Chapter 620
Sheridan’s temper flared as he watched his father grovel. “Dad, why are you lowering yourself to him?” he snapped. “Can’t you see this was all premeditated? He’s been planning to take down the Carter family from the start. Why else would he have moved so fast?”
Jamison turned to Sheridan, a sly smile playing at his lips. “You’re being unfair, Mr. Carter. I had no idea Emma would choose you. I certainly didn’t expect you two to team up and frame Katrina. I wasn’t targeting your family at all. It’s just that, after you and Emma were arrested, knowing your reputation, I figured you’d want payback–so I took some precautions.”
Emma bristled. “Don’t believe a word he says, Sheridan! He’s absolutely out to get your family!”
She was desperate to stir up trouble, hoping to see the Carter and Ludwig families at each other’s throats.
But Sheridan ignored her and snapped, “Shut up! This doesn’t concern you.”
Emma pressed her lips together, seething with resentment.
Jamison continued, “If you hadn’t come after us in the first place, none of this would have seen the light of day. But you made the first move.”
Sheridan looked ready to argue, but Langston held up a hand, stopping him.
Langston was the picture of composure; he even managed a faint smile. “You’re right, Mr. Ludwig. So, since we’re even now, why don’t we put an end to this? Would you be willing to destroy whatever else you have–or at least hand it over to us?”
This was the real reason Langston had arranged to meet Jamison.
The Carter family’s early days were far from clean. They’d only managed to whitewash their past thanks to a wide network of connections. If Jamison kept digging, with the Ludwig family’s influence in Neo Haven, who knew what else he might uncover? The Carter family wouldn’t survive another scandal.
So, making peace was their best option.
Langston couldn’t help but regret his actions. If he’d known just how cunning Jamison was, he never would have made the first move. He’d simply wanted to teach them a lesson–blow off some steam–but instead, he’d shot himself in the foot.
Jamison didn’t answer right away. He just smiled, inscrutable as ever.
Langston looked confused. “Mr. Ludwig… does that mean you agree?”
“Mr. Carter, it’s not that I don’t want to agree. But everything I had–I turned it all over yesterday. There’s nothing left for me to give you.”
Langston stared at him, clearly unconvinced, but he had no way to prove otherwise. Sheridan, fuming, burst out, “Jamison, are you threatening us?”
Jamison just chuckled. “Let’s be honest, Mr. Carter–who started this?”
“You set me up first!”
“Oh, come off it. The night you met Emma at that party, there were at least a dozen other eligible bachelors in the room. Are you saying I somehow manipulated you two into hitting it off? Do you think I have magic powers to make you fall for Miss Emma?” Jamison’s voice was cool, almost amused.
Sheridan opened his mouth, but no retort came.
With the negotiations at an end, Jamison stood up and gave Langston a final look. “As long as nothing happens to my wife or me, your family has nothing to fear from me. But if anything does–if any harm comes to us–the Carter family will be finished in Neo Haven’s social circles. Take care, Mr. Carter.”
With those words, the message was clear. Not only would the Carter family never dare lay a finger on the Ludwigs, but even if anyone else tried, the Carters would have to defend them.
Because if anything happened to the Ludwigs, the Carter family would be the first suspects.