Chapter 19: Clues Exposed

Outside the interrogation room.

Olivia hurried over, her expression grave. "Boss, that gunman from the Drake family has talked. His name is Nick, an outer member of Evan's security team. But he's being stubborn, convinced we won't dare kill him. He's boasting that the Drake family will come rescue him soon."

"Rescue him?"

Leo snorted, flicking cigar ash into the ashtray, his eyes full of disdain.

"This type of person is just a disposable pawn raised by the Drake family. Once captured, his only value is to be silenced. And he actually expects his master to come save a useless dog."

Olivia nodded in understanding. "Should we continue the interrogation?"

"No need. We won't get anything out of him. These pawns have nothing in their heads except loyalty. He doesn't know any more than Richard does."

Leo waved his hand dismissively, stood up, and walked to the large floor-to-ceiling window. "Olivia, from now on, pull back all our intelligence networks. Don't waste time searching for that butler Manuel like finding a needle in a haystack. Concentrate all our people and have them watch every single person in the Drake family around the clock, especially Evan."

"Boss, you mean...?"

"We don't need to find that dog," Leo's lips curved into a cold smile. "Because his master will personally lead us to him."

Olivia understood, a flash of admiration in her eyes.

Leo was fishing.

Evening, the Rosenberg Mansion.

The private reception room on the third floor of the main building.

Mira sat in her wheelchair. Though her body was still weak, those aged eyes burned with a long-absent vitality.

The door opened.

Leo walked in, supporting Chloe.

Chloe had changed into a light blue dress, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders, shimmering with a soft luster in the sunlight.

When she lifted her head, that face bearing a seventy percent resemblance to her mother instantly came into Mira's view.

"Emily..."

Mira reached out with trembling hands, her eyes immediately moistening.

That was her daughter's name.

"Grandmother... I'm Chloe... your granddaughter..."

Chloe could no longer contain her emotions. She knelt before Mira's wheelchair and embraced her, crying uncontrollably.

Over twenty years of grievances, confusion, and loneliness transformed into tears in this moment, finally finding an outlet.

"Child... my child..."

Mira pulled Chloe into her arms, holding her tight.

"Twenty years! I've finally found you!"

Grandmother and granddaughter cried in each other's arms while Leo stood quietly to the side, not disturbing this rare moment of reunion.

After a long while, their emotions gradually settled.

Chloe lifted her head from Mira's embrace, looking at Leo with gratitude in her eyes. "Grandmother, if it weren't for Leo, I would never have known my own background, much less met you."

"Good child." Mira patted Chloe's hand and looked at Leo. "Mr. Ashford, you not only saved my life but also reunited us. The Rosenberg family will never forget this kindness."

"Don't thank me yet."

Leo stepped forward and sat down on the leather sofa opposite Mira, crossing his legs and exhaling a puff of smoke. "Mrs. Rosenberg, there are some things I must tell you. We caught Richard and got some intelligence from him."

"Richard?" Mira's face darkened. "What did that traitor confess?"

"The car accident involving your daughter over twenty years ago was indeed an assassination planned by the Drake family. Manuel planned it!"

"That bastard Richard!"

Mira slammed the armrest of her wheelchair, veins bulging on the back of her aged hand. "I treated him well, and they betrayed the family, betrayed me!"

"Mrs. Rosenberg, please calm down," Leo said calmly. "Richard is just a dog. The real master is still behind the scenes! And the Drake family likely has more than just Richard as a mole inside our family."

"Yes, but I don't know where Manuel is either."

Mira shook her head, a flash of regret in her eyes. "That cunning fellow retired three years ago, supposedly to his hometown. But no one knows exactly where."

"No matter."

Leo's lips curved into a cold smile. "My people will find him."

Mira looked deeply at Leo.

So young, yet possessing extraordinary shrewdness and capability.

"I suspect there's an even bigger mole inside the Rosenberg family."

Mira's voice was icy. "And this person holds a high position, likely a piece directly developed by a core member of the Drake family. Someone like Richard couldn't even access that level."

Leo nodded. "I think so too. So we can't reveal your identity yet. Once it's public, that mole hiding in the shadows will definitely act early. Then you'll become a sitting duck."

"Besides," Leo flicked his ash, "the Drake family could have killed your mother twenty years ago, and they can kill you now. They've been operating in New York for decades, deeply entrenched. We need time to uproot them bit by bit."

Chloe bit her lip hard, a flash of reluctance in her eyes, but she understood Leo was right.

"I'll listen to you."

Mira also nodded in agreement. "Mr. Ashford, you're right. Chloe's identity must only be revealed at an absolutely safe time. Until then..."

"I'll clean up inside the family first. Those parasites won't escape."

Leo stood up and stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray.

"I'll take my leave then. I'll personally handle Chloe's safety. As for the Drake family..."

He turned to face the floor-to-ceiling window, a flash of cold killing intent in his eyes.

"Soon, I'll make them pay."

Just then, Leo's phone vibrated.

It was Olivia.

"Boss!"

On the other end, Olivia's voice carried a hint of excitement. "The Drake family is making a move! Ten minutes ago, a black armored Mercedes left through the estate's back gate with only one person inside—Evan's personal bodyguard, codename Parker."

"He's currently heading toward the outskirts. Based on the route, he's probably going to a private dock on the north shore of Long Island."

Leo's eyes flashed.

"Manuel has appeared."

He pulled open the car door, got into the driver's seat, and started the engine.

"Send me the location. I'm on my way."

"Got it!"

The engine roared.

The black Maybach shot out of the estate like an arrow, disappearing into New York's traffic.

Leo drove while lighting a cigar, his lips curving into a cold smile.

"Finally showing a lead."

Leo stood up and stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray.

"I'll take my leave then. I'll personally handle Chloe's safety. As for the Drake family..."

He turned toward the floor-to-ceiling window, a flash of cold killing intent in his eyes.

"Soon, I'll make them pay."

The room grew quiet again.

Mira looked at Chloe's worried face and smiled kindly.

"Chloe, you care a lot about Leo, don't you?"

Chloe's cheeks instantly flushed as she waved her hands frantically. "...No! We're just friends..."

"Chloe." Mira patted her hand. "I've lived over seventy years. What kind of man haven't I seen? A man like Leo is rare."

"He has capability, responsibility, and most importantly, his feelings for you are genuine."

Chloe lowered her head, saying softly, "Grandmother, don't say such things..."