Chapter 270 He Wants to Reap the Benefits Without Lifting a Finger
"So he never cared about being an heir at all," Carl said urgently, his voice hoarse. "All he cares about is himself. But you hold the power too tight—he can't get anything from you, so he can only use Linus to go after you while he hides behind and reaps the benefits."
Armando's goal was never to completely control the Hamilton family.
What he really wanted was to transfer the assets out—just like Isabella had done back then.
Once he got the money, he could start over somewhere else. By the time Linus discovered the Hamilton Group was just an empty shell, Linus would have lost any leverage to keep dealing with Armando.
As Alexander listened, he found it hard to believe.
It was like something had been forcibly snapped in half. His judgment, his understanding—everything was being rewritten against his will.
But Carl had no reason to lie about this.
Alexander had already seen through all of Carl's cards. Besides Armando and the Cook family, no one could help him. Moreover, even if he stalled for time, Carl couldn't save himself.
So it had to be true.
"So what?" Alexander's voice was hoarse. "Why didn't he continue with the plan?"
"Because the child disappeared," Carl said.
"No one knows why, but before Caroline married you, she erased all records related to the child she adopted—adoption papers, where the child went, everything vanished."
No matter how hard Armando dug, he only found scattered clues, nothing solid enough to prove anything. Without evidence, even if he wanted to use this to stir up trouble, he had no way to start.
So he switched tactics.
He simply waited for Alexander to completely lose control over Caroline—waited for Alexander to truly fall in love with her, then drive the knife into the most fatal spot.
He just didn't expect that Alexander would see through it and counter him first.
That was the key to Armando's final failure.
"As for why Caroline hid the child... I really don't know," Carl lowered his head, his voice weak. "I've told you everything I can. Please, let me go."
Alexander didn't respond.
Carl's subsequent pleas seemed to fall into deep water, not making a single ripple.
Carl didn't know why Caroline hid the child, but Alexander could probably guess.
Maybe from the moment Caroline decided to marry him, she had already foreseen the ending.
Her whole life had been dragged along by baseless guilt, believing she had caused her biological sister's death.
So when she made her decision, she never planned to survive.
So she sent the child away beforehand.
She might have even left that child enough money and resources to ensure their safety for life—and Alexander knew nothing about it.
He clutched his chest, bending over in pain.
So long ago, in Caroline's eyes, he was already a monster.
This marriage wasn't even about redemption.
It was about walking toward death.
A suppressed sob escaped Alexander's throat as his fist pounded heavily against his chest.
But that sharp pain didn't ease at all.
After a long while, he suddenly straightened up.
Carl flinched, looking at him in terror.
He opened his mouth, wanting to plead once more, but the words stuck in his throat and he swallowed them back.
He was afraid he would only completely enrage Alexander, so he could only freeze in place, waiting for the final verdict.
After another long moment, Alexander silently turned and walked toward the cell door.
He walked quickly, instructing the bodyguard as he went.
"Watch this place closely. Don't let Carl and Armando meet, don't let them pass messages, and don't let them escape."
"Yes, sir."
The footsteps faded away.
Carl's tense body finally collapsed, his whole person falling back onto the ground, as if all his strength had been drained.
He gasped for air, cold sweat instantly breaking out on his forehead.
But he knew—at least for now, he was still alive.
Alexander strode back to the car.
The driver glanced at him carefully through the rearview mirror, saw Alexander's face looked terrible, and didn't dare ask a single question.
As soon as Alexander got in the car, he slammed his eyes shut, his forehead hitting hard against the back of the front seat, his breathing rapid and chaotic.
After a long while, he suddenly lifted his head and roared at the driver.
"Get out! Get out!"
The driver's face went white. He practically stumbled out of the car and quickly shut the door behind him.
Only Alexander remained in the car.
He closed his eyes again, his whole body sinking heavily back into the seat.
Why?
Why did she never tell him...
In Caroline's eyes, was he really not worth trusting at all?
He pulled out a self-mocking smile.
Yes, how could she possibly trust him.
His hands were stained with blood, he'd done too many things that couldn't be explained—in her eyes, he was a dangerous person out of control.
Caroline had probably guessed early on that marrying him would likely end in death.
How could she possibly put the whereabouts of her adopted child in his hands.
Alexander raised his hand to cover his face, a hoarse laugh squeezing from his throat, but tears silently slid down through his fingers.
Mark was leaning against the hospital bed headboard reading when he suddenly heard the door open.
He immediately looked up and saw Alexander walk in.
"Sir, why did you come? Didn't you go back to rest?" Mark quickly sat up straight.
Alexander didn't answer.
Mark's words hung in the air. He looked carefully and noticed Alexander's face looked terrible, his eyes red, as if he'd just been crying.
"Sir?" Mark called out tentatively again.
Alexander remained silent, just walked to the bedside with an empty expression and sat down in the chair.
He kept his head down, his gaze fixed on the floor, motionless.
Mark looked at him with concern, wanting to ask but swallowing the words back.
He didn't speak again, just quietly leaned against the headboard, staying by his side.
After who knows how long, Alexander finally spoke.
"Mark."
Mark immediately straightened up.
"Sir, I'm here."
"When you're feeling better, help me find someone."
"Okay." Mark immediately agreed. "Who are you looking for, sir? Just say the word and I'll have people search right away."
Alexander was silent for a moment before speaking in a hoarse voice.
"Caroline... when she was in graduate school at Ashbourne, she adopted a child through a charity organization. Later—before she married me—she sent that child away."
Mark froze on the spot.