At the Ancestral Home
"I...I'm...sorry..." Matthew managed to utter.
"Sorry? That's it? Give me back the money! I need to repay Alison. I don't want to owe her for the rest of my life!" Colton shouted furiously.
"Fine." Matthew reached into his coat, pulled out a set of keys, and handed them to Colton. "Here. There's a tag on the keys. Find the location, open it, and what's inside is worth a million."
He turned to Alison. "Let's get in the car."
Alison finally realized Colton had never owed any loan sharks. This whole mess was Matthew's doing.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" she asked, her heart aching for Colton.
"Better late than never. Alison, don't stay with this man. He's no good..." Colton said, handing her the key. “Here, Alison. I can finally pay off what I owe."
Alison stood frozen, the key in her palm stirring her emotions.
"I'm sorry, Colton."
“Don't be silly. I'm the one who's always owed you," he said.
"No. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have suffered all that misfortune."
"I should tell you the truth. don't blame me, okay?" He took her hand.
"Ok.”
"Alison, you've always wondered how your email got leaked, right?" he said with guity. "It was because of me."
"You gave it to someone?" Alison's heart skipped a beat.
Did he give it to Cassandra?
"It was a woman. She said she knew your mother， and if I gave her your email address, she could help find your mother." After saying this, he felt considerably lighter.
Alison's body trembled slightly.
Her gaze shifted toward Pierre and Cassandra, who were approaching nearby.
Pointing in Cassandra's direction, she whispered, "Colton, is that the woman?"
Colton turned his head. The moment his eyes met Cassandra's, they instantly filled with rage.
"Yes, Alison. It's her."
Tears streamed down her face.
"Alison, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have given your email to that woman," Colton said.
She gently released his hand and whispered, "It's not your fault. It's fate. Go now. Erin is waiting for you.”
"Get in the car," Matthew shouted hoarsely, his voice thick with emotion.
The four of them pushed silently through the crowd toward the car parked across the street.
As the door slammed shut, Matthew finally lost his composure. “Tell me. Where is Daphne?"
"Remember your promise," Cassandra said, her head bowed.
"What I've promised, I'll deliver. Tell me,” Matthew nodded.
Cassandra slowly lifted her head, her gaze unfocused as she stared out the window.
"At the ancestral home," she murmured.
"Really?" Alison pressed incredulously.
“Yes, at the ancestral home. Here are the keys. The entrance to the basement is directly opposite the fence we passed when I last took you inside," Cassandra continued.
Alison's eyes widened in realization.
"Drive now!" she urged.
"Can you guarantee we'll get out safely once we enter the estate, Matthew?" Cassandra asked.
Matthew smiled faintly and pressed a button on the back of the driver's seat.
Instantly, a small monitor activated inside the vehicle, revealing a clear view of the interior. Guns, explosives... everything was accounted for.
"All right, let's go," Cassandra said.
The car sped toward the ancestral home.
"Are you absolutely certain you want to go? Dad?" Pierre asked anxiously.
"Yes, I must go," Matthew nodded firmly.
Finally, the car arrived at the estate, whose iron gates were tightly shut.
"Alison, call them to open the gate,"
Matthew ordered calmly.
Alison picked up her phone and dialed Jack's number.
The moment the call connected, Jack urgently asked, "Alison? Is that you? Where are you? Are you okay?”
"Tell the gatekeeper to open the main gate, Jack," Alison said.