Chapter 759 He Did His Best
The archery range was set outdoors on a lawn, though it was not yet spring, so the grass was covered in dry leaves and withered branches.
Emelie stared at the ripples in her tea, which was stirred by the wind. Her jaw tightened slightly.
Bryan picked up his cup of tea. ‘If you don’t believe me, you can ask Charles yourself. He’s already in prison, and there’s no reason for him to lie to you about these matters.”
Emelie lifted her head to look at the man who was older than her, who always exuded a calm and steady demeanor.
“I don’t understand, Mr. Swanson. Why are you telling me all this? Are you trying to play the peacemaker? Are you trying to reconcile me with William?”
Bryan replied candidly, ‘It’s better to resolve enmity than to keep it alive. I just think that if we continue to fight, it will only end in mutual destruction.
“No matter how strong the backing of Filo Group is, you won’t be able to bring down the towering Swanson Corporation, Cloudex Corporation, and Collins Corporation. And because you have Filo Group protecting you, there’s not much we can do to you either.
“Since that’s the case, why not turn our swords into plowshares? We’re still partners, and it would be more beneficial if we made money together, achieving success on all sides.”
Emelie let out a laugh devoid of any humor.
The wise knew when to adapt.
Bryan saw the situation clearly. Faced with the choice between surrendering and a lethal counterattack, he chose the middle ground.
Peace would bring prosperity and could wipe away all grudges.
Emelie turned her head to watch the CEOs practicing archery on the field.
In a cold tone, she said, ‘Even if the truth is, as you say, that he wanted to protect me back then, my mother is dead. Dead is dead, and he remains the man who killed her. Forgive me for being blunt, Mr. Swanson, but could you reconcile with someone who killed your mother?’
Bryan frowned. ‘Mrs. Hoven died because someone stole the battery from her artificial heart. Do you have any evidence proving that it was Mr. Middleton who sent that person, Ms. Hoven?”
Emelie looked at him, and he continued, ‘You don’t, so how can you be so certain that he was the one who killed Mrs. Hoven?”
“He didn’t deny it,” Emelie said. She had accused William of killing her mother many times. If he wasn’t the murderer, why would he take the blame?
Since when has William ever allowed himself to be wrongfully accused?
Bryan countered and said, “He went to such lengths to protect you, and I don’t believe he could be cruel enough to kill your foster mother.”
He paused momentarily before his voice grew more somber as he said, ‘I even think that Mrs. Hoven’s coma back then was faked. It was a false story spread by Mr. Middleton to deceive Charles, to make him believe that Mrs. Hoven was no longer a threat and didn’t need to be eliminated.”
Emelie was stunned.
Then, she suddenly grabbed his hand and demanded, “Do you have any evidence to back up what you have just said?”
She couldn’t keep her voice down, and even the CEOs on the other side of the field turned to look. They were puzzled by Emelie’s outburst as she grasped Mr. Swanson’s arm.
Bryan shook his head. He had no evidence. After all, how could there be any proof of such a thing? However, he said, “Ask Charles. The person who impersonated Mrs. Hoven and tried to assassinate you in the wilderness was sent by Charles. How could he have arranged a killer in advance unless he knew something?”
Emelie’s eyelids fluttered, and she pressed her lips tightly together.
“These words may sound absurd coming from me. After all, I’m one of the four, and I’m also your enemy, Ms. Hoven. I’m only saying this because of Sam, because of the little kindness I’ve shown you, and because, compared to the Davis, Collins, and Middleton families, the Swanson family’s harm to the Pierce family wasn’t as extensive. I didn’t go too far three years ago, so I…
Bryan sighed deeply and didn’t continue.
After a while, he said, ‘Ms. Hoven, I believe that Mr. Middleton did everything he could at the time, given the circumstances.”