Chapter 433 William, You Secretly Married Thalia, Didn't You?
"When I poured all those water barrels on the ground, I realized something was wrong. It was oil. I regretted it the moment I figured it out, but then someone lit a fire. By the time I wanted to call for help, it was too late."
"So I ran out before the fire got bigger. I didn't dare tell anyone from the crew, I'm afraid they'd come after me, thinking I set the fire."
"That's all I know, Mr. Brown. I was just greedy for money, I never meant to hurt anyone! My wife is disabled, and my son is still in school. I didn't dare stay at the scene because I was worried that if I got arrested, there'd be no one to take care of my wife and child."
"Mr. Brown, I've told you everything I know. Please let me go! I'm old and sick. I live nearby, and when I heard the crew needed help, I went there, thinking I could barely make ends meet."
"Mr. Brown..."
"Mr. Brown..."
"Mr. Brown..."
Finn pulled the man away and closed the Maybach door. The man wailed desperately, watching the Maybach drive off.
"Give me the bank card."
The man didn't dare delay. He pulled out a worn wallet from his pocket, the leather peeling after who knows how many years of use. Finn watched, feeling a pang of discomfort.
Taking the bank card, he looked away. "Go to the West District Police Station and find an officer named Ethan. Tell him what happened tonight. He'll make proper arrangements for you."
"I can't go to the police station, I can't. My wife and child need me to take care of them."
"You took their money and did this. If they don't want anyone to know about it, what do you think will happen to you? Want to die?"
"As long as you cooperate with us, Mr. Brown might not hold you responsible. But if you don't listen..."
He left it at that. Some things couldn't be said out loud.
...
"Found it. A foreign account, but the account owner has close ties to Sean."
William nodded. "Go to the Jimenez Mansion."
"Have Daniel arrange for someone to set a fire."
Finn's heart skipped a beat. He thought, the Jimenezes have been jumping around for so long, they're finally going to get what's coming.
When William made a move, he always made sure the other party paid a heavy price.
At 1:30 in the morning, the Jimenezes had all gone to bed, except Sean, who stood in the living room of the Jimenez Mansion holding a glass of water, video chatting with someone on the other end, his tone incredibly gentle.
Suddenly, car lights shone into the yard. He was dazed for a moment, and before he could react, dozens of people rushed down with oil cans, splashing something at the entrance.
When he came to his senses, Sean hung up the phone without saying goodbye and yanked open the door. He saw William standing at the entrance in a black suit, a lighter in his hand, flickering on and off, looking as casual as if he'd just strolled by the Jimenez Mansion. Sean panicked, his nostrils filled with the smell of gasoline.
"William, what are you trying to do?"
"I learned a trick from you today. Wanted to see if it works." The lighter in William's hand kept clicking.
Just the sound made Sean break out in a cold sweat. With the smell of gasoline everywhere, the clicking of the lighter was like a death knell.
The commotion at the door disturbed Steven. When the two came out of the bedroom in their robes, they saw this scene. Eileen's legs went weak with fear.
"You wicked creature, what are you trying to do?"
Hearing Eileen's words, Daniel glanced at William. Seeing he had no intention of responding, he spoke up for him, "To burn you to death, of course. At your age, with a bad brain and blind eyes? Now you're asking questions you already know the answer to?"
Spending time with Thalia had improved his cursing skills.
"You... you know this is illegal, right?"
"We certainly know it's illegal. But does Mr. Sean Jimenez know?" William asked.
Then he tossed Sean a phone. There was nothing on it except a video—content that was enough for William to send him to prison.
"We can talk this through." Steven tried to smooth things over, not wanting the atmosphere to get too tense.
"Mr. Steven Jimenez, since you want me to go to Regal City so badly, I'll give you a choice. Me or Sean. Pick one."
Hearing this, Eileen was shocked. Choose between him and Sean? Was this a joke? Sean was the successor she'd carefully groomed. What was William? How could he compare?
"Dream on."
William nodded, wiping the lighter in his hand. He lowered his head and gave a cold laugh, then flung the lighter to Finn, who understood and tossed it at the entrance of the Jimenez Mansion.
With a whoosh, flames instantly shot up.
The entire Jimenez Mansion was engulfed in fire. Eileen screamed in terror. Sean pulled the two of them out of the house, never imagining William could be this brazen.
In the yard, the firelight illuminated William's cold face. A corner of Eileen's nightgown had burned, and she stood before him looking disheveled, while William looked pristine, like a savior.
"I should have strangled you back then, thrown you and your mother into the sea together..."
Before Eileen could finish cursing, William grabbed her by the throat, a cigarette in his other hand. The cold wind blew past, making the cigarette flicker. "Did I forget to tell you? I hit women."
"You're bullying the elderly."
"If I wanted to bully you, it wouldn't matter if you're old. Even if you were in the ground, I could dig you up. Watch your mouth." William couldn't stand anyone bringing up his mother and him together, whether they said good things or bad.
"Finn, liquor!"
Finn opened the Maybach's trunk and pulled out a bottle of high-proof liquor. William often had business dinners, so the trunk was always stocked with expensive cigarettes and alcohol.
He found the cheapest bottle, opened it, and handed it to him. William tossed away his cigarette, grabbed Eileen's chin with one hand, and with the other poured the liquor down her throat, his expression fierce, making Eileen cough violently.
"William, are you crazy? Someone could die."
"William, you secretly married Thalia, didn't you?"