?<strong>Chapter 322:</strong>


    Lara was staring at the monitor when the door flew open with a loud bang.


    Jonathan, with Leo by his side, loomed in the doorway, his eyes stormy and silent.


    Lara, startled, jumped to her feet and attempted aforting smile. “Jonathan, look! They—” But she was abruptly silenced by a sharp p that sent her head reeling to one side.


    Since she was a child, Lara had been skilled in self-defense, her parents having sent her to a grueling training camp for toughening up.


    The sting of the p paled inparison to the shock that nearly brought her to tears. “Did you just hit me?” she asked in disbelief.


    Jonathan seized her chin roughly, forcing her to look at him.


    “Should I not have?” he retorted.


    Lara bit her lip, her eyes filling with tears. “I did it all for you!”


    “Since when did I ask you to meddle like this?” Jonathan’s hand came down again, turning her head the other way.


    This time, she covered her face, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth.


    Jonathan was always merciless. “I warned you before, if you troubled Joelle again, I would deal with you myself.”


    Lara stumbled backward in fear, identally toppling a chair. “Jonathan, how could you treat me this way? I adore you! My heart is entirely yours! I just wanted you to realize who Joelle truly is!”


    Jonathan’s patience had run dry. “Leo, take her away. Deal with her once we reach Bristania.”


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    “Yes.” Leo, being much stronger than Lara, could easily subdue her. Lara realized it was futile to resist and decided it might be better to save her energy to plead for mercyter.


    Adrian and Joelle then arrived with their two children, apanied by the Finch family.


    Jonathan apologized for Lara’s behavior. “Sorry, she’s been quite spoiled since childhood and has ended up bothering you.” Thankfully, the incident hadn’t escted, although Adrian had sustained an injury to his hand.


    “Where’s Lara?” Joelle inquired.


    Jonathan, needing to soothe the group, responded with a reassuring smile, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of her on our way back.”


    Gracie, Fred’s wife, was the only one looking puzzled. “Take care of her? What do you mean?”


    Jonathan merely smiled, offering no exnation.


    As they were about to leave, Joelle pulled him aside. “Didn’t you say you owe me a favor?”


    “What? You need my help now?” Jonathan confidently ced his arm around Joelle, aware that Adrian was observing them discreetly.


    With a sly grin, he whispered, “Adrian seems quite bothered. Shall we take a closer look?”


    Joelle inhaled deeply. “Jonathan, if you really want to make it up to me, then hear me out. If you don’t love Lara, don’t marry her. What happened today might seem like her fault, but you’re the one giving her false hope.”


    Jonathan appeared to consider her words for a moment. “I see.” Joelle wasn’t sure if her message had sunk in, but she continued sincerely, “You want to sleep peacefully, right? Then stop disappointing others. Those who deceive often face dire consequences, and ying with someone’s emotions will eventually catch up with you.”


    Jonathan stifled a yawn. “Does Adrian know how much you—”


    Joelle snapped, “I’m done speaking. Bye!”


    On the way to the airport, Lara sobbed and pleaded relentlessly, “Jonathan, I truly messed up. I really love you!”


    Jonathan, exasperated, covered his ears. “Enough, can you be quiet?”


    Lara, tears rolling down her cheeks, lowered her voice. “I’ve always wanted to apologize. When you first came to live with us, we were so cruel to you, yet you never fought back. You even saved my life when I identally fell into the pool. Since then, I’ve been so thankful, and from that moment—”


    “You’re referring to that pool incident?” Jonathan cut her off, tilting her chin up with his fingers. “I never told you that your fall was no ident. I arranged for you to be pushed.”


    Lara’s jaw dropped. “Why would you do that?”


    “Why?” Jonathan pretended to think deeply. “It suited my interests and didn’t harm me, so why not? Wasn’t it around that time your father began to see me as a potential son-inw?”


    For the first time, Lara swung at him, her emotional turmoil leaving her vulnerable.


    Jonathan easily caught her fist and twisted her arm behind her back.


    She winced in pain. Suddenly, Leo, who was driving, yelled out, “Danger!”


    Their car was encircled, and the back door of the van ahead of them creaked open, unveiling a sniper rifle.


    It was uncertain whom the rifle targeted, but it was pointed straight at Jonathan.


    Bang!


    The bullet shot from the dark barrel. Lara’s expression changed. “Jonathan, watch out!” In a swift move, she shoved Jonathan aside, determined to protect him from harm.


    The bullet struck her in the temples, and Jonathan’s eyes grew wide with horror as blood sprayed over the leather seat. “Jonathan… I don’t owe you anything anymore…”


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