Chapter 780


    The onlinementary was like a geyser, erupting uncontrobly.


    The entire Ritter family was caught in a gloomy atmosphere.


    The servants were extra careful with everything they did, afraid of being swept away by the tail end of


    the typhoon.


    Mrs. Ritter became even more frantic, monitoring Ashlyn''s piano practice almost 24/7.


    Soon it was time to leave for thepetition.


    Mrs. Ritter coldly led Ashlyn into the car and said, "If you win thispetition, you''ll be famous


    overseas and any music school will ept you. Whether it''s Berklee or other famous music schools,


    Mr. Guzman will take you as his apprentice again and I''ll help make connections for you to be the


    youngest music professor in the world without any problem at all! Then... you''ll be a renowned


    professor at international music schools and those socialites from Urgford will look up to you."


    "You''re not on their level," Mrs. Ritter ambitiously dered, wishing that Ashlyn would already be an


    elite socialite.


    "But there are so many pianists internationally; I might not necessarily win first ce," Ashlyn


    expressed her concerns.


    "That bitch Jenna has been assigned topete inposition; who else canpete with you?"


    Mrs. Ritter looked at her daughter''sck of confidence with frustration."Mr. Guzman said that previous


    contestants were strong but participants are generally young and weak this year."


    "Really?"Ashlyn breathed out a sigh of relief. "Then I''m sure to win."


    "What do you think?" Mrs. Ritter knocked on her head. "Do you think your mother''s money is spent for


    nothing?"


    As they spoke, the car pulled up at the airport entrance. Just as they got out, a car slowly stopped


    beside them.


    A beautiful woman stepped out wearing simple white top, clean blue jeans hugging long straight legs,


    and white sneakers. Casual yet chic.


    But no matter how in she dressed, the beautiful face alone could kill every woman present behind


    her stood an extremely handsome man exuding charisma. Followed by a girl and another man getting


    off from their own vehicle too


    Mrs. Ritter''s face twisted into a sneer as she looked at the familiar faces in front of her. She barely


    nced at Sylvia and Franklin before continuing to walk into the airport without stopping.


    Ashlyn hurried to keep up with her mother''s steps. "Mom... it''s Sylvia and Franklin."


    "Are those pieces of crap worth my attention?" Mrs. Ritter spat out each word with venomous hatred.


    "Let''s go!"


    Sylvia watched the mother and daughter disappear, raising an eyebrow calmly.


    It seemed that Mrs. Ritter had been thoroughly disgusted by Franklin''s recent actions, not even


    bothering to put on a facade before leaving.


    "The grasshopper after autumn can''t jump for long," Franklin spoke coolly, his voice devoid of emotion.


    Mrs. Ritter froze for a moment upon hearing his voice from behind her, clearly struggling to contain her


    anger as she turned towards the handsome man with sharp tongue.


    If words could kill, Mrs. Ritter would have torn Franklin apart with her furious voice already.


    "Who are you calling a grasshopper after autumn?" The woman retorted sharply.


    The tall man stood still in ce, his icy gaze fixed on Mrs. Ritter without any hint of emotion in it


    whatsoever."Cody has been kidnapped and almost assassinated on the street," he said coldly. "We


    have some leads."


    A flicker of panic shed through Mrs. Ritter''s eyes but she was no naive child who had never seen


    anything before.


    She sneered, "Mr. Maskelyne what good does telling me this do? You should be telling this to the police


    if you want results."


    Franklin stood against sunlight, his shoulder bathed in golden light.


    His features were so dazzling that they were almost impossible to see clearly, but one could feel his


    strong aura distinctly. "Isn''t Mrs. Ritter interested?" He asked calmly, his eyes seeming like they knew


    everything about everyone around him


    "Why should I be interested? What does your business have anything to do with me?" She replied icily,


    taking Ashlyn''s hand firmly as if only by doing so could she suppress her racing heart. Was there


    something that Franklin had found out?


    No, it couldn''t be!


    Mrs. Ritter''s eyelids twitched several times, she walked very fast, Ashlyn almost couldn''t keep up.


    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    But even Ashlyn knew now was not time for whining or asking her to mom slow down, because her


    mother''s face was terrifying right now!


    "We should go too," Sylvia stepped forward and took the man''s cold, dry hand in hers.


    Franklin''s deep gaze lingered on their intertwined hands as he lowered his eyes. He smirked and said,


    "Let''s go."


