Chapter 530
A Life Debt Repaid
Cordy was almost speechless. âWhy are you being jealous? Patrick would never be interested in me.â
âI was actually jealous of Zoe before,â John suddenly admitted.
Cordy gaped at him. How petty could he get?!
âI mean, she was in bed with you,â John said, looking everywhere except at her.
âHow are you still alive with all that jealousy inside?â Cordy asked, almost at a loss for words.
âYou just have to make it up to me,â John replied as if it made perfect sense.
Cordy rolled her eyesâgive the man an inch, and he would take a mile.
âBy the way, did you really only recently notice that the Stuarts had someone impersonate you for their crimes?â Cordy suddenly asked seriously.
While a lot of facts were made clear at the trial, there were still many things she did not quite get.
âNope,â John said, never hiding anything from her. âIâm a businessman. I prioritize my personal gain above all else.â
âSoâ¦â
âI found out early on. I just didnât do anything about it.â
âAnd you wouldâve left them at large if they didnât pose a threat to you?â Cordy asked.
âMaybe.â John shrugged.
Cordy pursed her lips in response.
âLook, Iâm not on the side of angels, but Iâm no villain either,â John explained. âIâm just not that noble that Iâd risk my wealth and personal safety for justice. If I risked it and I failed to take down the Stuarts, Iâd be dead, those around me would be hurt in turn. Moreover, when it comes to business scams, victims mostly have themselves to blame for their greed- itâs the reason they fall for it at all. They just have to take it as an expensive life lesson.â
âIâm not scorning you,â Cordy replied. âI donât think Iâd even manage anything that impressive if I were in your shoes. Also, protecting the family before taking such a risk was undoubtedly a vital move.â
âThank you for your understanding, my darling wife.â John grinned.
Cordy rolled her eyes.
Calling her âmy darling wifeâ so casually even before they were married⦠and it somehow had to sound so fighting!
âSo, youâre the one who asked for Sean Cranston too?â Cordy asked.
At first, she was convinced that it was the Stuarts who arranged for Sean to take the role of prosecutor.
Now, she suddenly had the feeling it was yet another one of Johnâs ploys.
âYes.â John admitted.
âWhy would he help you? Is he as strait-laced as the rumors say?â
âNot quite,â John replied, shaking his head. âI wonât comment on his personality since we havenât been acquainted forthat long. Moreover, when it comes to partnership, sentiment is secondary to what we gained from it.â
âHe benefits from the Stuarts being brought to justice?â
âOf course,â John said. âEven if things looked amicable between the four top families of the nation, there are plenty of disputes and conflicts behind the scenes. Everyone wants a piece of the other familiesâ pie, but are also worried that another family would take them down. That is why whenever one among them faced a crisis, they would seize the opportunity to make things worse for them. In their perspective, one family ousted is a pie gained.â
âThey are that ruthless, huh?â
âWhyâd you think itâs so hard to stay on top?â John chuckled.
âSo you saw through that cloak-and-dagger stuff and decided to liquidate your family assets so that you would be free?â Cordy asked.
After all, he did not have to go that far, especially when he knew his victory in the trial was assured.
âNot entirelyâ¦â John replied, his expression darkening a little.
Cordyâs heart skipped a beat.
These days, the slightest sign of danger left her nervous.
âSean told me to do it,â John said in no uncertain terms then.