Chapter 935 Beyond Belief

• Kill Sherlyn, and I get to be head of the Norths!? In the room, Dwayne North’s eyes went wide in an instant. No one would’ve guessed it: every detail of Dwayne’s villa had been rebuilt at a heavy cost. Even the Cruel Spinster hadn’t noticed the walls weren’t perfectly flat—there were tiny grooves, so fine you couldn’t see them unless you looked hard. Inside those grooves hid radio interceptors. Every outside signal, every call, got captured and sent straight to Dwayne’s computer. He was a suspicious man by nature. To keep his people from betraying him, he’d paid big money to set all this up. He never thought it would pay off like this. By now, he’d quietly opened his laptop and put on his headphones. One wall away, the Cruel Spinster had lowered her voice to a whisper. She had no idea her conversation with Cecil North was coming through crystal clear to Dwayne. Dwayne narrowed his eyes, mind racing. Why did Cecil say that if he killed Sherlyn, he’d be the next head of the Norths? Dwayne had heard of Sherlyn. She was Dwayne’s third brother’s girlfriend. The third brother, Dwayne, actually cared about her. But Sherlyn got tricked by Cecil and almost married him. Dwayne crashed the wedding, the farce ended fast, and Dwayne got kicked out of the family. After that, Dwayne stopped caring about Dwayne and Sherlyn’s mess. He never expected Sherlyn to be the key. “If you kill Sherlyn over there, trust me—you’ll get nothing.” The Cruel Spinster spoke coolly. “Why!? Didn’t you say that if I killed the woman I forgot, I’d become head of the Norths? You told me that!” Cecil’s voice was raw, anger held on a tight leash. That was exactly what the Cruel Spinster had told him. And now, after all the trouble he’d taken to grab Sherlyn, she says no? Was she messing with him? “I did say that. Kill the woman you forgot, and you’ll be the head of the Norths.” The Cruel Spinster’s tone stayed mild. “You forgot Sherlyn. As long as you kill her, you can take the seat. But there’s a condition.” “What condition?” Cecil frowned. “You have to kill her in front of me. Otherwise, even if you kill Sherlyn, I still won’t approve you as head.” As she said it, the Cruel Spinster tapped the glass vial hidden in her wide sleeve. “Kill Sherlyn in front of you?” Cecil’s brows knit tighter. “Cruel Spinster, not sure if you’re busy right now, but if you can, please come to Yaris. I’ll do it in front of you.” You gotta be kidding. Dwayne was still outside, keeping watch. Cecil was confident in his own skills, but Dwayne had already awakened his bloodline. He wasn’t who he used to be. If they fought, odds were fifty-fifty. Worse, Dwayne had other bodyguards. And those guys were only a touch weaker than him. With Sherlyn unconscious, how was he supposed to get off to Peach Island? The only play was asking the Cruel Spinster to come. Once she showed up, Dwayne would have to bow and pay respect. Cecil could use that window and end Sherlyn in one move. “God, you’re naive.” The Cruel Spinster snorted. “Bring Sherlyn to Peach Island and kill her in front of me. Whatever happens, once you do it in front of me, I’ll make you head of the family on the spot.” “Bring her to Peach Island…” Cecil looked back at Sherlyn, headache brewing. How was he supposed to move a whole adult to Peach Island? Forget the island—just getting her out of this villa was hard enough. “If you can’t do it, then we’ll pick someone else as head.” The Cruel Spinster chuckled. “Think of it as the final test. Pull this off, and you’re instantly the high-and-mighty head of the Norths.” Cecil pressed his lips together. After a long beat, he said, “Then I’ll keep thinking. At least for the next few days, I can’t touch Sherlyn…” Damn it. Sherlyn was right in front of him, but he couldn’t do a thing. The head seat was close enough to taste, and there was still one last wall in the way. The frustration bit like a fresh bruise. “Then you better come up with something…” The Cruel Spinster sounded lazy, almost amused. “Also, here’s a bit of good news…” “Good news? What good news?” Cecil blinked. The Cruel Spinster smoothed her beard and smiled. “Your dear second brother—the one who fights you for the Norths—he’s awakened his bloodline too. And I’m in North America right now, about to tell him about the head-of-the-family deal. Cecil, if you’re serious about that seat, move fast. You’re already next to Sherlyn.” “But if you drag your feet, and Dwayne or Dwayne kills the woman they forgot first, you’ve got no chance.” “I—I get it.” Cecil nodded bitterly, eyes slitting. “Cruel Spinster, I remember you said it’s hard to awaken the family bloodline. I awakened it and forgot Sherlyn. What about him? Who did he forget? Don’t tell me it’s one of those big foreign chicks he’s into, ha!” Listening to the teasing on the line, Dwayne’s face didn’t change. He kept the headphones on, listening. He felt like he had a hand on the edge of the truth now. “I haven’t asked who he forgot yet,” the Cruel Spinster said, turning sober, “but think about it. If he forgot a house servant, or anyone he had real feelings for—and if she’s in North America—he’ll beat you to it.” Her voice went stern. “Then you’ll be left with nothing. Dwayne’s been in North America for years. He’s turned it into his home turf. If the woman he forgot is in North America, how are you going to compete?” “Then—then what should I do? Cruel Spinster, maybe don’t tell him today. Give me a few days. I’ll find a way to take Sherlyn to Peach Island!” Cecil sounded rattled. “Watch your mouth.” The Cruel Spinster’s tone snapped cold. “You tell me not to speak, and I won’t? Who do you think you are? I told you already—I only recognize the one who finishes the job. I don’t care about friendships. So outside of this task, I won’t care about anyone. That includes Dwayne, into whom I poured my heart to awaken his bloodline. Winner takes all. If you can’t be head, I won’t spare you a second glance. Got it?” “Got—got it…” Hearing her fury, Cecil stammered. Inside, Dwayne set the headphones down, brow furrowed, sinking into the couch. Their talk had given him a major clue. He never saw this coming: after awakening, a North would forget a woman. Then, per the Cruel Spinster, you had to bring that forgotten woman back to Peach Island and kill her in front of her. Whoever finished first would be the next head. This—this was beyond belief.