Chapter 341 Out of Control

Chapter 345 Can I Take Care of You?

Walking out of the secret room and returning to her desk, Rachel looked at the photo of Brandon and Arthur, her eyes becoming gentle yet firm again.

"I'm sorry, Brandon, but some things you don't need to face yourself," she murmured. "Let me clear the path ahead for us, in my own way."

Rachel knew that once Anouk made her move, David's fate was sealed.

And the future for Rachel and Brandon would have one less deadly threat, and one more measure of secret peace that she had secured on her own.

South Aetheria, outskirts of Starry Sky District, a heavily guarded private estate.

Far from the city's hustle and bustle, with Table Mountain at its back and facing the ocean, the scenery was stunning, yet the security measures rivaled those of a small fortress.

David had used the last portion of wealth he'd managed to transfer to build himself a luxurious refuge here, and also constructed a dark network of power.

By bribing local officials and colluding with some underground forces, he had temporarily gained a foothold.

But the hatred and resentment in his heart had never subsided.

Like a wounded beast, he licked his wounds, plotting day and night how to take revenge.

The faces of Brandon and Rachel appeared repeatedly in his dreams, accompanied by bone-deep hatred.

He gathered every piece of information about City A and Brandon's new moves, searching for any possible weakness.

He might not be able to bring down Brandon immediately, but at least he could make him and Rachel pay a heavy price—for instance, let their precious son Arthur have a little "accident"...

David's loneliness and long-suppressed desires also grew in this semi-isolated environment.

Just then, one of his trusted subordinates mentioned that a mysterious beauty had recently appeared in the local high society circles.

Supposedly a young widow who had just lost her husband, she had inherited her late husband's mining shares and some real estate in South Aetheria, and had come to handle business matters and relax.

She kept to herself, but when she occasionally attended necessary social events, her stunning beauty and the air of grief and detachment following her husband's death instantly attracted countless eyes.

His subordinate had even secretly taken a few blurry photos of her profile and back.

Though the resolution wasn't great, David was immediately captivated at first glance.

That slender yet upright figure, that delicate outline barely visible beneath the black veil, completely struck his aesthetic and desire to conquer.

A widow who had lost her support, possessed wealth, was beautiful and sorrowful, in a foreign land... practically the perfect prey heaven had prepared for him.

"Go," David licked his somewhat dry lips, his eyes flashing with lecherous calculation, "in my name, invite this... Ms. Lila Sullivan to the estate for dinner. Say I want to welcome her and ease her homesickness. Be respectful, but also let her understand that here, my word carries weight."

He planned to approach her gently first, display his wealth and power, and slowly break down her defenses.

If things went smoothly, he might not only get intimate with her, but could gradually bring her assets under his control as well, gaining another bargaining chip.

His subordinate left to carry out the order.

Unexpectedly, shortly after the invitation was sent, Lila agreed.

David was overjoyed, taking this as proof of his charm and status, and even more as a sign that the beauty was lonely, helpless, and longing for support.

That evening, the estate held a small but extremely lavish dinner party.

When Lila appeared in the dining room wearing a well-tailored black dress and matching lace veil, David was nearly mesmerized.

She was even more breathtakingly beautiful in person than in the photos, that cold detachment tinged with faint sorrow made his heart itch unbearably.

After dinner, David suggested showing her his private collection room and wine cellar in the estate.

Lila seemed hesitant, but under David's sincere invitation and subtle pressure, she eventually nodded gently.

David laughed inwardly, dismissed most of his men, leaving only two of his most trusted bodyguards following at a distance.

He led Lila to his private chamber with excellent soundproofing.

Various treasures he'd collected were displayed here, along with top-tier equipment for his pleasures—this was his secret place to vent his private desires.

Entering the chamber, the heavy door slowly closed, shutting out the outside world.

Lila seemed somewhat uneasy as she looked around, her fingers slightly curled.

David smiled and moved closer, trying to take her hand: "Don't be afraid, Lila, it's very safe here, just the two of us. I know it's hard being alone. From now on, let me take care of you, okay?"

His voice was full of false tenderness.

Lila stepped back, avoiding his hand, her voice softer, with resistance: "Mr. Finley, please don't do this. I want to go back."

This weak resistance was like a spark, completely igniting David's long-suppressed lust.

The smile on his face turned vicious as he closed in step by step: "Go back? Go back where? Don't be silly, Lila. Here, I'm in charge. Be good, and I'll show you what real pleasure is."

He reached out to grab her collar.

Lila cried out, seemingly panicking as she dodged, inadvertently knocking over an expensive porcelain piece on a nearby display stand. The shattering sound was particularly clear in the chamber.

The bodyguards outside heard the commotion and asked alertly: "Boss? Everything okay?"

David, at the height of his excitement, shouted impatiently: "I'm fine! Stay away! Don't come in without my order! Lila and I are going to have some fun!"

He turned back to look at Lila, who was trembling slightly from fright, his desire reaching its peak.

He loosened his tie, his eyes full of lechery: "Now, no one can disturb us."

However, just as he lunged forward again, the Lila before him suddenly stopped trembling.

The panic on her face transformed into a mocking smile.

Alarm bells rang in David's mind, but it was too late.

Anouk made her move.

A matte black specialized short blade slid from her sleeve, cutting through the dim light in an almost invisible flash of cold steel.

David only felt a chill on his neck, not even feeling pain.

He stared wide-eyed in disbelief at Anouk, whose expression had instantly changed, opened his mouth to shout, but could only make a gasping sound.

Warm liquid gushed out, staining his expensive shirt red, and the chamber's luxurious carpet as well.

Anouk coldly watched him stagger backward clutching his neck, finally collapsing powerlessly to the ground, body convulsing, pupils rapidly dilating.

She didn't even glance down at the dying David, but walked to a ventilation opening on one side of the chamber, retrieved a small package she'd hidden there earlier, quickly changed into a dark outfit suitable for movement, and stuffed the bloodstained dress into the bag.

Then she walked to the chamber's control panel, skillfully operated it a few times, deactivating a temporary backdoor program in the door lock—something she'd planted in advance through hacking.

Then she silently opened the chamber door. The bodyguards outside had already been knocked out by the micro hypnotic gas she'd deliberately released when knocking over the porcelain earlier. Her figure melted into the estate's complex shadows and surveillance blind spots. In an instant, her silhouette disappeared into the vast night and the distant sound of ocean waves.