Chapter 284: First Kill Chuck, Then Destroy the Detective, Only I, the Orphan, Have My Wish Fulfilled!
"What exactly do you want?"
Linda, forced to drive home, looked at Esther, who held a pistol casually in the back seat, and asked in terror.
"What do I want?"
Esther smiled. "I just don't want to be pushed around anymore. I want freedom, just like Beth..."
She glanced at the silent Beth Harmon beside her, her face darkening.
"Why can she do whatever she wants, while I struggle and get shut down at every turn? It's not fair!"
"Beth doesn't do whatever she wants; she just wants to play chess,"
Linda explained. "If you want, you can too."
"Just chess?"
Esther narrowed her eyes. "You're saying you're the one dragging her around to tournaments all day, not the other way around?"
"I can take you around too..."
Linda was almost in tears.
Although she had experienced her husband's death threats before, he hadn't actually pulled a weapon that time.
This time, however, her adopted daughter Esther was pointing the gun directly at her, making the terror even more real.
"Are you saying I'm not smart enough?"
Esther's face darkened as she pressed the gun against Beth Harmon's cheek. "That I can't compete in tournaments and win championships?"
"I didn't mean that,"
Linda quickly explained.
"I'm not as smart as her,"
Esther pressed the gun harder against Beth's face. "Maybe I'm not as pretty either, but the ones who rule this world are never the smartest—they're the most ruthless. What do you think?"
"You've got the gun. Whatever you say goes,"
Beth Harmon stared at her.
"Still thinking like a chess player. Seems you really do love chess,"
Esther laughed. "Unfortunately, this world isn't as simple as a chessboard. You can never predict what's coming next. How about this—guess what I'm going to do right now?"
"What any smart and ruthless so-called world ruler would do: hide from Detective Chuck,"
Beth Harmon said.
"Ha!"
Esther laughed loudly. "Looks like you really admire him, think he's some kind of superhero?"
"I trust my mother,"
Beth Harmon said indifferently. "So far, he hasn't let her down."
"Which mother?"
Esther looked at Linda in the driver's seat. "I don't think you mean this drunk mother, do you? Or your dead mother who killed herself? She's gone, and you still trust her?
And you think Detective Chuck is so amazing because he helped this alcoholic once and scared that pathetic dead father?
Let me tell you something!
The world chess grandmaster, the man who terrified this drunk so badly she hired a detective to investigate his estate planning before he was even dead—he's gone!
And let me tell you,
he died like a coward.
The person who beat him isn't as impressive as you think!"
"No, I don't want to hear this, I didn't hear anything!"
Linda felt like she was losing her mind, shaking her head and frantically refusing to listen.
Even with her limited intelligence, she could understand why Esther would tell them such damning information.
It's the same logic as a masked kidnapper—if they don't show their face, they might let you go, but once they reveal themselves, it means they plan to kill you.
Esther clearly had no intention of letting them go!
"Drive carefully!"
Esther pressed the gun to the back of Linda's head. "Don't worry, as long as you cooperate, I won't kill you.
You are, after all, my mother. I still want to live a comfortable life under your care until I'm an adult. I never want to go back to that orphanage again."
"Yes, yes!"
Linda was stunned for a moment, then filled with desperate hope. "I will definitely take care of you and love you. I'll pretend I didn't hear anything, and I also want to thank you.
You know Patrick has wanted to kill me for ages. If it weren't for Detective Chuck, I'd be dead already. We're on the same side.
I know my attitude was harsh earlier, but I promise from now on I'll treat you like my own daughter. I'll fight for custody.
No matter what it costs, I'll raise you myself, healthy and happy. We have plenty of money..."
"That's good."
Esther lowered the gun, placing it flat on her lap so Linda couldn't see it in the rearview mirror, and regained her childlike innocent smile.
"I don't ask for much, just to be like her—free to do what I want, with a supportive mother."
"That's so easy!"
Linda exclaimed hopefully. "Mom will definitely make that happen."
"Thank you, Mom."
