Chapter 569 Causing Trouble.

Gwendolyn remembered Annie had manipulated Asher to sideline her from holding real power in the Harris Group. Hence, she snapped back to reality and decided to prepare in advance.

Gwendolyn was getting ready to leave the Jenson residence when Valentino returned after taking his medicine.

“Where are you going, Gwendolyn? It’s getting late. Why don’t you stay the night here?” Valentino suggested.

“Yeah, it’s raining/outside. You should stay for the night and spend more time with Old Mr. Jenson and the little ones,” Logan chimed in.

Unfortunately, Gwendolyn couldn’t tell Valentino that she might have a manic episode at night. Hence, she smiled and responded, “Something urgent occurred at the Harris family. As the head of the family, I have to head back and handle it. Grandpa, please rest early tonight. Mdm. Yarde will look after Benny and Zendy tonight, so there’s no need for you to stay up late.”

Valentino understood that Gwendolyn needed to attend to her family matters, and he saw no reason to stand in her way. Hence, he allowed her to take her leave after reminding her to take care of herself.

It was drizzling at Salinsburgh.

Since the roads were slippery on a rainy night, Valentino instructed Logan to accompany Gwendolyn as she left the villa. Armed with umbrellas, they proceeded in single file, carefully treading through the Jenson residence.

“Ms. Zendaya and Mr. Benedict’s company really brightened Old Mr. Jenson’s mood,” Logan remarked.

Smiling warmly, Gwendolyn nodded in agreement.

“What’s wrong with Grandpa?” Gwendolyn inquired when she recalled Valentino taking his medication earlier.

Logan let out a sigh and replied, “Old Mr. Jenson served in the military when he was younger, so he had always been in good health. However, as he gets older, he has inevitably developed conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes. He’s currently taking medication to control his blood pressure and blood sugar levels.”

Gwendolyn nodded in understanding.

With that, they continued their journey, embracing the tranquility of the night.

Just then, a tall and slender figure emerged from a nearby alley.

Gwendolyn recognized the person as Xander.

She raised an eyebrow in suspicion. “Why did Xander return? If my memory serves me right, Cedrick transferred him and Yael to a small district branch. They can’t return to the main company for five years, except during holidays and New Year’s Eve.”

Logan smiled and explained, “At his age, Old Mr. Jenson hopes that his descendants can be by his side more often. So, he recently arranged for Mr. Xander to be transferred back to Salinsburgh branch.

Mr. Cedrick is aware of this.”

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Since Cedrick had approved of it, Gwendolyn had no objections.

She understood Valentino’s intentions. Both Xander and Cedrick were the old man’s grandchildren, so it was only natural for him to provide support to Xander, who was experiencing hardships. After all, Valentino couldn’t possibly turn a blind eye when one of them was living a life of luxury while the other struggled.

Hence, she didn’t mind Xander staying at the Jenson residence as long as he behaved himself and stopped causing trouble.

Gwendolyn was lost in her thoughts, and before she realized it, Logan had walked her to the garage.

After dismissing Logan and letting him return to Valentino’s side, she casually selected a luxury car and left the Jenson residence in the drizzling night.

However, instead of returning to the Harris residence, she made her way to the laboratory. She was heading to the treatment room that Cedrick had prepared for her before his departure.

At Mount Tranquil, the rain continued to patter incessantly, accompanied by chilling gusts of wind. The temperature was rapidly decreasing.

Asher suffered from rheumatic disease as an after–effect following his previous reckless actions.

The cold and moist weather caused his knees to give way.

Waves of pain swept through Asher’s body, causing him to collapse in agony. The searing torment in his limbs made it impossible for him to focus, let alone hold onto a pen and continue working on his scripture studies.

Knowing that his disease might act up in such weather, Sienna hurriedly grabbed an umbrella and raced to the ancestral hall of the villa.

By the time she arrived, Asher was already drenched in cold sweat due to the pain. Beads of salty sweat seeped into the open wounds on his back, intensifying the pain and causing him to suffer more.

His entire being endured both physical and mental torment.

“Hubby!” Sienna’s heart shattered as she cried out, choking back on tears. She quickly summoned the bodyguards, who then helped carry Asher to see the family doctor.

The doctor was familiar with Asher’s knee and back injuries and was skilled at tending to his wounds.

After tending to the wounds, the doctor gave Asher a pain–relieving injection and intravenous treatment to ease inflammation and provide nourishment.

The sick Asher lay weakly in bed, his former vitality replaced by frailty. The rain continued to pour outside, exacerbating the piercing pain in his knees caused by the weather.

The doctor gave him some painkillers, causing him to drift between moments of clarity and bouts of disorientation. He also found it difficult to speak due to his hoarse throat.

Sienna sat beside him, her sobs echoing in the room. She was heartbroken to witness her beloved husband in such a weakened state.

Annie, who had already fallen asleep, was awakened by the noise. When she noticed the slightly ajar door to the master bedroom, she casually knocked twice before entering.

Sienna turned around and caught sight of her. Without hesitation, she fetched a chair and positioned it next to the bedside. “Please, have a seat, Ms. Annie.”

Annie didn’t bother with formalities and made herself at home. She walked over and sat down to check on Asher’s condition.

“The punishment that Ms. Harris gave Mr. Asher seems excessively harsh. Is it taking a toll on his body?”

Sienna wiped her tears with a tissue as she nodded. “No one knew it will rain today. His rheumatism has flared up, and the pain is too much for him.”

Annie sighed as well, the look in her eyes revealing traces of genuine sympathy.

She promptly decided to seize the opportunity and continued persuading, “Mrs. Harris, you shouldn’t hesitate anymore. If this continues, Mr. Asher might very well be tortured to death. He used to be one of the most prominent figures in Chanaea, a top pilot, and even the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Now, he’s left idle at home and subjected to Ms. Harris‘ bullying. Are you really going to tolerate this?”

Sienna sighed and responded, “Yes, I share your sentiments, but I’ve discussed this with Asher, and he vehemently opposes any intervention. What can I do if he disagrees?”

She couldn’t comprehend Asher’s resolute stance on the issue. Asher still stood firm in his decision, adamantly refusing to assist Annie in causing harm to Gwendolyn although Sienna had conveyed Gwendolyn’s intentions to him.

If he resented Gwendolyn, he wouldn’t have willingly accepted his punishment.

He seemed determined to avoid getting entangled in this matter, choosing to feign ignorance.

However, Sienna understood well that if Annie really turned out to be the illegitimate daughter, Evelyn, Asher would find himself caught between his biological sister and the half–sister he had once assisted.

He couldn’t simply extricate himself from the sticky situation.

The more Sienna contemplated the matter, the more troubled she became.

Undeterred, Annie continued to persuade, “Or perhaps, you needn’t seek Mr. Asher’s consent anymore. You can take charge of the situation yourself. We will clear the path for him, and once everything is settled, Mr. Asher will have no choice but to stand united with us.”

Sienna pretended to be conflicted, carefully contemplating her options. Eventually, she consented to the arrangement. “Very well. I will entrust you with this matter. I will follow your lead, but I want Gwendolyn to pay the price for tormenting Asher.”

Annie smiled warmly and replied, “Certainly.”

After spending some time by Asher’s sickbed in the master bedroom, Annie returned to her own room and sent a text message to Paul.

In truth, Paul had arrived in Salinsburgh a couple of days ago, tired of maintaining a long–distance relationship with his girlfriend. He had checked into a nearby hotel, unable to bear the separation any longer.

Annie shared her ambitious plan to seize control of the Harris Group with Paul.

Once Gwendolyn’s influence was undermined and Asher assumed power, Harris Group could establish a