Heartstrings on Fire novel Chapter 1163

Over the years, the name Albert's Arms had been rather understated. When mentioned, some even mistook it for a charity organization. After all, Reggie had been donating a hefty sum to various orphanages across the Capital every year. It was only the drug trafficking scandal that thrust Albert's Arms back into the public eye. Smeared with scandal, it quickly became anathema.

“You aim to take down Jared, the Tim Group, and Albert's Arms all in one go. Your target is still your godfather, aiming to utterly destroy him!” Agnes was almost certain of it.

Kearney finally dropped the act, “The drug trafficking blame, I initially wanted my godfather and Albert's Arms to carry it. But by then, my godfather had already started to suspect me. I had no choice but to shift the blame. As for why to the Tim Group, it was because I knew it would successfully divert my godfather's attention away from me. My godfather has always been ruthless, a cunning old fox. All these years, I never found his Achilles' heel. Luckily he had a son.”

“Why? You grew up in Albert's Arms, it's your home. If you wanted power, I could understand, but why drag Albert's Arms through the mud, completely tarnishing its reputation?”

Kearney burst into laughter, “Albert's Arms was always a den of iniquity, a gathering place for all sorts of riff-raff. Did you really think the people here were noble outlaws? Albert's Arms going legit was never on the cards. I wanted this dark place to reek for a millennium. Did you think a bit of charity work would bring it back into the light? As long as Albert's Arms exists, they can never live a decent life under the sun. I want Reggie, and those who founded Albert's Arms with him, to all go to hell.”

At this point, Agnes could truly feel the bone-deep hatred Kearney harbored. And Agnes had figured it out. Kearney's hatred for Albert's Arms and for Reggie was not unfounded. There had to be more to the story. Seeing Kearney's expression, Agnes instinctively took a step back. Yet, Kearney's face soon twisted into a bizarrely calm smile. He seemed to have regained his usual composed demeanor. But it was precisely this that made Agnes feel even more terrified.

Kearney slowly began, “I did it. Albert's Arms' eight branches, on the day of the wedding, seven branch leaders were killed, and one was shot, paralyzed, now lying in a hospital bed, living a fate worse than death. But Reggie, lucky as he is, survived three shots and lived through the ordeal.”

Agnes trembled. So many lives, treated like mere grass in Kearney's eyes. The Phoenix wedding, the head table was subjected to a mad barrage. Almost everyone at the table was shot dead. It was all premeditated. Kearney's target that day wasn't just Reggie and Sean. But all the high-ranking leaders of Albert's Arms. Agnes felt utterly drained.

“Why, I just want to know why. What did godfather do to make you hate him so much, to hate all of Albert's Arms, to ruthlessly kill almost everyone? There must be a reason.”

Kearney turned around, slowly sat back down. He said, “Because godfather did the same to my father, Sean's father, and Phoenix's father. Our three families were wiped out to establish Reggie's dominance. When he committed such heinous acts for power, he should have foreseen this day. He should have been more ruthless back then, should have completely eradicated us three as well. Unfortunately, that's how it is, a moment of mercy can lead to endless trouble. I will not make the same mistake as him. Once you choose to be the villain, why bother with mercy.”

Agnes's heart skipped a beat. Just a few days ago, Reggie had recounted the past to Agnes. Kearney claimed that Sean and Shipley were killed by The Obsidian Order in a crossfire. And Kearney's father, Lyman, also died from his injuries and sickness. How could it possibly be godfather who killed them?