Chapter 228 Joining Forces Against Catherine and Alexander
Ezekiel instantly broke out in a cold sweat. In their eyes, Alexander was nothing more than a naive child.
He had only reached his position today because of Felix’s support. Without Felix, he was nothing.
“Where did Alexander get the nerve? Could Felix have found out? That doesn’t make sense!”
They had done plenty of shady things over the years. Felix might not have been unaware—he was probably just pretending not to know.
Could it be that Felix couldn’t stand by while they went after Catherine? Ezekiel broke out in a cold sweat. He stared at the photos on his phone and slowly calmed down.
In the photo, Santino’s thigh was badly injured—it looked beyond saving!
The middle-aged man beside Ezekiel asked, confused, “Ezekiel, did Felix get involved in this? Or did the Windsor family step in?”
"Not sure. If it really was the Windsor family and Felix, Santino and I would just have to accept our bad luck! Go find Tiberius quickly and ask him how to handle this!"
After all, he chose to move against Alexander now because Tiberius had suggested it.
If Tiberius hadn’t pointed out that Alexander was recently injured and that now was the perfect moment to strike, he never would have been so foolish.
After thinking it over, Ezekiel decided to call Tiberius himself.
"Ezekiel, I only told you that you could make a move on Alexander. I never said you could go after Catherine." Tiberius’s lips curled into a twisted, almost cruel smile.
"After all, Catherine is someone I’m interested in too. If any of you so much as touch her, I won’t be happy." Ezekiel sneered.
"Don’t tell me you didn’t see us going after Catherine. And if you think I’m going to be your shield against Santino, forget it!" Tiberius shrugged, stretching casually as if daring Ezekiel to argue.
"I didn’t see it coming. I just wanted you to take out Alexander so Catherine’s engagement would be void—that would work in both our favors."
The Howard family's desire to eliminate Alexander and take his place was obvious.
What Tiberius wanted was just that engagement!
Ezekiel frowned. "The engagement? Seems Catherine’s special enough to catch even someone like you."
Catherine did have a certain beauty—no wonder both Alexander and Tiberius were obsessed with her!
Tiberius smiled. "So, are we still working together? I want Catherine, you want the Howard family’s power. We both come out on top."
Ezekiel was tempted.
Tiberius’s influence in their circle was far from insignificant. If he could join forces with him, bringing down Alexander might actually be possible.
Once he had control of the Howard family, what did it matter if the Windsor family came after him? Tiberius added one final weight to the scale.
"Besides, Santino's trouble is actually good for you."
"What do you mean? We’re brothers. Whatever happens between Santino and me is our business. It’s not your place as an outsider to get involved!"
Tiberius’s lips curved into a silent smile. "But with Santino out of the way, no one will suspect you. One less person means one less competitor. Don’t you see?"
There were only so many shares. If they had to give Santino a portion, how much would actually be left for him?
But outwardly, Ezekiel didn’t give in. "That’s my business, not yours! If you want to work with me, prove your sincerity!"
"Easy enough," Tiberius replied with a sly grin.
After hanging up, Tiberius’s gaze drifted to the person beside him. “If we move against Alexander,” he said, voice low, “what are our chances?”
Ethan, who was eating an apple, almost spit it in Tiberius's face!
“Who? You called me here… to kill Alexander?”
“Listen, Tiberius, you’ve got a dark heart! Alexander’s the one who broke my leg!”
Sending him to find Alexander now was no different from sentencing him to death. Jumping off a building would probably be quicker than facing Alexander.
Tiberius raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you want revenge for the Abyssal Blades?”
Ethan silently finished the apple in his hand, then wiped his mouth with careless indifference.
He shook his head. "We don't care about that stuff!"
If he truly wanted revenge, he’d have countless targets to hunt every day. The Abyssal Blades had made too many enemies to count.
Besides, didn’t Alexander hire the Abyssal Blades for revenge in the first place? In the end, he’d underestimated the Shadow Syndicate’s strength from the very start.
Tiberius pressed on, trying to convince Ethan. “If you truly didn’t want revenge, you wouldn’t have come when your boss ordered you to find me.”
“Nonsense! My boss called—if I didn’t come, you think he’d just let me wait to get chopped up?” Ethan rolled his eyes, thinking Tiberius was an idiot.
Since he had the opportunity to enjoy a free stay in Imperial City, with all his meals and lodging covered, he naturally wasn't going to turn it down!
"I'll find a way to dismantle Alexander’s defenses first; then, the opening is yours." Ethan offered no resistance to the plan. With a cold, mocking smirk, he leaned back and closed his eyes, drifting into a restless silence.
That was only if Tiberius actually had the ability to touch Alexander!
Tiberius meticulously reviewed every contingency in his mind; only when he was certain the trap was airtight did a cold, satisfied smile touch his lips.
"I just need to get out of the hospital soon, or I'll miss the start of school and seeing her."
"Ethan, you can go ahead with what I arranged last time."
Ethan curled his lip in a sharp sneer. "Matthew’s already handled it. I have to hand it to you—you’re genuinely warped, always spinning these devious, underhanded ploys."
Tiberius gave a dismissive shrug. "A plan is only as 'twisted' as its failure. If it works, it’s a masterstroke." Ezekiel slowly lowered the phone, a sheen of cold sweat glistening on his brow.
The middle-aged secretary standing at his side gave a slight, deferential bow. "Mr. Howard, there is a visitor here to see you. He claims to be an old acquaintance, so I took the liberty of showing him in."
"Show him in," Howard replied, his voice level but layered with a sudden, sharp curiosity.
Gemini said
Ezekiel was used to a constant stream of supplicants seeking his favor; a request for a meeting was a mundane occurrence that barely registered on his radar. He dismissed the interruption with a weary wave of his hand, assuming it was just another businessman looking for a handout.
A woman in a fitted dress, wearing somewhat cheap jade accessories, walked in on high heels. Her swaying figure had a certain charm—despite her age, she still had some appeal and beauty.
Ezekiel stood up immediately, frowning. “Celeste? What are you doing here?”
When Celeste saw Ezekiel, her eyes welled with red.
They hadn’t seen each other in years. Now, looking at Ezekiel, Celeste’s eyes welled up.
“Ezekiel… after all these years, I still can’t forget you.”
Ezekiel quickly guided Celeste to sit beside him. “You didn’t get married, did you? How have you been all these years?”
Hearing Ezekiel's concerned words, Celeste burst into tears!
Celeste wiped the tears from her face and glanced hesitantly at Ezekiel—one of her first loves and the richest of all the men she’d known back then.
If she’d known Ezekiel was from the Howard family, she never would have married Oliver, who had nothing. This time, no matter what, she had to hold onto Ezekiel—tightly.
Identified issue: