Chapter 226 Joanna Doesn’t Need You

Chapter 226 Joanna Doesn’t Need You

A father who first tried to murder his eldest daughter, then plotted to sell his second—men as cold-blooded as Leon were few and far between.

The icy stares boring into him made Leon taste true fear of death.

He screamed in terror, "You can't kill me! I'm Joanna's biological father! Justin's father-in-law! Killing me would be patricide!"

"Joanna will get what's coming to her! She'll die a miserable death!"

Terry picked up the iron rod and hurled it. It struck Leon square in the head.

His head lolled to the side as he lost consciousness, blood seeping from his scalp and streaming down his face.

Terry withdrew his look of contempt, turning away coldly. His gaze swept over Claire.

Claire froze, terrified by the scene, not daring to move. Her pupils trembled as she stared at Terry.

Terry ignored her, instead turning toward a camera in the corner.

He looked directly at the lens, his attitude becoming respectful as he made a phone call.

At that moment, in the hospital room, only Justin and the sleeping Joanna remained.

On Justin's laptop, the surveillance feed played in real-time—everything that had just occurred unfolding before his eyes.

He wore earphones, and Terry's voice came through, "Mr. Lawson, what's our next move?"

Justin rotated the wedding band on his ring finger, glancing at the unconscious Joanna beside him.

He didn't believe in curses.

But he couldn't let Joanna bear any risk.

"Send him to Lakeside Care Center."

"Understood."

Lakeside Care Center was owned by Lawson Corporation. Placing Leon there meant they could do with him as they pleased.

Even if Leon wanted to die, it wouldn't be that easy.

Terry asked again, "What about Claire?"

"If she does what I say, I'll let her go."

"Yes, sir."

Terry hung up and turned toward Claire, approaching step by step.

Claire trembled, backing away.

Terry stopped in front of her. "I'm sending Leon to a care facility. Do you agree?"

"Yes! I agree! Even if he never gets out for the rest of his life, it has nothing to do with me."

Claire's eyes held only a desperate will to survive.

"What about that stepmother of yours?" Terry asked.

"She doesn't care whether Leon lives or dies. She just wants money, but the company's already bankrupt. If she tries to inherit it, all she'll get is debt. Don't worry about her—I'll handle her."

"Good."

Claire was smart. Terry was satisfied with this outcome.

"You should thank the child in your belly. Do what I tell you from here on out, and none of this will have anything to do with you."

Claire froze for a moment. Once she realized she was being spared, she nodded frantically. "I'll obey. Whatever you tell me to do, I'll do it. Just don't hurt my baby."

Hearing this, Terry looked at her with a complicated expression. "Keeping Ethan's child—are you hoping to marry into the Murphy family? The Murphys are finished. Are you sure that's a good move?"

Terry had only said it out of goodwill, given she was pregnant.

Then he decided it wasn't necessary.

He glanced at one of his men. "Take her home."

She was pregnant, after all. They couldn't just dump her in the outskirts in the middle of the night.

Terry signaled for his subordinate to untie Claire, then turned and strode out.

Claire's hands and feet had gone numb from the ropes. Once freed, she didn't immediately stand.

Terry's words echoed in her mind as she fell into deep thought.

Only after sensation returned to her limbs did she finally get up.

Claire didn't go home. Instead, she returned to the small apartment she'd recently bought for herself.

After joining the company, she'd discovered there wasn't much money left. So Claire had begun transferring assets.

She'd used the siphoned funds to buy this place. It wasn't large, but if worst came to worst, this apartment would be her last refuge.

Claire spent the night there.

Having just narrowly escaped death, she slept fitfully, plagued by nightmares, her mind hazy and unsettled.

The next morning, she woke early. Still avoiding the Sterling family home, she went straight to find Ethan.

In the living room, Ethan wasn't alone—Harold and Carol were there as well.

Claire stood before them and placed a USB drive on the table. "Here's the evidence you wanted. But Leon has already been taken by Justin for hurting Joanna. The company's bankrupt too. There's no need for you to take revenge anymore."

"Ha! Karma!" Carol sneered, turning her face away.

Harold sat upright on the sofa, also letting out a disdainful laugh.

Only Ethan reacted differently. Sitting in his wheelchair, he suddenly straightened. "What did he do to Joanna?"

Seeing Ethan's concern for Joanna, Claire felt a sharp pang in her chest.

She bit her lip and lowered her gaze, clutching her purse tightly. After steadying her emotions, she said, "Leon had someone sabotage the guardrail at the highest viewing platform at Maple Hill Resort. Joanna fell."

"What?"

Carol gasped.

Ethan shot up from his wheelchair, his voice urgent, "How is Joanna?"

"I don't know. I didn't see her—ah!"

Before Claire could finish, Ethan grabbed her shoulders with both hands.

"How could you not know?" Ethan roared.

His outburst terrified Claire. She shrank back. "It was Justin's men who kidnapped me and my father last night. That's how I found out. I don't know the details..."

She quickly added, "But she should be alive. Otherwise, Justin wouldn't have just taken Leon—he would've killed him."

She recalled how Terry had hesitated when Leon cursed Joanna.

If Joanna were dead, Terry wouldn't have reacted that way.

Hearing that Joanna was at least alive, Ethan calmed slightly, though he didn't release her. "Did you have any part in this?"

Claire cried out in pain. "You're hurting me! I didn't! Let go!"

"Your father did this and you had no idea?" Ethan bellowed, his voice making her ears ring.

"He didn't tell me! You're really hurting me—I'm carrying your child! Let go!"

Claire struggled in vain, her eyes reddening as she explained, "Just think about it—if I'd been involved, would Justin have let me go?"

That much, Ethan believed.

Justin had sent Claire to prison once. He could do it again.

"You're still responsible!"

Ethan released her, pointing a finger at her face. "You saw Leon every day. You're telling me you didn't notice he was planning something against Joanna? Why didn't you stop him?"

Claire took half a step back, looking up at him with disbelief and disappointment.

"So no matter what, you're going to blame me, is that it?"

Even if she hadn't done anything, he'd still hold her accountable.

"Yes!"

Ethan wasn't listening. He swept his arm through the air. "If anything happens to Joanna, you and I are done!"

"Justin will get justice for Joanna. She doesn't need you." Claire stepped forward, both aggrieved and furious. "I'm the one who needs you. The child in my belly needs you."

She reached out with both hands, trying to grasp his arm.

Before she could, Ethan suddenly raised his hand and shoved her shoulder hard.

"Get away from me!"

"Ah!"

Claire cried out, stumbling backward before falling to the floor.