Chapter 7
If I remember correctly, destroying ceremonial state reward is a federal crime.
Because it represents the highest level of national honor – it’s priceless, there’s no way to put a dollar amount on it.
Even if Elliot threw his entire fortune at it, it wouldn’t make a difference.
He could be looking at serious prison time, asset forfeiture, and the influence would follow him for life.
Elliot wasn’t stupid – he had to know this.
So this time, he threw away all his pride and begged for my forgiveness.
“Calista, please, for old times’ sake, can you save my ass?”
“If Hawke Industries goes down on my watch, my dad will fucking kill me.”
I stared at him coldly, my eyes showing zero warmth.
Even as a kid, I knew that no matter how powerful Elliot became, he had one fatal weakness – his father.
Elliot was, to put it nicely, born out of wedlock. To put it bluntly, he was the son of a homewrecker.
This had always been his sore spot, his baggage.
From kindergarten on, he got bullied by kids who said his mom was a mistress.
From the moment he could understand, all he wanted was his father’s approval.
Now, after finally growing from that scrawny little boy into the head of Hawke Industries, he couldn’t stand to lose it all again.
He’d been working toward this for so many years – how could he just give up?
But I’d already warned him over and over. He just wouldn’t listen.
And the reason he was groveling now, even getting on his knees to beg, wanting me to help him – I knew it wasn’f real remorse. It was just because the owner of the ceremonial porcelain was my father.
As long as I was willing to forgive, all the punishment he’d face would be wiped clean.
His tearful apology wasn’t because he truly got it – it was just a calculated move after weighing his options.
After being knocked down for so many years, he knew when to bend. He wouldn’t destroy years of careful planning just to his sake.
As for Celine, who dreamed of being the future Mrs. Hawke – in Elliot’s cost-benefit analysis, she was just a pawn to be tossed aside whenever
convenient.
So from the start, when Elliot was protecting Celine, I didn’t think it was anything sweet.
It was all just an act.
Seeing Elliot on his knees groveling for mercy, I suddenly felt this twisted satisfaction. I felt like screwing with him.
I let out a cold laugh, pointing at the broken ceremonial reward on the ground.
“You want me to forgive you? Fine, if you can restore these pieces, I might think about it!”
“But you’ve only got one week!”
Hearing that I’d finally given him an opening, Elliot’s eyes lit up and he quickly agreed.
“Don’t worry, I’ll defirutely bust my effort to restore Uncle Richard’s stuff!”
14
Lafia Princess
“Calista, just wait for me!”
Right then, Celine came crawling over, grabbing onto Elliot’s arm and begging.
“Elliot, please save me, help me beg Calista for mercy, I don’t wanna go to prison!”
“Calista’s your fiancée, she’ll totally obey your orders!”
But Elliot didn’t even glance at her he just kicked her away and got down on the ground to start collecting ceramic fragments.