    Brayden and Jenna followed them into the airport lounge.


    As soon as they entered, a familiar figure caught Jenna''s eye.


    She froze. "It''s him..."


    Brayden followed her gaze and saw Aldo looking haggard and worn out. He was no longer the


    handsome fire captain he used to be; time had taken its toll on him, even his hairline had receded


    significantly.


    Mrs. Carson was by his side; she looked just as tired and old as he did. She used to be so morous


    but now dressed modestly like an ordinary middle-aged woman.


    Franklin, Sylvia, and their entourage were too dazzling not to attract attention from other passengers


    around them, including Aldo and Mrs. Carson who looked embarrassed by their presence.


    The atmosphere became tense with silence hanging thick in the air until Aldo finally spoke up after


    what seemed like ages of staring at Jenna with moist eyes. "Jenna..."


    "Mr. Carson," Jenna replied curtly without addressing him affectionately despite wanting to call him


    ''Uncle'' out of habit but changed her mind at thest minute before continuing, "Is there something you


    need?"


    "How have you been?" Aldo had many things he wanted to say but ended up asking a nd question


    instead that didn''t carry any weight or meaning behind it whatsoever.


    "I''m doing well. My godmother and godfather are very good to me. Brayden is also very good to me.


    The two of us got married soon." Jenna smiled sweetly while holding Brayden''s arm tightly; she


    sounded intimate yet distant at the same time which made Brayden feel uneasy about what she said


    earlier regarding marriage ns between them - was it true? Did she really want to marry him?


    Aldo felt dizzy hearing those wordse out of her mouth; it was hard for him to ept this reality that


    someone else would take care of her now besides himself.


    "Jenna, how could you marry someone else?"


    "Not marrying someone else means I have to marry you?" Mrs. Carson tugged at him. "Let''s go!"


    But Aldo just stared at Jenna, his eyes greedy as if he wanted to imprint her in his mind forever.


    "Jenna... I''m nevering back again. Don''t forget me."


    "Why are you telling her so much?" Mrs. Carson was getting anxious. "Hurry up and leave!"


    Suddenly, a group of fully armed police officers rushed into the airport, causing passengers to scatter in


    fear.


    Upon seeing the police officers, Mrs. Carson turned pale and urged Aldo to leave quickly.


    Aldo also noticed the police but didn''t have time to look at Jenna onest time before he grabbed Mrs.


    Carson''s hand and started walking away quickly.


    However, they were still too slow.


    "There they are!"


    "Chase them!"


    A group of police officers swarmed towards them and surrounded mother and son.


    "Take them down!" The head officer ordered as several others rushed forward and pinned Aldo down


    on the ground.


    With a click sound, the cold handcuffs were locked onto his wrist.


    Aldo looked disheartened as hey on the ground with stubble all over his handsome face. Jenna


    watched him now, feeling like it was another world entirely.


    She felt an inexplicable heartache for a moment but it passed soon enough. She stood there nkly


    watching Aldo being taken away miserably. The past shed before her eyes. Who knows what fate


    has in store for anyone?


    The lead officer recognized Franklin and Brayden who had be quite famoustely in Urgford.


    "Master Brayden, Mr. Maskelyne,"he greeted politely.


    "What happened?" Franklin asked indifferently.


    "Aldo colluded with convicted felon rk, suspected of illegal moneyundering including framing


    Secretary Cody. Moreover hemitted dereliction of duty by intentionally not rescuing Royal Gxy


    building."


    The officer shook his head, "In the past, Larro''s fire chief was outstanding, but who would''ve thought


    that eventually he would cross his own bottom line and be an inmate."


    He looked regretful about it all.


    At that moment, the sound of boarding came from inside the ne. Franklin and Brayden exchanged a


    nce, and Brayden chuckled. "Thanks for everything, officers. We''re boarding now. Who would''ve


    thought Aldo''s story would end like this... It just goes to show that kindness is important in life."


    The police nodded and bid them farewell as they took Aldo away.


    Mrs. Carson burst into tears, wailing "My son... my son..." She tried to chase after them with her


    luggage but stumbled and fell to the ground, yet no one showed her any sympathy.


    Jenna walked ahead but nced back at her once in a while.


    Brayden held Jenna''s hand and said, "Let''s go. It''s all in the past now."


    Jenna nodded heavily in agreement.