Austin knitted his eyebrows and was immersed in his thoughts for a long time. Then, he fixed his fierce wolf-like eyes on Joanna. "So, what you're saying is… you've been using Justin and us this whole time, and you were acting from the very beginning to deceive the Baldwin family?"
Joanna inhaled deeply and nodded guiltily. "I'm very sorry. I was wrong.'
"Don't-!" Justin wanted to stop her but it was too late. He hit his forehead on the table and groaned. "She can't be saved. Joanna, you idiot! It's not worth it!"
It was too foolish for her to risk her life for this cheater!
Justin knew Austin very well – the old man detested lies and was very stubborn. Once he lost his temper, he could even kill others. How would this end now?
"Well, isn't that just great?" Austin had obviously lost control of his emotions. He pointed his revolver at Joanna and said icily, "I like you, and admire you very much. I would have even used all my resources to nurture you because you are Maurice's granddaughter, but this is just too disappointing… The first rule of the Baldwin family is that anyone who dares to betray the family shall die!"
Seeing Austin was about to fire the gun, Justin jumped in front of Joanna in the nick of time and said nonchalantly, "Grandpa, that's our family rule.
What does it have to do with an outsider? If you really want to fire the gun, you can just aim it at me!'
"Do you think I wouldn't dare to do that?" Austin sneered.
"Of course, you would. You can kill all of us without even batting an eyelid. How cool is that?" Justin said cheekily.
Sophia was so anxious she jumped to her feet. "Shut up, brat! Isn't the situation messy enough already?"
Jack also feared that Austin would really shoot his son and bravely interrupted, "Please calm down, Father. These young people are still immature. They don't think before they speak. As adults, we should educate them and give them a chance to turn over a new leaf."
His words somehow moved the arbitrary man. Austin slowly put away his revolver and said to Joanna, "Child, I still believe you're very talented. Your achievements can be greater than mine and your grandfather's if you get the right training. It would be a waste if you're sacrificed like this, so I want to give you a chance. As long as you cut ties with this man once and for all and stay with Justin, I will forgive you."
Joanna frowned slightly and asked, "Are you saying that you're willing to let Ace go?"
"I had no intention of letting the Morans go, but if you are willing to marry Justin, I can consider it…" Austin believed that he was being very generous in this situation. It was partly because Joanna was the only granddaughter of his respected William – any other person who dared to do this would have already been dead.
"I…" Joanna was in a dilemma.
'Great. Clearly, they see me as some sort of peace-making princess. Can I say that I don't want to make a choice?'
However, she and Ace might die on the spot if she did not choose the Baldwin family.
So, deciding to submit to the circumstances, Joanna took a step forward and said, "I will choose…"
Before Joanna could finish, Ace gripped her wrist firmly. "She does not need to make a choice – she's coming with me."
As soon as he said that, he turned around and walked away, pulling Joanna along.
"How dare you!" Austin lost his patience and instantly aimed his revolver at Ace's head. "You're asking for death, you impertinent brat!"
The guards around them also aimed their weapons at Ace. As soon as the old man gave the order, the two of them would be shot to death!
Joanna panicked and struggled to get her hand free. "Let go of me, Ace. There's nothing wrong with giving in sometimes! You may want to die, but I don't!"
Ace snorted coldly. "I, Ace, am not so weak that I need a woman to save my life."
Joanna was speechless. 'This stubborn man… How many times have I saved you? Stop acting like you're the hero here!'
Ace turned around and looked at Austin with a smirk. 'Mr. Baldwin, you can shoot me if you'd like, but the second you do, your entire army will turn into ashes… Are you really okay with that?"
Austin scowled. "Rubbish! The Baldwin army is invincible. Why would they be threatened by you?"
Ace said calmly, "My grandfather has long been prepared for the day you will go crazy and cause trouble, so a large amount of explosives is buried under every training center of the Baldwin army. It would only take the press of a button for the bombs with enough power to destroy a whole city to explode at the same time. If you do not believe it, you can see it for yourself!"
'What?" Austin and the rest of the Baldwins were shocked. The Baldwin army consisted of sixteen legions. They were spread across the globe, undergoing the most rigorous training.
The locations of the training centers were confidential information. How did the Moran family find out about them and bury explosives right under them?
Those sixteen legions were the reason why the Baldwin family was so powerful. They were so invincible that no land they went to could survive. If the Baldwin army was destroyed, Austin's lifetime pride would also be ruined, and the whole Baldwin family…
He could not act recklessly!
'Hmph, I did not expect that Old Moran is still as cunning as before… The old fox was two steps ahead of me, as usual!"
"Mr. Baldwin, my grandfather is not cunning, he is just taking precautions. Unlike you, he prefers peace, but he has his limits. Since you picked a fight, he will naturally retaliate." After that, without giving Joanna a chance to say anything, Ace dragged her along and left the Baldwin residence unhindered.
They drove to a five-star hotel and checked into the presidential suite. Only when they were in the suite could Joanna finally relax.
'Finally, I have finally left the Baldwin residence. It was really like living in the dark ages there! If I stayed in that tyrannical demon cave any longer, I would have gone mad!' She took a deep breath and thought to herself.
However, when she looked up, she saw Ace staring at her intently, as if he could devour her at any moment. This… did not seem to be very safe either, right?
'Did I just jump from the frying pan into the fire?' "Well, if there's nothing else, I'll head back!"