A Bumpy Road to Power

Chapter 515 - 515

While the lady fetches her cigarette.

Uncle Jin suddenly swiftly pulls out a bill, then uses the pen from the lady's table, quickly scribbles something, and stuffs it under the nearby landline phone.

Witnessing this, Dirk Carter.

Rushes out swiftly.

Picks up the landline.

Sure enough, there is a bill underneath.

On the bill, Dirk found a phone number.

Without hesitation, he quickly dialed that number.

The phone rang for a long time before it was answered.

Dirk tentatively asked, "I'm here to find Nevaeh."

Immediately, a very irritated voice on the other end shouted, "I don't buy insurance, I don't buy insurance, how many times do I have to tell you?"

This statement was some kind of pretense.

Dirk Carter knowingly asked, "Uncle Jin, you left a signal for me on purpose, didn't you?"

"Hmm, say what you have to say, let out what you need to let out."

Uncle Jin continued to speak unfriendly from the other side.

Dirk asked, "Nevaeh is still in Koryn City, right?"

"Continue."

"Nevaeh is in danger, isn't she?"

"Alright, alright, I don't want to chat with you anymore, let's leave it at that, I'll contact you if needed."

This reply amounted to an admission.

However, after saying this, the phone was hung up.

"Is it over just like that?"

Arlo Yarbrough asked, puzzled.

Dirk Carter pondered for a moment and said, "Be patient, he must find it inconvenient to talk now, he'll certainly figure out a way to contact me."

As soon as the words fell.

Ding.

A text message came through.

Dirk quickly opened it, seeing only a few words: "Tonight at eight, Wyvern Bridge."

To arrange a meeting at 8 PM.

That indicates Nevaeh is temporarily not in danger.

The group breathed a slight sigh of relief.

This wait.

Lasted until after 7:30 PM.

The other three waited from afar.

Dirk Carter, alone, walked onto Wyvern Bridge located on Taigu Street.

This bridge is in a busy district, with quite a few pedestrians coming and going, and the sidewalks are filled with various vendors, making small businesses, also appearing bustling.

Dirk Carter found a secluded corner, lit a cigarette, and looked around.

Suddenly, a voice asked, "Buddy, lend me a light."

Dirk Carter turned back, just about to take out his lighter, but saw the middle-aged man wearing a baseball cap, in sports gear, was precisely Uncle Jin seen at the hotel.

"Uncle Jin!"

Dirk Carter shouted excitedly.

Uncle Jin glanced around, lit his own cigarette nonchalantly, and said, "Relax, just listen, Nevaeh is temporarily fine, but after today, Teresa Thorne is very likely to harm her. If you truly want to help Nevaeh, you must act quickly, she's confined to the fourth floor of The Fragrant Garden Grand Hotel, I don't know the specific room."

"What exactly is going on, who is Teresa Thorne? Who is Nevaeh? Why would someone want to harm her?"

Dirk Carter asked.

Uncle Jin paused for a moment and asked, "Have you heard of Miles Hughes?"

"Miles Hughes?"

Dirk Carter was startled.

A horrified expression appeared on his face, "You wouldn't be talking about the high-level authority who just retired, that... that Miles Hughes, right?"

Uncle Jin nodded and said, "The Nevaeh you're talking about is my young lady, and Miles Hughes' eldest granddaughter."

Boom!

It was like a bolt from the blue.

Dirk Carter was stunned on the spot.

Suddenly, he recalled the conversation he had before taking office in Serenity State where Qin introduced the three major families to him.

Among them, ranked second was The Hughes Family, controlled by Miles Hughes.

Back then, Mr. Qin said, families are far from himself, and he wouldn't dream that not only has he encountered them, but also accidentally got entangled in their power struggle.

Miles Hughes has two sons.

One is named Aurelius Hughes, the other Grant Hughes.

The eldest son, Aurelius Hughes, is the Minister of the Department of Construction.

The younger son, Grant Hughes, is the Chairman of the largest three oil companies, Veridia Petroleum.

This Nevaeh is Aurelius Hughes' daughter.

And Miles Hughes' most cherished granddaughter.

Nevaeh's full name is Deborah Hughes. She also has an older brother named Ashton Hughes. These two children are born by Grant Hughes' first wife, Cassandra Ford.

When Nevaeh was three years old.

Cassandra Ford went back to visit relatives in Rexton City.

Unexpectedly, she encountered a robbery on the road.

Cassandra Ford was first violated then killed by several thugs, along with the driver, their bodies were discarded in the desolate, only found days later.

Hearing this.

Dirk Carter felt a jolt in his heart and asked, "Nevaeh told me her dad divorced her mom, did not tell me she was dead."

"That's her father lying to her, if they were told back then that their mother died like that, with both children so young, they simply wouldn't be able to handle it."

Uncle Jin sighed and said.

Not long after Cassandra Ford's death.

Grant Hughes remarried, this woman is Teresa Thorne.

Later, Teresa Thorne had another daughter, named Jennifer Hughes.

"Nevaeh had poor health since childhood, often having nosebleeds, so she could only rest at home, unable to go out much. Some time ago, Nevaeh fainted at home, sent to the hospital afterward, the doctor issued a critical condition notice saying she wouldn't live long. Initially, this matter was kept from her, but somehow she found out, sneaking out from home, Mr. Hughes was very anxious, the madam volunteered to find her, finally found her today."

Uncle Jin said.

Hearing this.

Dirk Carter was stunned.

Asked, "You just said your Mr. Hughes cherishes this granddaughter very much, since she's found, there's no problem, who will harm her?"

Uncle Jin looked around and said, "The young lady is found, but the madam doesn't allow anyone to report the young lady's whereabouts, you know the young lady is suffering from a severe disease..."

Though the words weren't clearly stated.

Dirk Carter suddenly understood.

Asked, "Are you saying, your family madam now purposely stays silent because she wants to present a corpse to The Hughes Family?"

Uncle Jin sighed deeply, nodded, and said, "The young lady has been missing for so long, actually Mr. Hughes has already felt disheartened, even if the young lady's death news is announced now, I believe he is mentally prepared for it."

Thinking about the words overheard at the barbecue shop.

Dirk Carter asked, "Your Madame Tang, Teresa Thorne, her goal is for her biological daughter, Jennifer Hughes, to inherit Grant Hughes' estate, right?"

"That's likely the case."

Uncle Jin said.

Dirk Carter furrowed his brows and said, "Such big families usually pass to males, not females, right? Even if Nevaeh dies, she still has an older brother, no matter what, it doesn't concern the third child, does it?"

Uncle Jin was taken aback.

Suddenly looked at Dirk Carter and asked, "Nevaeh didn't tell you her brother Ashton Hughes has already sacrificed himself?"

Another harsh blow!

Dirk Carter froze immediately.

"Sacrificed? How did he sacrifice?"

Dirk Carter swallowed hard and asked.

"Counting back, it should be five years ago…"

At 19 years old, Ashton Hughes enrolled in military academy, and at 23, he graduated with outstanding marks, he volunteered to serve in his mother's native city, Rexton.

Later, he was assigned to a unit stationed in Rexton City, serving as a lieutenant.

Five years ago, Ashton Hughes was 25, it was during a night returning to the barracks on leave when he encountered four thugs assaulting a little girl.

He didn't think twice to intervene.