Esther smiled sweetly. "But before that, you'll put my mind at ease, right?"
"Of course."
Linda's smile faltered. "What do you need me to do?"
"It's simple."
Esther smiled. "We'll talk about it when we get home."
When Linda wasn't looking, Esther's smile turned into a sneer. When Beth Harmon glanced over, she raised a finger to her lips, giving Beth a knowing smile, signaling her to stay quiet.
The Cross family estate.
When Linda's car pulled into the driveway, she noticed none of the staff were around. Under Esther's subtle direction, she went inside.
"David, you're here!"
As soon as Linda entered, she saw a man sitting in the living room. After a moment of surprise, her face lit up with relief when she recognized him.
It was her husband's younger brother, David.
In the current situation, even with Esther's threats and promises, having extra protection was still welcome.
"Yeah, I just heard the news. How's Patrick?"
David asked gravely.
"Your brother passed away."
Linda glanced at Esther. "He had a sudden heart attack."
"How could that happen?"
David walked over in shock, grabbing Linda's hands. "Patrick's always been healthy, and we've never had any heart problems in the family. How could he suddenly have a heart attack?"
"Who can really predict these things?"
Linda looked at Esther nervously, unconsciously shifting behind David.
"This is devastating."
David's expression showed shock and grief.
Linda's face reflected the same emotions.
This wasn't an act.
The relief she'd felt upon seeing her brother-in-law had completely vanished, replaced by alarm at his inappropriate behavior.
She was American, and of course she knew American customs. While Americans often expressed comfort and support through hugs and gentle contact during times of joy and sorrow,
this blatant invasion of her personal space was completely out of line.
And then there was that predatory look in his eyes.
Normally, she would have already called him out, but now, shocked and terrified by this series of events, she didn't know how to react.
"David..."
When his behavior became so aggressive that Linda was stunned and had to resist, she could only remind him when he paused and looked at her. "The girls are here."
"Sorry."
David glanced apologetically at Linda, then looked at Esther and Beth, his gaze lingering on Beth with unmistakable heat.
"Let's go inside and talk."
Saying this, he pulled Linda toward the bedroom.
"Wait..."
Linda was shocked again.
That's not what she meant at all.
But before she could refuse, David had already pulled her toward the room, and she could only look desperately at Esther, her eyes questioning and seeking permission.
Esther slightly revealed the muzzle of her gun, a threatening warning, but didn't stop her.
Linda was about to follow David when her other hand was suddenly grabbed. She looked down and saw it was Beth Harmon.
"Don't go in there!"
"Why not?"
Linda asked, confused.
"Can't you see? They're working together!"
Beth Harmon forcefully pulled Linda to her side.
"Working together?"
Linda stared at David and Esther in shock.
"So smart!"
David's eyes burned as he looked at Beth.
"David, you..."
Linda took a step back.
"Mom, didn't you promise we'd be together from now on?"
Esther smiled innocently. "Uncle David is so much better than Dad! Go with Uncle David, he'll be our new dad, your new husband, and our family will be whole again."
"That's right."
David dropped the pretense, revealing his true nature, and grinned predatorily at Linda. "Linda, your husband is gone. From now on, I'll take care of you and the girls. Don't worry, I'll treat you all real good."
"This was all your plan?"
Linda exclaimed incredulously.
"No, it was hers!"
Beth Harmon pointed at Esther.
"Esther, what are you trying to do?"
Linda's head was spinning.
"What am I doing?"
Esther's smile held pure malice. "I just want to be happy, but I can't seem to make that happen.
Your husband—I thought with his intelligence, he'd be different from ordinary men, that he'd appreciate my beauty.
But I never expected him to be so shallow. The reason he adopted me was so I would kill you!
Why?
Just to win a game against that Detective Chuck!
That would've been fine.
If he'd been willing to accept me, I wouldn't have minded killing you, and I could've even helped him defeat that Detective Chuck.
Let him win forever.
But he kept rejecting my advances, even when I made them obvious.
