Luna Williams’ pale lips trembled; she had not expected Maverick Williams to step forward and take the blame for her.
Waylon Lewis narrowed his eyes. He didn’t speak, just sat there quietly, and it was unclear how much he believed.
Those few minutes were extremely excruciating for them all.
Luna bowed her head and sobbed with a slight tremble, endless fear burgeoning from the depths of her heart.
"Tell me, who did you hire with the thirty million?" Waylon’s voice was ice-cold.
Maverick’s eyes flickered anxiously. It was clear that Waylon was doubtful of the truth.
If Maverick didn’t speak now, or if he misspoke, both would serve as proof that he was lying.
Moreover, Luna was extremely anxious at the moment, but she dared not speak out, for once she did, it would prove that she was the one who spent thirty million to hire mercenaries to kidnap Hope Williams.
"This..." Maverick’s brow knitted in confusion, considering Luna didn’t know anyone here, the people she could hire would likely be nothing more than street thugs.
"Speak," Waylon lost his patience.
"It was a group of street thugs..."
"Grandfather!" Luna’s heart sank.
Waylon’s expression turned colder, "The ones who attempted to kill Hope were a group of well-trained mercenaries."
Mercenaries? Maverick’s expression stiffened. How could that be possible?
How could Luna possibly know and contact mercenaries?
"You’re trying to take the fall for Luna," Waylon scoffed.
The only person who could make Maverick willingly take the blame under such circumstances was Luna.
Luna’s body went limp, her lips quivering.
"No, it’s me..." Maverick persisted.
Waylon already had his answer; no matter what Maverick said, it wouldn’t matter.
"Don’t." Luna struggled with all her might, "It wasn’t me. Those mercenaries weren’t hired by me. I don’t even know any mercenaries..."
Maverick quickly followed, "Right, Luna doesn’t know any mercenaries. She doesn’t have the contacts; maybe there’s been some misunderstanding here."
"It was Ted Williams!" Luna raised her hand pointing directly at Ted, "It was him."
"Ted Williams?" Maverick squinted his eyes, his inner fury finding an outlet, "Why would you harm your own sister?"
Ted, who had been standing quietly by the side, pursed his lips. He had anticipated that he would be implicated.
Therefore, he had already made his plans. Now, his expression was calm and collected, without any hint of guilt.
"Grandfather, how have I harmed her? She hired the people, she made the plan, and she paid the money. What does this have to do with me?" Ted raised an eyebrow, questioning innocently.
"I didn’t even know those people originally; it was he who introduced me to them," Luna cried out in desperation.
"Yes, I introduced them to her," Ted didn’t hide anything and admitted it outright, "but I had no choice."
Saying this, Ted promptly removed the gauze from his forehead, revealing an unhealed scar underneath—the result of Luna’s previous assault.
"At home, everything revolves around her. If she says east, would I dare go west? I’m just an adopted son, dependent on others’ charity. If I don’t listen to her, she won’t let me off, and neither would you, grandfather."
Ted continued, his demeanor one of a man forced into a corner.
He implied that introducing the mercenaries was entirely due to being coerced.
Luna’s eyes widened as she staggered to her feet and landed a slap on Ted’s face, "Have you no shame? What act is this?"
His menacing, fierce appearance as he choked her that day was still vivid in her mind; what forced circumstances was he pretending now?
Ted, hit by Luna, did not show any sign of anger and simply lowered his head, the very image of resigned acquiescence, without a hint of temper.
"Ted Williams, you’re just trying to clear your own name."
Ted glanced up at Luna, "Clear my name? This matter has nothing to do with me in the first place."
Waylon’s icy gaze scrutinized Ted, the chill in his eyes deepening.
He lifted his hand, no longer wanting to hear their arguments, "Take her to jail."
Thomas immediately stepped forward, reaching out to detain Luna.
Now Maverick couldn’t care less about Ted; considering Luna’s current situation, she might only have two or three months left even in the hospital. If she were sent to jail, she wouldn’t last many days.
Looking at Luna, with tears streaking down her face, Maverick gritted his teeth and hurriedly stepped forward to plead for Luna, "Waylon Lewis, I beg you, please let her go. She doesn’t have much time. Please, for the sake of her being Hope’s own sister..."
"Favor?" Waylon’s cold eyes narrowed, "Do you deserve to talk about favors?"
Maverick wiped his sweaty forehead, trembling, "Fine, if it’s like that, I’ll go to prison for her. Let her go, can you?"
"Grandfather..." Luna cried brokenly.
Waylon’s eyebrows quirked slightly, "Fine."
"As long as she endures twice the pain my wife suffered, I will let you take her place."