Hiding Behind Her Superficiality by Kyla Olson

Chapter 555

Chapter 555

Chapter 555 I’m Not That Patient

“If even you think I’m at fault, then I don’t mind going on like this.”

Nobody was on his side. Even Elspeth, whom he liked the most, had never given him the time of her day. Arthur could not explain how he felt—there was heartbreak and desperation, but more than that, he felt completely disheartened by Elspeth.

“I was going to let you go.” Arthur caressed her face with the knife handle. Though his voice was gentle, each of his words was cutting. “But what you said hurt me too much. Elspeth, you’re not worthy of my love.”

Instantly, warning sirens sounded in Elspeth’s mind, and in the next second, Arthur raised his knife and went straight for her face.

Fortunately, she prepared herself beforehand. Upon seeing his abnormal behavior, she dodged backward. However, as she was tightly trapped in his arms, she couldn’t avoid being grazed, and a bright red wound soon appeared on her face, gushing with fresh blood.

Callum instantly felt his heart tighten at the sight of Elspeth’s wound. “Arthur, don’t be reckless, or I’ll never forgive you!”

“What’s wrong? Worried about her? You can save her, but only if you fulfill my conditions.”

Arthur looked cold and apathetic; it was as if he were devoid of emotion and he waved his knife in the air. As he had trained in martial arts while he was in university, he was decently skilled in combat and his previous moves were enough to show how vicious he was. It was now clear that Arthur’s murderous intent had fully emerged.

Callum inhaled deeply before asking, “All right. What are your conditions?”

“First, have all the officers here leave.”

Callum’s gaze swept across the room, but the surrounding officers did not budge.

“Mr. Winthrop, the convict’s mental state is clearly not stable at the moment. We have to stay here to ensure the hostage’s safety.”

When Arthur heard the word convict, his face instantly darkened to a terrifying extent. “Tell them to leave. Don’t make me say it a third time.”

Callum said to the police officers coldly, “Everyone, please leave.”

“But, Mr. Winthrop—”

“Leave!”

Left with no other choice, the officers could only leave, even taking Margot who had difficulty breathing with them as they exited, as well as the person in charge and the assistant who were both paralyzed with fear. Soon, the room was empty except for Callum and the two other brothers of the Winthrop Family.

“I’ve already done as you said. What else do you want?”

Callum did not want to see Elspeth being taken away and falling into Arthur’s grasp for a single second longer.

Elspeth, however, said frantically, “Callum, don’t agree to his conditions.”

Irritated by her words, Edmund barked at her, “You stupid woman! Can’t you just shut your mouth and stand still? Do you know that you’re worrying us even more like this?”

What if she provoked Arthur? The sight of him slashing her face with the knife earlier was already a spine-chilling sight. If something else happened, there was no guarantee he could keep himself under control. He might just end Arthur’s life then.

Hearing their conversation, Arthur couldn’t help but chuckle. “You really are something. Everyone is standing up for you and worrying about your safety; it looks like they like you quite a lot.”

Upon saying that, he let out a deep and helpless sigh. “What a shame. The more they’re like this, the more you’re becoming their weakness, and I can use this chance to do what I wanted to do.”

Now, Arthur had finally achieved enlightenment. Things like emotions were simply all lies. Only wealth, power, and resources were important. Even if he still could not forget about Elspeth, he only wanted to use her in exchange for his own benefit.

Elspeth did not reply, emanating an aura of fury.

“What’s this? Getting mad, are we?”

Arthur had rarely seen Elspeth lose her temper like this. In the past, although he had made her unhappy many times, she mostly showed disdain toward him. Hence, her fury right now was a completely different experience for him.

“So, I can affect your emotions. Is it because you like me?”

They had already come to this point, yet Arthur was still able to flirt with her. He pinched her chin harshly, and a red mark soon appeared on it.

“Arthur, you’re the most disgusting person I’ve ever met.”

At this moment, nothing Elspeth said could stir any emotions in his heart.

“All right, have you thought it through?” Arthur looked at the two frantic men next to him and asked, “Are you sure you want to make an exchange with me?”

“Enough with the nonsense and hurry up.” Edmund watched his actions, his eyes practically blazing with anger.

“Callum, I want you to hand your position as CEO of Winthrop Group to me, and you can never step foot into the business circle for the rest of your life.”

Callum’s face fell when he heard that.

“As for Edmund, I don’t have much of a grudge against you, so I don’t plan on giving you a hard time, but if you plan to take Callum’s side, I won’t hold back on you either.”

Edmund chortled, replying with his usual sarcasm, “I’m not on his side, but I definitely won’t side with an ungrateful dog.”

An ungrateful dog… The implication behind these words certainly left a sting.

Finally understanding the meaning behind his words, Arthur did not lose his temper but doubled up with laughter instead. “You never change, Edmund. You’re exactly the same as before.”

“That’s right. You’ve never changed either; you’re still like a pitiful and groveling dog.”

Arthur instantly lost his temper as the words pitiful and groveling viciously jabbed at the wound in his heart. “Edmund, don’t think that I don’t dare to hurt you.”

Edmund was slightly taller than Arthur. At this moment, he straightened his back and looked at him calmly. “Arthur, I’ve already said that you really are amusing. All these stinging words you’re saying now are hilarious to me.”

Stinging words… As expected of Edmund; he knew how to hit him where it hurt most.

Arthur nearly lost it. Edmund was just standing there, practically itching for a punch in the face. As long as he pounced on him, he could definitely teach him a lesson with the advantage that came with the knife in his hand. He nearly followed his instincts, but just as the knife left Elspeth’s neck, he instantly pressed it back against her skin, way closer than just now.

Arthur sent them a blood-curdling smile. “I know you’re trying to anger me on purpose. You’re working together with Callum, right?”

If he hadn’t spotted the readiness in Callum’s gaze out of the corner of his eyes earlier, he might have been restrained by now.

“You really are my beloved brothers.” Arthur chuckled as he tightened his grasp on Elspeth, causing her to gasp for breath.

Meanwhile, Edmund was enraged by the sight. Arthur was too cunning; he hadn’t expected him to see through their plan like this. On the contrary, Callum was a little calmer. Now that their current plan had fallen through, he could only try to come up with another one.

Arthur’s expression turned impatient as he said, “Have you made up your mind yet? I’m not that patient.”