Chapter 496 The Key Is Found

The two bodyguards, with visible injuries and limping, returned fromvHarrick Villa and knocked on the door of Craig’s study in the Newton residence.

“Come in.” Craig called out.

The two men supported each other as they entered the room.

Craig, deeply engrossed in reviewing documents, suddenly noticed their unusual state and furrowed his brows in confusion.

“What happened? Where’s Jasmine?”

“Ms. Jasmine is staying at the Jenson residence. She’s not coming back, Mr. Craig.”

Craig set his pen down and raised an eyebrow with amusement. “Well, that’s good. Then why are you two here instead of following her? Why did you come back?”

The bodyguards wore pained expressions. “We were forcibly driven away by Mrs. Jenson and then beaten. up by Elven and a few others. They said we had to get out of there immediately.”

Crack!

A teacup flew and shattered at their feet.

The sound of shattering porcelain reverberated in the air, and an aura of tension filled the air.

“Useless fools, get out!”

Every fiber of Craig’s being radiated anger. He massaged his temple to ease the throbbing pain.

Jennifer is tightly controlled, while Jasmine’s naivety proves to be more of a liability than an asset. This is such vering matter!

Feeling exasperated, he pulled open a drawer and retrieved a transparent crystal.

Taking a deep breath, he inhaled the crystal’s potent fragrance, seeking solace in its nerve-stimulating properties.

A loud knock rasped against Craig’s door once again.

He carefully placed the crystal back into the drawer before Karl, the butler, entered the room.

Karl walked up to Craig respectfully and placed an item on his table.

The latter lowered his gaze and saw that it was the key stained with dirt.

It was the key he had given to Karl.

“Where did you find it?”

“It was found in the garden, buried in the soil and concealed beneath the bushes. Only a small golden edge was visible. That’s why I couldn’t find it despite searching all night,” he replied.

When Craig picked up the key, his fingers became smudged with dirt.

The Key Is Found He carefully examined the soil, finding solace in the pleasant stimulation from the crystal. It also allowed him to keep calm and not lose his temper easily.

“Karl, why don’t you tell me your guess?”

“During last night’s banquet, Mr. Charles was the only one who came near me and accidentally bumped into me. I suspect he deliberately buried the key for fear of being discovered.”

Craig listened attentively and methodically analyzed the situation.

“He didn’t bury it. If he’s responsible, he wouldn’t have left such obvious traces. If he wanted to hide it, he would have buried it much deeper, making it unlikely to be found for a year or two. Therefore, it appears his initial plan was to return the key discreetly. However, when he realized I knew something was up, he grew anxious and tossed it out of the room.”

Karl nodded in agreement. “You’re right. That seems to be the case.”

Craig let out a sinister and chilling laugh, his eyes growing cold as anger surged through him.

His fury blazed, prompting him to sweep everything off his desk. He sent papers and even the computer crashing to the floor in a chaotic mess.

“Charles Newton! That bast*rd!”

It was clear now that he was the one who had taken the key and stolen the serum from the top floor.

There was no doubt that he had conspired with Gwendolyn to plot against him.

The thought of the serum falling into Cedrick’s hands sent shivers down his spine. The consequences.

would be catastrophic.

Consumed by fury, Craig’s rationality was obliterated, leaving him with an overwhelming desire to dismember Cedrick, piece by piece.

Karl barely avoided the avalanche of toppled documents as he took two unsteady steps back.

“Mr. Craig, please calm down. There must be a way to resolve this,” Karl pleaded.

After regaining a semblance of composure, Craig dialed Jasper’s number without hesitation. “How is the situation in the secret interrogation room?”

“Since I left, Nico deployed an entire team to guard the secret interrogation room. There are also twenty soldiers stationed five hundred meters away, and about ten operatives positioned covertly,”

Jasper reported.

Craig let out a disdainful chuckle.

The heightened security measures were clearly not meant to discipline Charles but rather to protect him.

It seems like Cedrick knows Charles stole the key. The serum on the top floor should be with Cedrick now. The illegal crossing was just a carefully staged performance.

Craig’s gaze turned icy, and he spoke in a low, chilling voice to Jasper. “Continue to keep a close watch. If there’s anything unusual, inform me immediately.”

“Yes, Mr. Craig.”

After hanging up. Craig opened the drawer beneath his desk and retrieved a gun.

He loaded it with bullets, chambered a round, and pressed the barrel against his own forehead. A sardonic smirk played upon his lips.

Karl was shocked beyond words, “Mr. Craig, what are you doing? Please don’t act impulsively! It’s not the end. We can still turn the situation around.”

Craig chuckled lightly, removing the gun from his temple and holding it in his hand.

“Don’t be scared. Did you think I would resort to suicide? Only defeated and desperate individuals take that route. The situation hasn’t reached its final stage yet. There is no winner yet.”

His fingers, calloused and hardened from years of handling firearms, detected an un they traced the intricate patterns on the gun.

“That bast rd, Charles, believed I pitied him for enduring Cedrick’s torment. Little did 1 would become a trap of my own making. If I die. I’ll drag him to hell with me!”

With his final words, he forcefully placed the gun on the table, the sound reverberating through Craig instructed the butler, “Calculating the time when the serum was stolen, Cedrick must have already analyzed its composition by now. While he’s preoccupied gathering evidence against me, dispose of all remaining serum at the top floor. Pour it out, smash the glass vials, and bury the shattered pieces in the ground. Burn every container that contained the serum. Ensure not a single trace remains. Clear anything – suspicious in the rooms on the top floor. Get the servants to use disinfectant spray and meticulously clean every corner. The top floor must be thoroughly cleaned tonight. We cannot leave it overnight in its current state.”

Karl nodded. “If the goal is to leave no trace, why not discard them outside? Moreover, those serums were purchased at a high price. Destroying them like this will result in a significant financial loss, won’t it?”

At this critical moment, a small amount of money was insignificant.

Craig’s expression turned serious. “Cedrick might have already stationed people outside the residence to keep watch. If the servants start discarding things recklessly, it will draw attention and increase the risk of being caught. Just follow my instructions.”

“Okay, Mr. Craig. I’ll handle it,” Karl replied, no longer arguing. He nodded and immediately went to carry out the task.

Once the butler had departed, Craig adjusted his collar and exited the study, making his way toward the top floor.

He unlocked the heavy iron lock and entered the third room on the left.

As he pushed the door open, he saw a frail woman lying on the bed, her body emaciated. Her hands were bound by heavy iron chains, leaving deep marks on her wrists.

Craig walked straight to the bed and sat down. Next, he carefully unfastened all the iron chains and gently massaged the red marks on her wrists.

“Mom, don’t blame me. You once said you were willing to sacrifice everything for me. Now, the person you despise the most, that bast rd Charles, has joined forces with Cedrick to harm me. Only you can help.

me.”

He embraced Caylie, his palm gently caressing her back, but his gaze was icy.

As Caylie caught a whiff of a familiar scent, she blinked her eyes lightly, her mind starting to clear.

She smiled weakly when she lifted her gaze and saw her dashing son.

“My dear, beloved son,” Caylie whispered, her voice filled with a mix of love and desperation. “I would do anything for you, even if it means sacrificing my own life.”