John said, "I wasn't originally aiming for Granny Rebecca. My real target was Cornelia..."
Before he even finished, Marcus gave him a good kick, "What did you just say? Say that again!"
John coughed up blood, then straightened up again, "I said I wasn't planning on killing Granny Rebecca. My real target was Cornelia. But before I could get to her, you took her away from the Hartley Mansion. She got lucky, escaped by the skin of her teeth.
“So I shifted my target to her grandma, Granny Rebecca. Cornelia was raised by her, and Cornelia sullied the Hartley family name with her disgraceful actions. Granny Rebecca can't wash her hands of this. She must pay for what she's done. I said I wouldn't let anyone hurt you guys, and I'll make sure of it."
"Who do you think you are, a judge?" Marcus was fuming, like a devil from hell, "You want to harm Cornelia, then I'll make sure your whole family pays." He called out, "Ayden!"
Ayden immediately appeared, "Don't worry, President Hartley. Before we hand him over to the police, I'll make sure he knows what regret tastes like."
There wasn't a hint of fear in John's eyes, and he was even smiling, "Seeing that disgusting woman suffer more than death, trading my life for Granny Rebecca's, it's worth it, so worth it!"
Granny Luisa couldn't hold back her emotions anymore. She shouted, "John, have you lost your mind? When did Cornelia and her grandma ever harm us?"
"She's a dirty woman, and there are pictures of her involved with other men circulating on the internet. What makes her Marc's wife? She doesn't deserve it. Marc is too kind-hearted, didn't have the heart to kick her out, so I'll do it for him..." John said proudly, as if he didn't commit murder but did something grand instead.
Granny Luisa, hearing John's words, was furious, "Nonsense! You're just making excuses for your murder. We know Nelly better than you do. And even if Nelly had relations with other men, Marc doesn't mind, why should you, an outsider care about this?"
"Outsider? Outsider?" John seemed deeply stung, repeating, "Granny Luisa, you always said I was family. When did I become an outsider?"
Granny Luisa said, "You murdered someone, you killed my best friend, you insulted my grandson's wife, and you still want to be considered family?"
John said, "Granny Luisa, I respect you, I treat Marc and Bri like my own children, I've been loyal to you all these years, and everything I've done was for you. I was thinking of the Hartley family. They can't make the same mistake again. Marc's mother had an affair, and it tarnished the Hartley family name.
“Now Marc's wife also had relations with other men. It'll make the Hartley family feel ashamed because of her. I absolutely won't let this happen again."
Granny Luisa said, "You're not one of the Hartley family."
Just one sentence from Granny Luisa had a big impact on John. He opened his mouth to say something, but couldn't find the words.
Granny Luisa continued, "Cornelia and her grandma are our family. They're an integral part of the Hartley family, and you're just an outsider. What right do you have to handle things on behalf of the Hartley family?"
Hearing this, John was greatly affected, and he coughed up blood again.
"I'm the outsider..." Looking at Granny Luisa, the stubbornness in his eyes gradually faded, leaving an empty stare. His hair seemed to turn a lot grayer in that instant.
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