Rupert was left disoriented by Calista''s words. His eyes were still filled with tears, but he no longer struggled. Instead, he felt a sense of bewilderment.


    Calista released him. "Do you really want to end up like your father? He had the desire to protect his family but couldn''t. He wished to provide a good life for you but was powerless to do so. Do you want to be a weakling, ultimately dying a pathetic death?" Her voice remained icy cold, yet within its frigid tone, an undertone of reproof lingered-a subtle questioning, perhaps. Throughout his life, Rupert had never encountered anyone who spoke to him with such severity nor had anyone ever so brutally exposed the harsh reality andid it bare before him.


    Although he was only thirteen, his father''s death forced him to grow up prematurely. He was no longer just a child.


    "Someone who loves his family, yet incapable of doing anything right? A helpless weakling?" Rupert muttered. He couldn''t deny that Calista''s words were true. In this region, most impoverished families were like his. Many heads of households couldn''t even take care of their own needs, let alone their family''s. As a result, the women ended up doing most of the work.


    Some people, like his father, genuinely wanted to take care of their families. However, due to various reasons such as limited abilities and wisdom, they could only strive their utmost to keep their family barely alive. It wasn''t because his father wasn''t good enough. It was simply because they were too weak.


    "I''m sorry..." Rupert suddenly closed his eyes, kneeling before the lifeless body. "I refuse to be weak any longer. I won''t let anyone drive me out of my home or rob me of my food! Dad, I want to be strong! I want to protect Mom!"


    There was no point in bringing the body back, so Calista decided to bury it in the forest.


    When they returned, Rupert was noticeably quieter. It was as if he had grown up in a single day, a kind of growth that many would rather avoid.


    Levi heaved a sigh, once again sensing the formidable presence of Calista.


    Love is never cheap, yet it often falls short of expectations. It''s akin to how all parents wish to give their children the best, but they mightck the means to do so. Can we me them for this? No. But does it mean they are free from responsibility? Certainly not. In the end, those who find themselves in adversity must first possess a strong heart in order to grow into strong individuals.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    By the time they returned, Jarrett had already arrived. Upon seeing Calista return, he rose from his seat, a glint shing behind his sses. His immacte suit and attention to detail were clear indicators of his sess as a businessman. His narrow eyes carried a hint of charm that made him particrly appealing to women.


    "Getting a chance to see you is truly no easy feat," Jarrett scoffed, his tone brimming with dissatisfaction. He was someone others would line up to meet, yet here he was, having sat idle for three whole hours.


    "Did you fly here directly?" Calista took the damp towel handed to her and wiped her face before striding toward him.


    After some time apart, Jarrett noticed that Calista seemed to have changed even more.


    When they first met, Calista was nothing more than a young girl, sleeping in a rundown motel. When she approached him, asking for two hundred thousand, her boldness was evident, yet she still had an air


    of innocence about her. Honane


    in


    just a year''s time, she had transformed into a formidable figure, capable of matching any man. If anyone thought they could take advantage of her, they''d better be prepared for the possibility of a crushing defeat.


    Coming back to his senses, Jarrett chuckled lightly. "Ms. Calista, I dare not waste time since you''ve extended an invitation. So tell me, what brings you to seek me out?"


    Calista pointed toward arge tree nearby. It was evening and free food was being distributed here, hence the area under the tree was cleared. They continued their conversation as they walked.


    "In the underground arms market in South East Aploth, how many percent of market share does the Sinir family hold?"


    Jarrett gave her a sidelong nce. "It''s such a vast market, and you''re asking how many percent right off the bat. That''s rather greedy. Besides, the Sinir family doesn''t focus on this area. We only hold a small half-percent stake. The Wolford family is doing slightly better, holding just over one percent."


    "Are you interested in this area?"


    Jarrett lit up a cigarette. "To say I''m not interested would be a lie. Even though my family wants to clean up its act, we still need to make a living. The benefits involved here are enough for us topromise some of our principles."


    "That''s good, then," Calista said with a light chuckle. "I can get Sterling killed here. Do you think you can take over his share?"


    Jarrett was stunned. When Calista mentioned killing Sterling, her tone didn''t waver in the slightest. It was as if she was talking about stepping on an ant. Her mental fortitude was truly extraordinary.


    He was aware that the Fairchild


    family had been dominating the


    Wolford family for the past year. However, if Calista was willing to let Kallum take action, she wouldn''t have waited until now. As far as he knew, Kallum already had the evidence that couldnd Sterling in jail. But he had not made a move yet, and the only possible reason was Calista.


    Seemingly sensing his confusion, Calista added, "If we were to send him to prison, it''s uncertain whether it would be sessful on the first try. Even if he was imprisoned, he


    wouldn''t die. The Wolford famil


    would indeed suffer a huge financial loss, even to the point of bankruptcy, but they would still be alive and well. I don''t wish for that to happen." Calista revealed a mysterious smile. "Based on reliable information, Sterling wille here with only a few people. Even if he knows I''m here, he won''t bring many."