Chapter 128: The Beaten Man +8 Pearls

After Clark sat down, he felt his head grow heavy. He smiled faintly and said, “This wine is a bit too strong.”

Martha quickly replied, “Then don’t drink it; you can’t risk anything before tomorrow.”

Clark was moved by her care and said, “Alright, once I’m free, I’ll invite everyone for a drink.”

“Sounds good,” Martha smiled.

Braden, who had been watching him closely, noticed Clark shaking his head repeatedly and asked, “Clark, are you alright?”

Clark raised his hand to his head and said, “I think I’ve had too much; I can’t drink anymore.”

He stood up, but the dizziness worsened. Though his alcohol tolerance wasn’t exceptional, he could usually handle at least half a jug. He’d only had a sip of the wine earlier.

Braden exchanged a glance with Jocelynn, who quickly stood up, offering to help Clark. “Are you sure you’re alright? Let me help you lie down. Wow, you really can’t handle your liquor.”

Clark felt even dizzier, and his vision blurred, but he stepped back, trying to maintain composure. “I’m fine; I’ll walk on my own.”

However, as soon as he took a step, he collapsed onto the floor with a loud thud.

Martha burst into laughter. “Hah, ugly things always make a scene. He really thought we liked him?”

Braden stood up with a cold expression, walking over to Clark. He spat on Clark’s head, sneering, “What a joke. Just a bastard, thinking he could enter the Parliamentary Library and one-up me? Watch how I take care of you.”

He stomped on Clark’s face, speaking through clenched teeth, “I’ve always wanted to drag him down like this, step on him, crush him so he’ll never get up.”

Kameron stood up with a shrug, saying, “Mr. Langley, my business is finished. Now, it’s time for my dear friend to handle his part.”

Braden took a purse from his sleeve and tossed it to Kameron. “Your business isn’t done yet. You’ll need to get some people together. This is too good an opportunity to keep quiet.”

Kameron looked startled. “You mean it has to be made public? Didn’t you say we should keep this quiet? If it leaks, everyone will know my close companion has been taken advantage of.”

“If your close companion’s been taken, get another one,” Martha said, pulling out a gold ingot and placing it in Kameron’s hand. “Kameron, there are plenty of beauties in the world; no need to cry over one.”

Jocelynn’s eyes grew heated as she pouted, “Do I count as half of that?”

“Of course, you do,” Martha said, slipping another gold ingot into Jocelynn’s hand. Her eye glanced at Clark’s limp body. Smiling, she added, “But you need to do your part. I want everyone to see Clark at his lowest, the most debased version of him.”

Jocelynn, knowing how to play this game, smiled seductively. “I didn’t expect you to be so ruthless.”

She turned to Braden. “Let’s go outside and wait. When Kameron breaks the door down, we’ll make sure everything goes smoothly.”

Braden grabbed Kameron and walked out, lowering his voice. “What’s the big deal? She’s just a used-up woman. I’ll get you a better one soon enough.”

Kameron grinned. “As long as you keep your word, don’t back out.”

“When have I ever backed out?” Braden scoffed.

After returning to Argentum, he visited old friends, whether at a tavern or at Vermelle Hall, always paying the bill. This made many people follow him around, hoping for a piece of his success.

The Petfield Room was next to the Lanmer Room, separated only by a thin wall. As soon as the sounds of shattered glasses reached their ears, they would be ready to move in.

Before entering the Lanmer Room, Braden said, “You guys go ahead; I’ll use the bathroom.”

He turned toward the back courtyard, where the trees were planted thickly. Though lanterns hung, the dim lighting barely illuminated his path. He quickened his steps.

Suddenly, something struck the back of his head with force. He struggled to look back, seeing a familiar face with a wide smile.

“Oh, I didn’t hit you hard enough,” she laughed, shaking her head before raising her fist and aiming for his temple.

Braden’s vision blurred, and everything went black.

Kameron and Martha waited in the Lanmer Room for a long time without hearing from Braden. Meanwhile, the sound of shattered glass came from the next room.

“What should we do? Mr. Langley still isn’t back,” Kameron asked.

Martha, guessing that Clark had probably invited a singer to join the party, was irritated by his lack of focus. He never seemed to care about anything, even when it was time to get serious. No wonder he was so unsuccessful.

She stood up and coldly said, “Forget about waiting. Let’s just go in. Once we’re inside, don’t ask questions. Just hit him and shout for help. There are plenty of people around, and once you shout, they’ll come.”

Martha didn’t go with him—this wasn’t the kind of scene she wanted to be in. She stayed seated, slowly sipping her drink, a cold and smug smile playing on her lips. She was quite pleased with herself. She considered herself far more capable than her mother and sisters. One day, she would become someone as influential as her grandmother.

Suddenly, there was a loud crash as the door was kicked open. The room was dim, and nothing could be seen clearly. Jocelynn’s cries could be heard.

Kameron stormed in, shouting, “So, you’re a filthy beast, daring to assault my woman? You’re asking for death!”

He shoved past the weeping Jocelynn and began punching the man lying on the floor. Though he wasn’t trained in martial arts, the anger and the money had made him strike with force.

Clark, barely conscious, cried out, “Stop, don’t hit me, please—stop, it’s me…”

“Who else would I be hitting, you bastard?” Kameron shouted, continuing to beat him as Jocelynn’s sobs filled the room.

Soon, a crowd gathered outside, and the tavern’s bartender entered with a lantern. Seeing the scene, he asked, “What happened here?”

Kameron, seeing the crowd, shouted angrily, “This filthy bastard tried to take advantage of my woman while drunk. He deserves to die!”

The bartender took a closer look, holding up the lantern. He froze when he saw who was lying on the floor. “Wait, isn’t this Braden from Duke’s estate?”

Kameron sneered, “What’s Duke’s estate got to do with this worthless bastard?”

As he looked down at Clark, who was still being beaten, Kameron suddenly realized something. It wasn’t Braden who was plotting against Clark—it was about competing for a woman. Jocelynn must have figured out his scheme and fought back, and now she was paying the price.