Andrew pulled the krilfe away and sighed in disappointment. “The sit? You’re already breaking? Boring. And here I thought you had nerves of steel. It would’ve been more fun if you’d held on longer. I was just getting started. Didn’t expect you to be such a damn coward.”
Seeing that disappointed look on Andrew’s face, Hank wanted to die right then and there. He thought Andrew was a living, breathing devil walking among mortals. Even Chetvine’s notorious Ironhold Division probably could not produce such a twisted executioner.
Hank growled in frustration, “Andrew, no matter how arrogant and powerful you are, Mr. Hale is not someone you can mess with.”
Andrew scoffed. “Oh, you mean Barnaby the Baby? Everyone knows if he dares raise his voice at me, I’ll actually be impressed.”
Hank let out a bitter string of laughs. Even Chantelle and the others cracked a smile. When Andrew started bragging, he really did not hold back!
Facing Hannah now, Hank dropped to his knees and bowed his head. “Hannah, I’m sorry. I was wrong. I owe you a real apology.”
Hannah’s eyes filled with tears as she said bitterly, “I only hate that I was blind and gave my trust to the wrong person!”
Hank snapped back, “Oh, really? You think you were just blind? Then tell me, Hannah, weren’t you the one chasing status, chasing luxury? Didn’t you drag me around to flaunt me in front of your girlfriends, proud that you landed someone ‘so elite’?"
“When I got invited by the Driscoll family, didn’t you rush to tag along like it made you special? Say what you want… I was a bastard out in the open. But you? You weren’t some innocent little angel either.”
Hannah broke down completely, tears falling hard. “You’re right. I admit it. I was shallow… blinded by vanity.”
She turned to Andrew, heart full of regret. “Andrew… can you forgive me? If I’d just listened to you back then, none of this would’ve happened. I’m sorry. Please… give me another chance.”
Andrew’s face remained stone cold as he shook his head. “There’s no need to apologize. I brought Hank back because I made a promise to your father. As for you? You don’t owe me anything, and there’s nothing between us. So no… I’m not accepting your apology.”
Hannah froze. Her tears flowed harder, and her chest ached with a strange, bitter pain.
George stood quietly at the side, letting out a long sigh. This daughter of his, spoiled from the day she was born, had been raised like a delicate rose behind glass. However, it was precisely this sheltered life that made her blind to reality. And now, she realized it a little too late.
Men like Andrew were sharp, disciplined, and brilliant. They were not the kind you got a second chance with. Once you lost them, they were gone forever.
After that, Hank was made to kneel at the Keller family gates for half a day, humiliated in full view of passersby. Only when the crowd had finished jeering did Chantelle finally take him away.
As she walked him toward the car, she frowned and said, “Andrew, even though Hank committed serious crimes, he’s still with Special Ops. He’ll have to be tried by their tribunal.”
Before getting in, she turned back and warned, “But I’m worried… if Mr. Hale hears what you did back there, things could get ugly.”
Andrew waved it off like it was nothing. “Let him come to Gabo Creek himself. I’ll be more than happy to catch up with him. And I’ll ask him if he’s already forgotten the pain I left him with last time.”
Chapter 1928
Chantelle stomped her foot. “Andrew, I’m being serious! Could you not talk like that? The Director of Special Ops is a high-ranking federal official! And you’re just calling him a baby? Are you out of your mind?”
Andrew pointed to his own nose with a smirk. “Do I look like I’m joking with you?”