her eyes. How could she possibly gather proof? Yet, Jayden's composure suggested his innocence. Reflecting on Joanna's death—a death she admittedly felt no sorrow for—Elyse sighed inwardly. Joanna had tried to kill her just days before.

"What actions will the Foster family take following Joanna's death?" she asked.

"Nothing. To them, Joanna was merely a pawn. Her death means little," Jayden replied. He paused. "I also heard they didn't bother to bury her."

Elyse was shocked by the Foster family's ruthless indifference, though it seemed consistent with their disturbed nature. Both Kieran and Joanna were clearly mentally unstable.

Later that evening, Brook arrived unexpectedly.

"Jayden, have you heard about Joanna's suicide?" he asked.

Without looking up, Jayden calmly replied, "Yes, I'm aware."

Brook stood in the living room, scrutinizing Jayden intently. "Any insights into her death?"

"Not at all," Jayden said indifferently.

Despite Brook's persistent gaze, Jayden remained unconcerned.

After a pause, Brook turned to Elyse with a forced smile. "I heard about your recent kidnapping. Are you okay? How did you manage to escape?"

Elyse had prepared an answer. "Kidnappings are somewhat common for the Owen family. I learned some escape skills and seized an opportunity to flee."

Elyse had concocted this excuse beforehand. In truth, she didn't know how she'd escaped. She vaguely remembered seeing Jayden, but given his mobility issues, how could he have rescued her?

It had, in fact, been Jayden's men who had saved her. To protect Jayden's abilities, Elyse felt compelled to fabricate her story.

Brook accepted Elyse's explanation without suspicion. Such training was common for heirs of wealthy families, and Elyse seemed particularly resourceful. He had been determined to uncover the truth, but Joanna's suicide appeared to have eliminated all leads.

"Why would she kill herself if she wanted to survive so badly?" Brook pressed, sensing a deeper mystery. "Jayden, you're quite fortunate. With Joanna gone, no one will challenge Elyse for her position."

Jayden's response was cold. "Even if she were alive, she couldn't have contested Elyse's position." ... ... ...