Chapter 284

Outside the apartment, Clayton Holloway jabbed the doorbell with growing impatience. When Tyrone Lynch refused to let him in, Clayton didn’t hesitate—he started pounding on the door with his fists.

Tyrone, stubborn and vengeful as ever, lounged on the couch and watched the security camera feed with a lazy grin, clearly enjoying the sight of Clayton losing his composure.

Truth be told, Tyrone had known Clayton for years. Ever since Clayton was adopted by the White family at the age of eight, Tyrone had practically grown up alongside him. They knew each other's secrets—real friends, in every sense of the word. But with the families moving in very different circles, and both Tyrone and Clayton having... complicated backgrounds, they’d always kept up a cold, even antagonistic front in public—especially around Jade and Brandon White.

But Tyrone knew the real Clayton. He’d always been the type to float above the fray, calm and unflappable, as if nothing in the world could ever truly bother him. Tyrone remembered when Clayton first arrived at the White estate. Back then, Jade and her father had only just returned as well, and Jade, terrified that a foster child might threaten her and her father’s standing, rallied every rich kid she could find to make Clayton’s life hell.

Even when they shoved him into the mud, Clayton would just pick himself up, silent, unruffled, no emotion flickering across his face.

He’d always been that way—like a wildflower blooming in the muck, untouchable and cool.

Most people assumed Clayton was easygoing, maybe even weak—someone you could push around. But Tyrone knew better. Underneath that quiet exterior, Clayton was ruthless.

He would never stoop to bickering or fighting with the other rich kids. He thought it was pointless, a waste of time that would only cause trouble for Reginald White—and by extension, himself.

Instead, he’d wait until his bullies went to the gym after school, then quietly lock them in and slip a few snakes and rats through the vents.

He’d sow little seeds of discord among Jade’s clique, just a carefully chosen word or two here and there. And he’d make sure the whole school heard whispers of Jade’s real background: that she was the daughter of a mistress, a girl from the wrong side of town, no more special than anyone else.

Clayton wanted to see Jade dragged off her pedestal, to watch her pride and her mask get ripped away.

All his vengeance was delivered with chilling detachment, his face never betraying a thing.

Tyrone himself hadn’t been much warmer as a child. In fact, he’d been terrifying. Tyrone had killed his own mother—a secret Patriarch Maddox Lynch had done his best to keep quiet, though enough people in their circle knew the truth. No one dared approach Tyrone, let alone befriend him.

Rich Radiant and Over Him (Alicia and Vincent)

Chapter 283 The Heiress Acts Mischievously, But Her Family Can Read Her Mind Clayton was the first person with a temperament like his—similar, yet different. Tyrone never hid or held back; Clayton was a master of disguise and patience.

When everyone else shied away, Clayton was the only one who dared come close.

At eight years old, Clayton had looked Tyrone in the eye and said, “You need a friend. Someone who’s got your back. Let’s help each other.”

Even then, Tyrone had known: Clayton was someone you wanted as an ally—never an enemy.

A loud *bang!* echoed through the apartment as Clayton, seeing the doorbell wasn’t working, gave up and just kicked the door.

Tyrone arched an eyebrow. What was so urgent? Had Patriarch Reginald White died? That didn’t make sense. If Reginald really was gone, there’d be plenty of people more frantic than Clayton. Besides, Clayton would be racing back to Harboridge, not here, trying to kick down his door.

The more curious he got, the more Tyrone dug in his heels. For as long as he’d known him, Tyrone had never seen Clayton this rattled.

It was fascinating.

“Tyrone! Open the door!” Clayton’s voice, usually so cool and collected, was strained for the first time as he slammed his foot against the door again, not caring how he looked.

When Tyrone still didn’t answer, Clayton took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.

The moment he’d gotten the results of the paternity test, his first instinct had been to rush over and take Miss Shelton home where she’d be safe.

But now, thinking it through, he realized he’d been far too reckless.

Alicia Shelton was the real Miss White—the only legitimate heir to Reginald. No one could know.

Anyone besides Reginald himself could be a threat to Alicia’s life, especially Jade and Brandon. Over the years, Jade and Brandon’s influence in Harboridge—and even Seaview—had only grown. If Alicia’s true identity was exposed, they would have no choice but to eliminate her.

Chapter 347: Administering Drugs Switched Marriage The Coddled Little Wife Chapter 538: Unimaginable