Chapter 183
Simon asked, “Why is the water black?”
Adam answered shakily, “The factories are releasing pollutants into the water, and people are throwing rubbish into the river.
“The location of the stadium is also problematic. It obstructs the lower stream, causing pollutants and trash to accumulate.”
The factories, owned by Oliver and the others, produced steel, concrete, and paper- industries notorious for their environmental impact, and the pollutants they discharged were foul–smelling and filthy.
The nearby residents had lodged many complaints, but due to the status of Oliver and his leverage over Stephen, no one could stop them. Until now, Stephen still had to provide. Oliver and the others compensation fees.
Simon was baffled when he heard the explanation. The magnitude of the problems was too overwhelming for him to comprehend at once.
“And Stephen just has to drop the ball at this moment! Damn it!”
Why did Stephen have to leave now, right when the sports game was happening and the city’s economy should be booming?
Simon started to shift the blame onto Ethan and Snow. Had Snow not appeared and Ethan spilled Snow’s location, Stephen would not be in such devastation.
He then called George to ask about Stephen.
“Rachel has been taking care of him for the whole night. He looks the same, but I think his mind is elsewhere. Can I ask what happened to him?”
Simon sighed. “Snow is alive. She’s avoiding Stephen, and only Ethan knows where she is, but he refuses to tell.
“Stephen won’t be able to find her for the rest of his life, so he feels like he’ll never be able to make it up to her.”
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George’s eyes widened in surprise.
Ethan’s move was vicious. To trap someone in a lifetime of guilt? That was something else.
Knowing Stephen’s condition, George was glad that the young man did not wake up in the iniddle of the night, slap himself out of regret, and go off the deep end.
“There’s only two solutions to the current situation,” George said.
“I’m all ears,” Simon answered.
Chapter 183
+25 BONUS
“The first would be to wipe his memory clean and make him forget about Snow.”
Simon was silenced. “Do you think you’re clever for coming up with that?”
It would be much quicker and more efficient to hit Stephen in the head with a bat, forcing him to forget her, than joking with fictitious stories.
George hunched his shoulders and continued, “The second solution would be Ethan Rivers. We must ask him for help. Only he can help Stephen to overcome this condition.”
Simon believed it was a much more reasonable solution, but he had tried it before. He offered 50 million dollars, but Ethan still did not reveal Snow’s location.
“He’s not going to help. We tried, but fifty million couldn’t change his mind,” Simon said. George was surprised by the amount of money offered to Ethan.
Then, his eyes flickered. “Things are different now. Stephen is falling apart, and Aqua City is a mess. Ethan might not want to help Stephen, but he can’t just turn his back on Aqua City.
“We can talk to him. We can ask him to help Stephen in the name of the city. He won’t say no to that.”
Simon considered that carefully. “It could work. Go find Ethan right now.”
A quick pause later, Simon added, “Take Rachel with you. Ethan was in love with her. If anyone can get through to him, it’s her.‘
George nodded. “Got it.”
Without wasting any time, he took Rachel and headed to Drakthorn Ridge, while Stephen was put in the butler’s care.
Half an hour later, George and Rachel arrived at Ethan’s mansion. Ethan was sitting in the living room as usual when they came in.
“Ethan…” Rachel whispered his name softly.
She had been receiving the cold shoulder lately from Stephen and missed being with Ethan. Back when Ethan was around, he would never make her suffer like that.
George spoke up, “Ethan, we need your help.”
