Chapter 10 Barnett’s Revenge
After hanging up, he slumped into his chair, staring blankly ahead.
For a long time, he sat motionless, lost in thought, before finally rising and stepping out of the study.
When he reached the bedroom door, he found himself unable to push it open.
The tightly shut door felt like an invisible barrier, separating him from Aurora, who lay inside.
He didn’t know what was wrong with him.
He thought she deserved what had happened to her. Yet, seeing her like this, his heart felt heavy, aching unbearably.
While he hesitated, a servant hurried over. “Mr. Elvador, Ms. Elvador’s birthday party is about to start. You’d better head
over.”
Barnett hesitated briefly, casting one last, lingering glance at the bedroom door. Finally, he turned away and followed the
servant.
In the banquet hall, Bertha stood surrounded by a crowd, looking every bit like a princess.
Chapter 10 Barnett’s Revenge
She stood before an ornate cake as the guests sang “Happy Birthday” in unison.
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When the song ended, she took a deep breath and blew out the candles in one go.
In an instant, colorful balloons and streamers filled the air, and everyone cheered, their voices echoing through the hall with endless enthusiasm.
Barnett stood amidst the crowd, watching the sea of joyous faces. But all he could think of was Aurora, weak and pale, lying helplessly on the bed.
He wanted to smile, but his lips wouldn’t move.
As the guests gathered around the cake, laughing and sharing slices, Barnett retreated to a corner by the champagne tower. He grabbed a glass, tilted his head back, and drained it in one go.
The champagne trickled down his chin, soaking his collar.
He didn’t care. He grabbed another glass, then another, as if trying to drown the pain and guilt gnawing at his heart.
Before long, he staggered, the sounds of laughter and conversation around him blurring into a distant hum.
Clinging to the last shred of clarity in his foggy mind, he stumbled out of the banquet hall.
But before he could reach the bedroom, a violent wave of nausea
Chapter 10 Barnett’s Revenge
hit him. He bolted into the bathroom, gripping the sink as he retched violently.
When he was done, he leaned heavily against the counter,
gasping for air. Gradually, his chaotic mind began to clear.
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He turned on the faucet, splashing cold water onto his face. The icy shock jolted him fully awake.
Propping himself against the sink, he looked up at his reflection
in the mirror.
His disheveled hair clung to his forehead, water dripping down his sharp features, making them appear even harsher.
He let out a bitter laugh. “I didn’t do anything wrong. Why am I torturing myself? I’m insane.”
Just then, his phone buzzed.
He pulled it out. It was Morgan.
Barnett wiped his face with his sleeve before answering.
“Hello.”
“Mr. Elvador, I’ve found the information you wanted.”
“Go ahead.” Barnett’s voice was icy.
Morgan hesitated.
Revenge
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Barnett frowned. “What’s the matter?”
“Well… Mr. Elvador, you should prepare yourself. The details… they’re not pleasant.”
Barnett’s chest tightened. He knew Morgan was about to reveal something cruel, but he still forced himself to say, “Go on.”
On the other end, Morgan took a deep breath before describing Aurora’s experiences in prison.
“Mr. Elvador, Ms. Elvador was beaten almost daily after she was incarcerated. They slapped her, forced her to drink toilet water, deprived her of sleep, and humiliated her. If she disobeyed, they’d pierce her with needles…”
Barnett’s grip on the phone tightened, his breathing ragged. Through gritted teeth, he demanded, “Needles? Where would they even get needles in prison?”
“They made her do labor in the prison workshop, so…”
Veins bulged on Barnett’s forehead as he fought to suppress his rage. “Go on.”
“The worst was when they broke six batons on her legs, leaving her with fractures. She had to be rushed to the hospital.”
Barnett’s heart felt like it was being ripped apart. He trembled uncontrollably, his eyes bloodshot.
“Mr. Elvador, I also discovered that someone deliberately
Chapter 10 Barnett’s Revenge
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ordered the inmates to target Ms. Elvador. Those who beat her all had their sentences reduced.
“A year ago, she was hospitalized again. I couldn’t find out why, but it must have been serious. After her discharge, she was moved to a single cell. No one dared touch her after that.”
This time, Barnett’s fury burned hotter, refusing to be extinguished.
“Who?”
Morgan, having worked with Barnett since he became CEO, understood him well. He immediately realized what Barnett
meant.
“It was… Mr. Sherwood.”
Barnett instantly grasped that he meant Adolph Sherwood.
Adolph was Camille’s brother.
He was also Bertha’s fiancé through a planned marriage.
Strictly speaking, Adolph should have been Aurora’s fiancé. After all, Aurora was the real Elvador heiress.
The air seemed to freeze.
Barnett’s silence stretched on for so long that Morgan tentatively asked, “Mr. Elvador?”
Chapter 10 Barnett’s Revenge
“Cancel all collaborations with Sherwood Group. Launch a full–scale attack on their businesses,” Barnett said, his voice.
hoarse but as cold as ice.
Morgan felt a chill run down his spine.
“Mr. Elvador, doing that will impact Elvador Group as well.”
“Do as I say. And I don’t want to see those who hurt Aurora leave prison unscathed.”
“Understood.”
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Barnett slowly lowered the phone, his arms hanging limply by his sides. His mind was flooded with images of Aurora being beaten and struggling helplessly.
She used to be a carefree girl with a bright smile. Now, she was unrecognizable from all the torment.
Yes, she had made mistakes, but the law had already sentenced her to five years. He didn’t think she deserved this kind of abuse.
After a long time, Barnett left the bathroom.
Once again, he stood before the bedroom door. It took considerable effort to steel himself before he pushed it open.
But before he could step inside, Aurora’s low, pleading voice reached his ears.
“I’m sorry… I was wrong… Please don’t hit me…”
Chapter 10 Barnett’s Revenge
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Her murmured pleas, spoken in the grip of a nightmare, cut into. Barnett like a knife, sapping all his courage.
He quickly shut the door, blocking out her voice, and staggered back to the study.
The night dragged on, and the study stayed dark.
Barnett’s phone buzzed incessantly, ringing for so long that it eventually disconnected.
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Joshua was woken by his ringing phone.
Groggily groping for it on the nightstand, he answered, “Hello?”
Whatever he heard jolted him awake. He sat up straight in bed, his face thunderous.
“What?”
His shout startled Celeste awake.
“Are you crazy? Why are you yelling in the middle of the night?”
Joshua’s face was red with anger. “Barnett terminated all deals with Sherwood Group. Ten billion dollars vanished overnight!”
“Impossible.”
“How is it impossible? Adolph even called me himself to
Chapter 10 Barnett’s Revenge
demand an explanation.”
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Joshua threw the covers off, storming out of the room. Furious,
he kicked open Barnett’s bedroom door.
