Chapter 161 Heartless Man

Ronald squinted at Laura, puffing on his cigarette in silence.

The murderous intent in his eyes gave away his thoughts. Laura wasn't locked up because of Frank.

Frank wasn't dead. Ronald had seen this coming from the start.

He knew these kids well. They wouldn't rest until they got what they wanted. Alan was like that, and so was Frank.

It was a sloppy lie, but in the chaos, it seemed believable enough, at least to outsiders.

He knew Anna, who was adept at utilizing men. Any man, she could find a way to use. Being locked up by Frank, she wouldn't act out. For her, using or relying on Frank to survive was the best option.

When Erica asked him about Frank's death, he immediately figured it was a setup by Alan and Frank.

These two had gone to great lengths to force him out, thinking that with Frank dead, he would lose his main rival or his greatest support, and come out to investigate, exposing himself.

Alan found Erica to stir things up and force him out.

They knew Erica well enough to guess she could find him, but they didn't understand the depth of their relationship.

He hated traitors the most, and hadn't he betrayed love and family himself?

But he had no regrets, and he would continue until the end.

"Ronald, you promised me you'd find those kids."

Erica finished combing her hair and sat with Laura, gently patting Laura's hand, which was cold as ice. Erica felt a wave of sorrow.

"Yeah." Ronald replied honestly.

It was the first time he spoke since entering, without any pretense, answering directly.

He couldn't tell if he loved or hated the woman in front of him more.

It was love. They had been classmates since childhood. Erica was always above him, from a well-off family with professor parents, smart and adored by all the boys. She received love letters frequently since middle school, but for some reason, she favored him, who seemed dull and had average grades.

He often thought it was because strong people needed a sense of security, someone inferior to highlight their own value.

This thought persisted until they graduated high school. That summer after senior year, Erica lay naked in his arms, drawing circles on his chest, and seriously told him, "I've liked you for a long, long time."

At that moment, he realized love needed no reason, no status.

He fell in love with Erica, embracing her wholeheartedly.

They went to the same university, studying different majors. Erica remained the most popular girl, and everyone was curious about her boyfriend, wondering how such an ordinary guy, who had to empty his pockets for a meal.

Erica carefully protected his pride, encouraging him to work part-time, and insisted on dining out, but always kept the budget within his means.

Then Erica said they should be fair, so she treated him to his first high-end whiskey and French cuisine.

He should have been grateful to fate, to Erica, to love.

But everything shattered during the winter break of their freshman year when Erica's father visited without notice.

He didn't even sit, standing for ten minutes, talking face-to-face with him and Ronald's father.

The humiliation of being looked down upon, asking about his father's job, the number of kids, annual income, etc.

Two mature men didn't need to say much, especially Erica's father, who precisely targeted his deep-seated inferiority and fear.

Ronald originally considered this as motivation.

But what broke him wasn't Erica's father, but his own dad.

That night, his father excitedly asked if he had slept with Erica, urging him to hold onto her, marry after graduation, and let her dad buy them a house, saving him twenty years of struggle.

It completely shattered Ronald pride and dreams. From that moment, all his inferiority and fear turned into an unyielding ambition to rise above.

He could betray everything, but no one could betray him.

His proudest day was marrying Erica as a police chief, standing on stage, looking down at her father like a victor receiving his crown.

Ronald snapped back to reality, his expression firming.

"I lied to you. I promised to find them, but I've been keeping those kids in Shadow City. They played a crucial role in my plans and performed exceptionally."

Erica trembled. The once invincible business queen, known for her patience, vision, and tactics, now was fragile and lifeless.

After a long pause, she sighed and choked out, "Heartless man, why did you have to say it? You've been lying to yourself. Why suffer? We... aren't right for each other."

Ronald murmured, lowering his eyes, his voice hoarse. "I thank you for giving me the best years of my life, for showing me another possibility. But I chose my own path. Without you, I wouldn't be who I am today."

"Do you hate me?"

Erica turned her back to him, her shoulders shaking. Laura sat quietly, eyes closed, humming a tune.

"I should love you, thank you, respect you, but I can't. Our best decision was that divorce. You knew the truth, even when I wanted to tell you, but you didn't listen. I proposed the divorce for your sake. We still have Zoey and Howard."

Suddenly, Laura laughed and said, "Wow, Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty would sound better in a lower key. I just thought of that!"

Erica was stunned, and Ronald snorted.

"Laura, is that what you were thinking about?" Erica asked incredulously.

"What else?" Laura blinked, glancing at Ronald. "It's the greatest insult to life to listen to a coward's speech."