Secret Scion

Asher was stunned for a split second before he broke into a chuckle. "Perhaps there's a reason for it. Dove hasn't contacted me in quite a few days."

The look on Noelle's face turned ice cold and was as chilling as frost. Resentment was clear in her eyes as she snorted, "In that case, I should also stay in this hotel and be right next door. We'll see who will come to seduce you!"

Asher could not help but smile helplessly. He could see how much Noelle loved him, and he had always kept her close to his heart.

Perhaps Noelle had always known that the feeling was reciprocated but there was now a wall between them ever since the divorce that neither of them could break through. This barrier was what was preventing them from getting back together again.

"Let's get down to business. Candace called last night. She told me that Garrett had a meal at her family's restaurant. He seemed to have tried to force Freya into his bed, but she was saved after the authorities came to her rescue. Then, he drank too much and had Radley's cousin, Mikaela..." Asher asked, "What happened to Mikaela?"

Noelle turned red before finally speaking after a split second's hesitation. "Garrett forced himself on her."

Asher did not seem too surprised by the revelation. He simply lit a cigarette and approached a window to watch the light drizzle outside. "This isn't the first for Garrett. As far as I know, when he was in high school, even the female teacher was not spared. In the end, it was the Schmidts who had to come out of the woodworks to keep the matter on the down low."

"How nice it is when you have power. Are you that kind of man as well?" Noelle deliberately prodded to see Asher's reaction.

"If I were such a person, I would've long taken you for myself during our marriage."

Noelle turned even redder when she heard his words. She had not expected to have dug a hole for herself.

"I've heard that the Hoffmans have placed their bets on the Schmidts. The Leonards were already a chore to deal with on their own, and now the Hoffmans have joined the fray. I presume that quite a few households with less power would've joined hands with them. Are you sure you can deal with them, Asher?"

What Noelle could not fathom was that Garrett had begun to attract several notable households to his side from the moment he set foot in Rollinsford. Asher may have had the lead, but he took no action. What was he thinking?

Asher then sat down on the couch and took a long drag. "It's often those who are first in line that are the most unreliable. They like to sail with the wind. There's nothing to worry about. Would you believe me if I told you I can get the Hoffmans on my side?"

Noelle frowned. Asher seemed to be acting rather oddly. He exuded confidence as if everything was under his control.

Based on her understanding of Asher, he would never say anything he was unsure of or do anything uncertain. She believed Asher was more than capable of it.

She, however, purposefully shook her head. "I wouldn't believe you."

Asher was not too perturbed by it and was still smiling. "I hear Julian's father has an illegitimate child out there named Hunter Larson. His mother was a woman his father favored but the household had strongly opposed the match so the two went their separate ways. Hunter became part of Ford Cook's underground troop. He was quite the popular man by Ford's side due to his wits and efficiency. With Ford now about to abdicate, he intends to support Hunter up into the limelight."

"How do you know all this? Very few know about it even within the circle," Noelle could not help but ask.

Asher shrugged. "I've been in Rollinsford for two years. It isn't odd for me to know this."

"But what does this have to do with where the Hoffmans stand?" Noelle continued to question.

"Hunter's greatest wish throughout the years is to secure a title for his mother and reclaim what belongs to him. In other words, he wants to be the next Sullivan head. But his current strength is far from enough to shake the Hoffmans. His only option is to be a frontrunner qualified to compete against the Hoffmans."

Noelle clarified, "So, you want to help Hunter reach the top?"

"Why not when he can be of use to me?" Asher took one final drag of his cigarette and put it out

in the ashtray. "Hunter may have a background in the underground, but his reputation is equal to Julian's. I've long wanted to meet him."

"I'll come with you."

Asher was taken aback. He asked, "Why would you want to go? That sort of environment isn't suitable for you."

"I don't care. I'm going. I'll follow you no matter where you go..." Her face was blood red as her words trailed off, and her voice grew too soft to be heard...

The Leonards living room.

Hallberg Leonard was serving tea. He was puzzled as he watched Harley Sullivan. Harley rarely came into the public eye throughout the years. It was an even rarer occurrence for her to visit the Leonard residence. What had happened for her to have rushed up to his home in such outrage this early in the morning? Could the Leonards have somehow offended the Sullivans? "What brings you here today, Mrs. Sullivan?" Hallberg asked with an amicable smile. There was no expression on Harley's countenance as she replied, "I'm here for one thing, Mr. Leonard. And that is to ask for an explanation on behalf of my granddaughter, Freya." Hallberg frowned. "What happened to Freya?"

"You can go ahead and ask your granddaughter Mikaela instead!" Harley harrumphed.

It was obvious that Harley was coming from a bad place. Could Mikaela have messed with Freya?

After thinking it through, Hallberg called out to his butler. "Have Mikaela come here!" The butler responded and hurried out of the main room. The moment he left, he ran into Radley.

Seeing how the butler was in such a hurry, Radley asked what was going on, and he learned that Harley was here. He instantly realized that she was here for what happened last night. Mikaela was unable to sleep all night and could only rest when dawn arrived. Her emotions were fluctuating between good and bad. If she lost control of her emotions when meeting Harley, it was likely that she would spill the beans about what happened last night. Radley covered for her. "There's no need to seek her out. She isn't home. I'll tell Grandpa." He hastily entered the living room and greeted Harley with a smile. "Hello, Mrs. Sullivan." "Where is Mikaela?" Harley asked bluntly.

Radley answered as he grinned. "She left early this morning and has yet to return. I called her up just now but no one answered. Do you have important business with her, Mrs. Sullivan?" "Stop feigning confusion, Radley Leonard. I don't believe that you knew nothing about this!" Harley fumed.

Hallberg was so flummoxed that he asked, "Do tell us, Mrs. Sullivan. What did Mikaela do to Freya? If she has done something wrong, she won't be getting off the hook. You have my word as a grandfather."

Harley took notice of Hallberg's decency and thus recounted last night's events, and then added coldly, "Freya is safe and sound but it does not mean that nothing has happened. She's my most beloved granddaughter. If anything happens to her, we, the Sullivans, will devote ourselves to avenging her!"

Hallberg did not expect Mikaela to participate in such a farce. Was she intentionally trying to cause trouble for the Leonards?

He angrily slammed his teacup against the table, snorting, "You have no need to worry, Mrs. Sullivan. She'll be severely punished once she returns, and I'll have her personally come to you to make amends."

The Leonards did not fear the Sullivans but for them to be in the ranks of the four great households meant that their heritage and strength could not be underestimated. Hallberg would never turn against the Sullivans for Mikaela as it was not in their best interest.

"That would be for the best!" With that, Harley stormed out.

After Harley had left by car, Hallberg eyed Radley and demanded heatedly, "Have Mikaela come to me now. I know she hasn't gone out. Freya has always been Harley's prized pearl. She can't bear the wrath of the Sullivans herself now that she's provoked their ire! She'll be taught a good lesson!"

Radley glanced at his grandfather with great trepidation, and explained timidly, "Please calm down, Grandpa. Mikaela was doing this for our family's future. Think about it, Grandpa. The Sullivans refused to stand on the Schmidts side. It means that they are on Asher Crawford's side. We and the Sullivans may become hostile to one another. Mikaela did it because she wanted the Sullivans allied with us to go against Asher. I admit that this is indeed inappropriate but these are her painstaking efforts."

Hallberg was far from amused. "Were you also involved in the matter, Radley?"

Radley hurried to deny it.