Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 1001

"Are you too much of a coward to even admit what you've done?"

For once, Brandon Mercer found the confidence to raise his voice. "Don't slander me. I didn't do it, plain and simple.

I swear on my life. If I had any part in this, the Mercer Group can go bankrupt right this second. It wasn't me.

And I can guarantee you, Dad and Colin would never do something like this either. They had absolutely nothing to do with it."

His voice faltered slightly. "The contact listed in these files... yes, we were the ones who found him. We paid a massive sum to pull strings.

But we paid him to protect Lillian, not to torture her!

I swear to God! If a single word I'm saying is false, let me be struck dead! Let the Mercer Group go under tonight!"

Ethan Hayes stared at him, stunned.

Since meeting Brandon, he had never seen the man speak with such raw, unyielding conviction.

Put like that, his defense almost sounded believable.

But Lillian merely let out a cold laugh. "Swear? You think I'd believe a word of that?"

Ethan glanced at Lillian, a wave of admiration washing over him.

Honestly, Brandon had sounded so genuine that even Ethan was starting to buy it. How could Lillian remain completely unfazed?

Incredible. She truly didn't believe a single word that came out of a Mercer's mouth.

Once bitten, twice shy!

Now that was the mindset of a powerhouse! Utterly cautious!

While Ethan was busy marveling at her resolve, Brandon flushed with agitation and pleaded with her. "Lillian, how could you misunderstand us so deeply?

We're family. Blood is thicker than water. When we asked you to take the fall and go to prison, do you think our hearts weren't breaking?

It was a suffocating wave of despair that we still can't bear to look back on.

But given the circumstances back then, we had no other choice. We could only let you suffer the injustice temporarily.

It's wild!"

"He just has a shred of social awareness left," Lillian said. "He was afraid I'd completely sever ties if he pushed too hard, which is why he backed off.

Did you really think he was playing the saint?"

Ethan took a deep breath. "Got it. You intentionally provoked him so he'd scramble to investigate.

So... this whole thing really wasn't orchestrated by the Mercers?"

"What difference does it make?" Lillian replied. "The Mercer family consists of more than just those three men now."

Ethan's eyes went wide. "You mean to say Sabrina Ward and her daughter took the opportunity to target you?"

Lillian calmly picked up a stack of work documents, flipping them open as she answered casually. "Back then, those three men actually believed they loved me, so they naturally wouldn't resort to something like this.

But Sabrina and Bella Ward? How could they possibly pass up such a golden opportunity?"