So he deserved to die!"
"My brother went completely insane from chess."
David walked over and embraced Esther, chuckling. "Such a beautiful woman, and he didn't even know what he had. That's
typical. He
only cared about chess all day—I bet he was too obsessed to even touch you, right, Linda?
What a waste.
I've always asked my brother for more money.
But he just said giving it to me would be wasteful.
We're brothers—he doesn't want me wasting money, and naturally I don't want him wasting opportunities either.
Now everything's perfect. No more waste."
"You two..."
Linda stared in shock and disgust at the two embracing, unable to process what she was seeing.
"Hurry up."
Esther's eyes turned cold. "Mom, you promised you'd give me the family I want. Now it's time to prove it.
If you stay with Uncle David, you can get married soon, and then we can all be together forever."
"Actually, everyone can be together."
David's eyes burned as he stared at Beth. "It's all about trust and security, so being together works better."
"You like Beth that much?"
Esther narrowed her eyes at David.
"Of course not."
David quickly hugged Esther tighter, forcing a smile. "I love you most, but right now the priority is getting Linda and Beth on our side so we can fulfill your wish.
If you don't want me to, I'll leave her alone, as long as you can guarantee she'll cooperate."
"Don't worry, I don't mind if you touch her."
Esther lowered her eyes. "Just not now. Take Linda inside first."
"Okay!"
David immediately agreed, pulling Linda toward the bedroom.
"She won't let you walk away from this."
Beth Harmon suddenly spoke up.
David paused, looking back.
"As soon as you touch Linda, she can pin everything on you whenever she needs to, claim you fled in guilt,"
Beth Harmon warned. "She needs absolute control, and at most she can only guarantee control over Linda, not you.
Once you have second thoughts, she doesn't have enough leverage to keep you in line. Do you think she'll allow that?
And she definitely knows men are the easiest to have second thoughts!"
"I won't have second thoughts,"
David said with a forced smile, looking at Esther.
"The three of you have thrown your lot in with me. If you still change your mind after that, don't blame me,"
Esther said calmly. "If you really do betray me, think about those videotapes. Once they're automatically sent out, it'll be enough to put you away for life."
"Right,"
David said, completely reassured now.
Just then, Esther's phone vibrated. She pulled it out, glanced at it, and frowned. "There's no time. Forget about this."
"What's wrong?"
David asked urgently. "You said this is the foundation for building trust in our new family. What could be more important than this?"
"Detective Chuck is here."
Esther looked at Beth. "Aren't you happy?"
"I can keep quiet,"
Beth Harmon said calmly. "But I can't guarantee he won't notice something's wrong."
"That's your problem to solve."
Esther pointed the gun at Linda. "You don't want your mother to end up like your real mom, do you?"
Beth's expression changed.
"Looks like you understand."
Esther smiled. "You'll be the one to meet him. How should I put it? You're so smart, you definitely know better than anyone what to do.
I just want him to rule Dad's death as a sudden heart attack, so we'll all be fine.
Otherwise...
I'm still a minor.
I'll definitely be fine."
As she spoke, she toyed with the pistol, her words dripping with threat.
Beth Harmon was silent for a moment, then nodded. "I understand."
Esther studied her for a while, nodded, and told David to take Linda and hide.
After leaving the villa, they got into the car and drove out the back entrance. Before getting in, David quietly asked, "Is this really okay? What if she reports us?"
"She won't,"
Esther smiled. "Her mother's death was her biggest trauma; she definitely wouldn't want to watch Linda die right in front of her.
And even if she could bear it,
it doesn't matter.
The biggest problem right now isn't Detective Chuck coming to investigate.
Do you know what it is?"
"What?"
David asked, confused.
"It's Detective Chuck himself!"
Esther said coldly. "As long as he exists, he's the biggest threat to people like us getting what we want, so removing him is the most important thing right now!"
As she spoke,
Chuck's car pulled into the driveway.
Esther watched from a distance: "Once he's dead, what story can't we tell?"
(End of Chapter)
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