Chapter 1301

Once Cory shook off his tail, he messaged Aubree while driving: "Our cooperation is over. I'm getting money from Mr. Farwell now. Good luck, Ms. Pearson." He then switched off his phone.

Given Aubree's fear of Lucian, Cory anticipated her frantic call to him. He only wanted the money; he wouldn't waste time playing games.

Upon receiving Cory's message, Aubree cursed her subordinates, repeatedly dialing his number. Lucian had already called off their engagement; if he discovered her actions, she would be in grave danger. Regret gnawed at her. She should have given Cory the fifty million. But his phone remained off, confirming his awareness of her regret. Her failed calls fueled her anger, culminating in her throwing her phone to the ground, followed by a wave of terror. "That madman Cory's capable of anything for money! He must be going to Lucian's! What do I do now?"

Desperate, after a moment of paralysis, she rushed to her car, instructing her driver to take her to the Pearson residence. She needed to speak with her parents. The Pearson family's fate hinged on keeping Lucian from discovering her actions.

Cory, indeed, was capable of anything for money. He drove to the Farwell Group office building, but gazing up at the skyscraper, he gulped with guilt. As Aubree had said, they were all in the same boat. Betraying Aubree felt like self-betrayal. Yet, he had no choice. He needed the money. "Without money, those lunatics will kill me! No matter what, I'm screwed. I can only take the risk."

He steeled himself and dialed Lucian's number, a number he'd worked hard to obtain. When Lucian saw the unfamiliar number on his private phone, he frowned before answering.

"Mr. Farwell, I'm Cory Zaythrone. Do you remember me?"

Lucian recognized the voice instantly. He'd previously underestimated Cory, assigning a junior subordinate to tail him, resulting in Cory's quick disappearance. He was surprised by this contact.

Cory chuckled dryly. "You have a good memory, Mr. Farwell. I won't waste your time. I need money, but it's not a handout. I have information relevant to your investigations, and I think you'll want to hear it."

Lucian's eyes darkened. He suspected Cory knew about the children's illness.

"How much?" Lucian asked.

Guilt weighed on Cory. "It's up to you after you hear my information, but ideally, more than twenty million." He felt he'd developed nerves of steel overnight; he'd aided Aubree in harming Lucian's children, and now he was extorting Lucian.

Lucian was silent. When he finally spoke, Cory shuddered.

"Where are you? Let's meet," Lucian replied, his response neither confirming nor denying the proposition.