With that, he shifted his gaze to Steven, who was staring out the window at the crowd outside.
When he felt Brettley’s yaze on him, Steven turned to meet his eye. “Brettley, are you saying that …I should yo in your place?”
Steven knew that he was the perfect candidate to help Brettley,
He was a local and the wealthiest man in Saigen City, too. Everyone, even the police, would definitely place him as a priority. He did not even need to say much–his mere presence was already enough. Nonetheless, Steven was a little surprised by this. He was nothing but an acquaintance to Brettley, so why would Brettley hand over such an important task to him? “You’re not a stranger to me.”
Brettley smiled as though he could understand exactly what Steven was thinking.
“You used to be my best friend.”
Steven’s entire body stiffened upon hearing this.
He knew that Brettley was talking about Luke. A split second later, he curled his lips into a bitter smile. “You’re confused, Mr. Morrison. I’m Steven, not Luke.”
“I know.”
Brettley narrowed his eyes, fixating his stare on Steven’s face. “But I still know that you’ll help me.”
Steven was silent for a moment, then finally sniffed and chuckled. “You’re right; I’m willing to help you, but it has nothing to do with Luke at all. I’m just…”
He glanced first at Gwen and Luke, then at Brettley. “I just like helping people in need.”
Then, he shot Brettley a glance and asked, “What do you need me to do?”
Brettley had seen this coming. He curled his lips into a smile. “Follow me.”
With that, he turned and led Steven into the elevator.
Gwen instinctively followed. However, Bethan caught her just in time, and as soon as the elevator doors closed, she pulled Gwen aside and whispered, “Remember, he isn’t Luke.”
She was worried that Gwen would be swept away by her emotions and get hurt again.
As her best friend, Bethan knew just how much Gwen missed and loved Luke. However, because of this, she was worried that Gwen would get carried away and end up heartbroken.
“I know.”
Gwen bit her lip and instinctively glanced at the elevator. “I know it’s Steven, but…”
She was silent for a moment before finally saying, “For some reason, there are some parts of him…that belong to Luke.”
She was not talking about Steven’s appearance. It was evident that Steven and Luke shared the same face and physical attributes, but when she first met Steven, she never felt that he was remotely similar to Luke in habit.
Luke was cold and aloof, and his heart only opened to her.
Steven, on the other hand, was cheerful and chivalrous, a man who treated everyone kindly.
In the past, Gwen could only tell their difference from the way Steven talked and carried himself, but for some reason, everything was different today.
It was as though…Steven had taken up some parts of Luke’s consciousness.
Even though he was still chivalrous and gentlemanly, the way he looked while fighting was identical to Luke, even the way he pinched her nose.
Not only that, but the worried look in his eyes when he glanced at Brettley, as well as his willingness to help Brettley, reminded Gwen so much of Luke. It was as though the lines between Steven and Luke had become blurred.
“Perhaps you’re just imagining things because of how much you miss Luke.”
Bethan sighed and took hold of Gwen’s hand. “I agree with you that he looked a lot like Luke when fighting just now, but they’re twin brothers, after all. Besides, we had never seen Steven fighting before, so realizing that they look alike while fighting doesn’t prove anything, does it?”
The hope in Gwen’s heart dissipated upon hearing this. A split second later, she curled her lips into a bitter smile and said, “You’re right. Perhaps I shouldn’t overthink this…”
How could Steven possibly turn back into Luke so easily? Bethan did not dare to disappoint her any further. Instead, she clasped Gwen’s hand and sighed. After a long time, the elevator returned to the ground floor. Steven stepped out of the elevator and headed straight toward Gwen. “Gwen, Brettley wants you to come with me while I’m helping him. Do you wish to join me?”
Bethan was worried that something would happen if she left Gwen and Steven to their own devices.
She was just about to stop them when Gwen lifted her head to fixate her gaze on Steven’s face. “Sure.”
“Gwen.”
Bethan furrowed her brow and instinctively grabbed hold of Gwen’s arm. “You…”
“I know what I’m doing.”
Gwen knew what Bethan was concerned about.
However, it was as though she was drawn to Steven like a bee was drawn to nectar.
She wanted to find out what kind of person Steven was, and she wanted to know if she had been hallucinating or if Steven was really gradually becoming Luke.
This was something she would not stop until she found the answer.
When she saw the determination in Gwen’s eyes, Bethan fell silent and finally let go.
After Gwen and Steven left, Lucas led Bethan to Brettley’s office.
This was Bethan’s first time visiting Brettley’s office here in Saigen City. This office was far smaller than Brettley’s offices in Merchant City and Banyan City.
After being used to sitting in Brettley’s ginormous office space, Bethan was a little uneasy by how suffocating the room seemed.
“I’m just here to help out for a bit, after all.”
Brettley smiled when he sensed the discomfort in Bethan’s eyes. He pointed at the sofa beside his desk, signaling her to sit. “Did Gwen leave with Steven?”
Bethan nodded. “Did you know that Steven would invite her?”
“Yes.”
Brettley took a sip from his cup. “I was the one who suggested he do so.”
Bethan’s eyes widened in shock. A split second later, she furrowed her brow and protested, “But you know Gwen… She’s so devoted to Luke that his death almost killed her. Now that she’s met the person who stole Luke’s body, aren’t you worried that she-“
“She has to face the truth eventually,”
Brettley interrupted her. “If we keep Gwen by our side at all times and stop her from interacting with Steven in every way, it might seem like a good idea short–term, but we can’t possibly watch her for the rest of our lives.
“Therefore, instead of keeping her cooped up, why don’t we just let her face the truth so that she can realize just how different Luke and Steven are? That way, she’ll be able to choose whether she wants to continue drowning in the past or start her life anew.”
Bethan was silent for a long time.
Finally, she lifted her head to stare at Brettley. “Perhaps you’re right, but…”
She sighed and continued, “I’m just worried that Gwen can’t tell the difference between Steven and Luke, and she’ll eventually lose herself again.”
Brettley curled his lips into a smile. “Just give her some time.”
Bethan did not dare to comment any further.
After some time, Brettley’s phone rang.
It was an unknown number.
Brettley picked up the call, frowning.
Dan’s furious voice rang out from the other end of the line, “Brettley Morrison, I know you’re a despicable man, but clearly, I’ve underestimated you!”
Dan’s outburst did not faze Brettley at all. Instead, he smiled naturally. “Well, well. I don’t know if Mr. Dan Howard is the right person to make such a comment. Compared to you, I’m not as shameful as you are.”
The reply had pushed Dan to his limits. “What are you saying?!”
“You conspired with your mother to kill your own father. How could you not understand what I’m saying?”
Brettley’s tone became colder as he held his phone to his ear, his voice so remote and indifferent that the temperature felt like the cold wintertime. “Do you truly think no one knows what you and your mother did? Sooner or later, the truth about you and your mother killing Senior Howard and how you wronged Thomas will be out. By then, everyone in this city will know the most shameless and vicious people you both are!”
There was no reply from Dan, and the conversation became dead quiet.
After a while, he screamed out hysterically, “That’s a false allegation, Brettley Morrison! My mother and I did nothing to the old geezer! He failed to resuscitate after Thomas shot him. How is that related to us?! If you continue to slander me, I’ll sue you for defamation! I suggest you better stop resisting and return what’s mine!
“If you do that, I might put in a few good words for you to the public when I’m in a good mood. Maybe Thomas can spend fewer years in prison. Otherwise, he can rot in prison!”
The more Dan spoke, the more aggressive and arrogant he was.
“No one can protect you anymore when Thomas gets imprisoned. My mom and I will kick you out of Howard Group and this city.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.