After My Death, My Husband Who Threw Me Into the Hunting Grounds Went Insane novel Chapter 127

GABRIEL

I wouldn't want to do this revelation thing before a potential enemy, but I have to admit that Charles Scott's eyes don't lie. He seemed like someone who had been trapped in the middle of a tragic family drama. The Garner twins found nothing about him but a man who lived happily with his mother in Germany. He came back a few years later to inherit his father's properties that his uncle had an interest in. 

I barraged him with questions because I shouldn't let my guard down. But Duke and Dylan were never wrong—that's how good they were. When they told me Charles Scott seemed to be innocent in his family's affairs, they must be right. Maybe I was only pissed because I knew he liked Audrey. He wanted what was mine, and it's the only thing he should do was stop hoping.

"I have been investigating this case for as long I can remember, Charles, and I found things I'm not sure you want to hear," I said.

"I'm ready. It's not like I'm not expecting the worst. I know my father wasn't a good man when I found out he wanted to marry a girl my age, and she's my friend's sister." He looked at Audrey and sent her a small smile of assurance. "I'm Samuel's friend too." He set his eyes back at me. "Now, if you tell me that this has something to do with Sam's death, I won't back out."

"How can you say that when I'm not even saying anything yet?" Maybe he wasn't as innocent as I think he was—but that's good. It means he bears information.

"I'm not blind. I know when something's going on. My uncle is hiding something from me."

"Did you find anything?" I queried.

 "I hear rumors, but it's ridiculous because I don't think it actually exists."

"Where did you hear that?"

"People talk. Not directly."

"So, what did you hear?"

"That's he's into gambling. It made sense when I found out he's using the company's funds, but he denied ever taking cash from his own stake, though the actual balance sheets had withdrawals. Well, I don't have proof to attest that this is true." He shrugged, looking at Audrey and me.

"It is true, Charles," I revealed. "And I know where to find their creephole."

He frowned. "You do?"

"Your father and Edward Hopkins were the ones who started it. They need the mansion because they want to use it as their official gambling and prostitution house. It's a very private home where no one would see their dirty deeds. Audrey knew this. She saw it herself."

Charles shifted his gaze to her. "Audrey, why didn't you say or do anything?"

She lowered her face in disgrace. "I didn't know what was going on back then. I was scared, but if I can, I'd want to make it right."

Charles rushed his fingers over his scalp. "God. This is probably why we're losing millions. We don't know where it is going. Well, I know one. The fund used for the mansion," he said directly to me. "Now he wants to liquidate the company using this loss that he did himself."

"Still, we need proof," I pointed out.

"I can ask my secretary to send me the balance sheet and the withdrawal for the house. I can't believe I trusted him—especially about the house. I wanted to help him, I had to admit. I'm sorry."

"I knew you didn't let me down, Charles. You're here to give it back." Audrey patted his shoulder and smiled at him. "I had faith."

"Because it's yours, and I know how important it is to you," he murmured.

"But I wouldn't be able to get it back because of Gabriel." My angel looked at me and smiled fondly. 

"And he will kill me when he finds out about this. God!" Charles shook his head. "I'm really sorry about everything."

"About the balance sheet," I opened up and asked, "Can we expect that you'd confide this to us?"

"I want to know what he's up to either, but you have to tell me what you know first. About my father, my uncle—everything."

"No. The balance sheet first," I negotiated. "I have to make sure you won't betray us—at least for Audrey."

He looked at me dismayed and exhaled. "You can use this against me. Why would I betray you? And I'm doing this for myself." He drew out his phone and made a call. "Lara… Send me the balance sheet we were working on last week. Yes, in my personal email, please. I need it right now." He hung up. "Now, let's wait."

A minute later, an email came to his phone. 

"It's here," he confirmed. "Where shall I send it?"

"Send it to Audrey," I instructed.

He sighed. "Fine." He pressed buttons on his phone screen. "Done."

Audrey picked up her phone and checked her email. "It's here."

"Good." Charles prompted. "How can I make sure you won't do anything to it?"

"I'm a businessman, Charles. I know what confidential means, but it'll be used later if necessary. For investigation."

"Okay, fine!" he snapped. "Now, what are we saying?"

"Very well." I went to my desk, picked up my iPad, and showed him the tattoo he saw on his uncle's back. "The Onyx Monkey. It's the name of your father and Edward Hopkins's illicit firm. I hired an outsider to join their club and to get inside, you must have a, yes, a tattoo and a million-dollar entrance fee to become an official member."

"You really like spending, do you?" his statement sounded like a mock. 

"Yes, I do, because I can," I retorted. "Anyway, since I have them under my net, I'm just waiting for the right timing. Dylan already contacted his source at the PPD. Now it's Audrey's turn to testify."

"Why not you? Why Audrey?" he questioned. 

"I'm a dead man to them, Charles. I can't make any mistakes."

"Why did you suddenly trust me with all of this information? I can also use this against you, you know? I can even tell my uncle about this," he said.

"It's already done, Charles," I smirked. "Now, if you want to join your uncle in jail later, you're free to tell him."

"No, you are saying this to me because you need me too," he pressed.

"That's not entirely wrong," I admitted.

"Charles," Audrey called her friend softly. "If you help me put an end to this, I would be less scared because I am afraid."

"But he died too!" she exclaimed painfully. "Now, after Mom and Sam, who's next, Anton? Me? What did we ever do wrong?"

"Audrey, I don't think the killer could hurt Anton."

"Why? How can you say that?" I questioned.

"Because Anton is your father's only son. You and Samuel are not half-siblings, nor are you an orphan. You share the same parents, Audrey. It's what he found out that day from that doctor, and we think Edward killed Sam."

"What?" I breathed. "I know he hurts people, but he won't get his hands dirty. He mourned for Sam too."

"Audrey, it's all an act," I pressed. "He's using Sam's death to get sympathy for people, and Sam went home after his encounter with the doctor. He was home that day, Audrey. At least that was what your nanny said."

"Mila? How did your manager speak to her?"

"Dylan went to your house and disguised himself as Sam's old friend." 

I nodded. "I actually never asked Mila about it. It was too painful to ask."

"Yes, so basically, we suspect that the crime happened in the mansion based on the weapons that were used for the murder. A knife and some hard glass—pieces of it were found on his head. But we need more evidence. It'll come out soon, Audrey. I have the best men handling this."

My stomach twitched at Gabriel's description. I couldn't imagine Sam like that. "No more, please. I don't want to hear anymore."

"I told you, right?" I whispered. "It may be too hard to handle."

Charles clenched his fist. "I'm in," he declared. "I will help you. I guess it was Sam who bound all of us together now, and if it weren't for him, I'm not the man I am today. He showed me I was not the loser everyone thought I was."

"Because he always saw the best in people," I said.

"Yes," he said, and for the first time, I agreed to him. Samuel didn't see me as a poor farmer boy but someone he could trust. "So I will help you as much as I can."

"What will you do?" Audrey asked him.

"I'll bring my uncle down, and when he's down, your father will fall along with him, Audrey."

"But how?"

"Where do you think your father is getting the money now? He's bankrupt. He had to mortgage the house, remember?"

"Your uncle is helping him," I conclude, understanding what he meant. "With Scott's company aid, their underground business won't cease. And the only thing Hopkins could do now was sit as a public officer so he could control Phoenix again."

"Yes, so I'll fight my uncle. I hold the largest stake in the company. I guess it's time I take over. This isn't your fight anymore, but mine, too."

"Then we have work to do, Scott." I reach out a hand to him.

"Stark." He clasped and shook my hand.