Chapter 751
Griffin shifted closer to Vivienne with a hushed urgency. "Vivienne, you don''t seriously think my
dad''s in cahoots with someone out to harm your protege, do you? That''s insane! I swear on the
grave of Leopold Sterling, my father is not that man. You just helped our family out not too long ago.
He''d never be so ungrateful."
Sten caught on to the gravity of the situation and quickly interjected, "I''m in the dark about this,
truly. But rest assured, I''ll get to the bottom of it once I''m back. Please believe me. If I chose to
coborate with you, I would never stab you in the back!"
His words hung in the air, sounding pale and unconvincing.
Sten pursed his lips and pointed to the serial number etched on the ss tube: "The Martinez
family''s recent research batches all start with 19. But this one, it indeed starts with 18. I think
someone took advantage of apse in security and stole some of our failed experiments."
Griffin had unwavering faith in his father''s integrity. He appeared visibly distressed at the suggestion
of mistrust. Clinging to Vivienne, she incessantly assured her of his father''s innocence.
Vivienne and Percival exchanged a nce, their expressions unreadable.
The couple sat with stone-cold faces, impossible to read, simply exchanging looks and then slowly
shaking their heads.
Seeing this, Sten felt his heart skip a beat!
A chilling sense of dread crawled up from his feet and spread throughout his body.
If Percival wasn''t satisfied with his exnation and took this as evidence against them, the Martinez
family would be ruined!
"Mr. Perc..." Sten straightened up, ready to defend his case further.
Percival raised his hand, signaling for silence, and said, "Mr. Martinez, Vivienne and I would very
much like to trust you. However, we need answers for this incident."
Vivienne spoke up with a stern tone, "A biochemical weapon leak is no trivial matter. If someone
managed to steal from the Martinez family''s tightly securedb, it must be someone you trust. Since
you''ve been researching biochemical weapons, you''ve created quite a few prototypes that couldn''t
be mass-produced. If these got out and hit the market, it wouldn''t just be a matter of trust anymore."
Sten understood the gravity of Vivienne''s implication.
His expression turned grave as he looked at the contents of the case and dered, "Ms. Hawthorn,
rest assured, I will get to the bottom of this. The Martinez family will not tolerate a traitor!"
Having made such a firm promise, Vivienne and Percival had little more to say.
Stepping out of the café, Sten headed for the Martinez family''sboratory tucked away in the
Rivenwood suburb.
Griffin was reluctant to venture there and after a brief discussion with Vivienne, it was decided that
Percival would escort her home.
In the car.
Vivienne sat in the passenger seat, ncing through the rear-view mirror at Griffin in the back, who
was grinning ear to ear while texting on his phone.
She suddenly nudged Percival''s elbow. "Mr. Wolf, weren''t you a bit too eager back there? Since
when did Donald be your protege?"
At first, Percival wondered what she meant.
Upon realizing this, he let out a slight smile, his eyes feigning innocence. "Well, we''re married now,
so your mentor is mine by extension. Your protege is naturally my protege, too. Is there an issue
with that, Vivienne?"
"There''s no issue," Vivienne chuckled. "Keep gloating. Wait until my seniors find time toe over.
Remember the debacle at Havenwood with your real estate?"
Percival stiffened at the memory.
Those properties, still reeking of some prank, gave him a headache.
"How did Finnian manage to mentor such a bunch of entrics?" he thought, perplexed.
A few dark lines creased his forehead. "Vivienne, believe me, if they dare to show up this time,
they''re the ones who''ll be hurt."
"You have a n?" Vivienne asked, curious.
Percival''s smile held a hint of mystery. "You''ll see when the timees."
As they chatted, no one noticed Griffin in the back seat, hastily lowering his head and swiftly typing
a message.
A text popped up on Leopold''s phone, who was in the thick of a virtual battle with video editing and
onlinementators at the Vanguard Agency. It read, [Percival says he''s got ns for you guys.]
Leopold shuddered. "No way."
Thomas, startled by Leopold''s reaction, slipped with the mouse, turning what was supposed to be a
heavy weapon into a cartoonish elephant.
Thomas licked his mrs in annoyance and grabbed Leopold by the cor. "Tell me, Mr. Sterling,
have you been too idletely?"
"Not at all. Leave me alone."
Shaking off Thomas''s hand, Leopold typed furiously, [I haven''t even provoked Percival recently.
Why''s he out to get me?]
Muttering to himself, he sent the same message to Griffin.
Griffin replied, [Vivienne said they''d being over to prank Percival''s ce. So he''s nning to
deal with you guys.]
Unsure who exactly Vivienne referred to, Griffin lumped them all together as her proteges and
surreptitiously snitched to Leopold, [Don''t tell anyone I told you. Consider it a thank-you for taking
me to see Viviennest time.]
Leopold''s mouth twitched. [Some thank-you, that is. What kind of gift is that?!]
Though his words seemed unimpressed, he was already pacing around the office anxiously.
His words came out in a frantic whisper, "We''re toast, we''re totally toast. Percival''s definitely one
step ahead this time. I told those clowns not to push it too farst time. Now look what they''ve done
—they''ve dragged me into this mess, too."
Leopold''s face was a picture of misery, "What are we gonna do? Should we just spill it to those jerks
and work it out together?"
Thomas, having had enough, tossed his mouse aside.
The cursor on theputer screen slid around once more, distorting the image beyond recognition.
He barely gave it a nce before brushing it off.
Let it all fall apart. Whoever wants to deal with it can because he''s done!
"Just a heads up, buddy. Percival might have a hard time messing with them, but taking you down?
That''s a piece of cake."
Leopold''s already troubled expression copsedpletely at Thomas''s morbid reminder.
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He looked like he was two seconds away from scrawling "Save me" across his forehead. His hand
hovered over his phone, uncertain whether to move or stay still.
After what seemed like an eternity of hesitation, he finally gave up.
He slumped back into his chair and nced at Thomas, who had already started a new game, and
kicked his chair, "What the heck, man? You''re giving up on the project? If we botch this, you know
the boss is gonna have our heads on a tter."
Just the thought of it made him seethe.
Vance''s life was miserable, and he made sure their lives were, too. Endless meetings after work,
nitpicking every video and image they turned in.
Because of this, Leopold had be the butt of the joke more times than he could count.
Thomas kept his eyes glued to his phone screen, not even bothering to look up, "I''m not scared. I''m
nning to quit."
"Quit?"
Leopold''s eyes bulged, "Are you serious? Why didn''t you say so sooner? We could have bailed on
this dump ages ago, and I wouldn''t be Vance''s personal punching bag."