apter 658 The Bargaining Chip

    Tessa followed Belle and left.

    +8 Pearls

    Once only Sophia and Marie were left behind, Sophia picked up a call. After she hung up, she. respectfully said to Marie. “Falvaria just sent word. Mr. Victor says you need to return Tessa.”

    Marie snorted coldly at that. “Return? What’s this ‘return? She’s in my hands now–she’s

    mine.”

    Sophia said. “Mr. Victor says you can have whatever you want.”

    “Whatever I want?”

    The moment she heard that, Marie’s eyes sparkled.

    That glint in her gaze made it clear–Victor must be holding something she really wanted.

    Sophia cleared her throat. “Mr. Victor has plenty of treasures. Especially his mechanical techniques.”

    Over the years, countless people had tried to get their hands on Victor’s mechanical secrets. But he never passed them down to anyone.

    Just mentioning Victor’s craftsmanship was enough to make Marie hum. “You think he’d hand

    over that book just for Tessa?”

    Surely… not, right?

    Men–what were they good for, besides manipting women?

    Marie didn’t believe Victor would hand over something that valuable just for a girl.

    Sophia bsaid/b, “Why don’t you test him?”

    Marie was stunned.

    Uh…

    Could she really test him?

    What if she didn’t get the book–and her brother ended up lecturing her for messing around?

    “Then I’ll try to sound him out. You go prepare.”

    “Got it.”

    Sophia knew exactly what kind of preparations Marie meant. This ind was extremely well- hidden.

    Chapter 658 The Bargaining Chip

    Marie hated moving locations.

    If they were going to hide, they were going to really hide.

    G

    +B Pearls

    Meanwhile, on Derrick’s side-

    Sebastian had just watched him finish a call to Victor. He asked, “You really think it’s okay to lie to Victor like that?”

    Yep. Lic.

    Derrick had just told Victor to pick the girl up in twenty–seven days.

    Except–he hadn’t even been able to get in touch with Marie. How the hell would he know when she’d hand Tessa over?

    And saying Marie wouldn’t kill Tessa?

    Come on–that was Dan’s sister. Who knew if Marie wouldn’t lose it and tear Tessa apart?

    Sebastian truly couldn’t figure out what Derrick was ying at.

    “Now that you’ve made that call,” Sebastian said, “Victor’s definitely going to assume you know exactly where she is–and send someone to watch us.”

    And they had a lot to deal with right now.

    If Victor’s people started breathing down their necks, it would be like a constant icy draft at their backs.

    Derrick took a drag from his cigarette and chuckled. “Not just someone. I bet it’ll be Ss himself.”

    Sebastian went quiet.

    Ss?

    Victor’s personal grim reaper?

    If that guy came, they’d be screwed no matter what they tried to do.

    Seeing Sebastian’s worried face, Derrick let out a sarcastic snort. “What? Like I haven’t had people tailing me for years?”

    Sebastian was stunned.

    Well… that was true.

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    Chapter 65it The Bargaining Chip:

    But this time it was Ssb. /b

    Sebastian asked. “So what are you really trying to do here?”

    Derrick replied, “Obviously, I’m buying time–for your sister–inw.”

    Sebastian went quiet.

    Sister–inw?

    Wait, what?

    Sebastian twitched. “Why do you need to buy her time?”

    Derrick looked at him like he was an idiot.

    Sebastian frowned. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

    Derrick said. “You haven’t noticed how messed up Dan’s been these past three days?”

    The guy couldn’t find Tessa and it was eating him alive.

    And watching that torment gave Derrick this strange, personal satisfaction–like he was avenging something on his own behalf.

    Sebastian said, “Of course he’s messed up.”

    The moment Dan’s name came up, Sebastian practically lit up with frustration.

    +5 Pearts

    “You killed Dennis–his most trusted guy. He’s passed out from rage multiple times. At this rate, I’m not sure he’ll ever leave the hospital.b” /b

    The guy had fainted over and over again.

    Derrick really hadn’t held back three days ago,

    Even if Dan didn’t know Dennis had ordered Marie’s assassination, losing him was still a brutal blow.

    But Derrick justughed lightly. “You really think that’s all it was about–Dennis?”

    Sebastian blinked. “Wasn’t it?”

    Derrick shook his bhead/b. “Of course not.”

    Sebastian was stunned again.

    Ugh….

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    Chapter 658 The Bargaining Chip

    +8 Pearis

    Every time Ashen Pact came up, his brain turned to mush. He just couldn’t wrap his head around any of it.

    Derrick said, “If Diana hadn’te back to bthe /bAshen Pact when she did, Dale would’ve gone all in–stripped Dan of every bit of power and handed it to Manny.”

    Manny.

    A name no one bhad /beven heard before–and somehow, he turned out to be Dale’s other son.

    No one would’ve guessed it. But Dale had truly loved his mistress over the years.

    Even her son had been kept in tight, protective secrecy.

    These past three days, Derrick had flipped Ashen Pact upside down.

    And the more he discovered–the more fascinating it all became.

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