<h4>Chapter 13: Before the Storm</h4>


    <strong>Trantor: </strong>Nyoi-Bo Studio <strong>Editor: </strong>Nyoi-Bo Studio


    In a private hospital in Javon, Brianne Taylor and Prisci Liam were sitting next to Tiffany Wooten’s bed. Tiffany was Bruce White’s foster mother.


    “Take it easy, Auntie. My dad is back. He promised me he would help Bruce.” Prisci Liam tried to make her feel better.


    Tiffany Wooten, Bruce White’s foster mother, was lying on the hospital bed but her heart was not there. She had never stopped worrying about Bruce White.


    She cared about this foster son even more than her own biological son.


    Bruce White had offended the powerful Stuarts to save her. Therefore, nothing could really set her mind at ease.


    “Mom, why are you still worrying about him? He deserved everything that happened to him!”


    Brianne Taylor said stubbornly, puffing out her cheeks. However, in fact, she had begged Prisci Liam many times in private to help Bruce.


    “Brianne, that’s your brother. We are a family,” said Tiffany Wooten in a patient tone.


    “My brother? Do I have a brother? Does he treat us as his family? Has he ever called us since he got out of jail? Not even once!”


    Gnashing her teeth, Brianne Taylor spoke with a clear and slow artiction of each word as if she was venting her emotions with every word. However, in fact, her feeling was moreplicated than that of anyone else’s at the moment.


    She had decided to leave that person behind forever, but he showed up again when she was in despair.


    His reappearance brought unwanted memories back to her. Hatred and love arose in her heart again and would not stop growing. Not until then did she realize she had never really gotten over him.


    Seeing Brianne’s reaction, Tiffany Wootenpsed into silence. A short whileter, she murmured, “I trust Bruce. He must have his reasons!”


    Brianne Taylor wiped her tears stubbornly. She turned around to walk out of the ward. Seeing her leave, Prisci Liam followed her out.


    Prisci Liam found Brianne Taylor on thending of the staircase. She was sitting on her heels with her head down, crying.


    WEE-oww-WEE-oww-WEE-oww...


    The wailing of the police siren broke the peace while Brianne Taylor was crying her heart out.


    “Brianne!”


    Both Prisci Liam and Brianne Taylor were struck dumb. Then they came to themselves and went back into Tiffany Wooten’s ward.


    “What is that? Is the Executive Bureauing to look for Bruce? Don’t let them find him. Hurry up! Inform Bruce of this. Tell him to go, to get out of Javon as quickly as possible.”


    Tiffany Wooten was struggling. She wanted to get up, but the sharp pain from her injuries left her face as pale as a ghost.


    “Mom, don’t move. I will handle it.”


    Brianne Taylor managed to stop crying. She looked down through the window. Dozens of armed policemen of the Executive Bureau had walked into the hospital.


    With no time left to think, Brianne Taylor opened the door right away. She wanted to stop them at the door so that they would not disturb Tiffany Wooten.


    “I will go with you, but my mother has nothing to do with this. She is just a victim. The whole thing started because of me. If you want to catch someone, catch me.”


    Brianne Taylor saw Andrew Lester as soon as she walked out the door. She told him immediately that she would go with him, but she did not mention a word about Bruce White.


    “Andrew! What the hell are you doing here? Get lost. Get lost. All of you, get lost now!”


    Hanson Holt arrivedte. He broke into a sweat after seeing Andrew Lester standing outside the ward.


    This motherf*cker should have used his own brain before acting. He never uses it.


    He came with so many people. What if they scared someone?


    Andrew Lester was dumbstruck. He hurried to step aside with his subordinates.


    Hanson Holt walked up to Brianne Taylor right away to apologize to her.


    “You... Aren’t you here to catch us?”


    Brianne Taylor was confused. At this moment, Prisci Liam walked out of the ward too.


    “Uncle Hanson, this is a friend of mine. I can prove the whole thing has nothing to do with them. They are victims.”


    Prisci Liam was standing in front of Brianne Taylor to protect her.


    “Yeah, that’s right. Of course. Prisci, you are absolutely right. We have investigated the whole thing. It has nothing to do with you. I apologize for the rudeness of my subordinates. I am truly sorry for that. Please forgive them if you took offense.”


    Brianne Taylor was dumbfounded.


    So was Prisci Liam.


    “We are actually here to protect you. Don’t worry. We absolutely won’t disturb you.”


    “Miss White, this is my card. Please feel free to call me if you need anything.”


    “Andrew, you will follow Miss White’s orders from now on. Is that clear?”


    What?


    Brianne Taylor and Prisci Liam could not be more baffled. Their mouths were opened so wide that it was even possible to put an egg inside.


    Howe?


    What exactly happened?


    Who am I? Where am I? What happened?


    Questions arose, one after another, in their minds. They werepletely left in shock.


    “Is it because...”


    Prisci Liam suddenly froze. She recalled how the whole city had made way for them when she was following Bruce White’s carst time. A crazy idea came to mind.


    “What are you thinking, Prisci?” Seeing Prisci Liam so absentminded, Brianne Taylor could not help but ask.


    Prisci Liam was dumbstruck. She was not sure about anything yet. She did not know whether her guess was correct, so she chose to keep it to herself for the moment.


    ...


    At the same time, Wace Liam and his group entered the vi at the Southern Lakes Vis smoothly.


    Wace Liam was scared out of his wits after seeing how Jordan Stuart had been tortured. He looked terrible and almost unrecognizable.


    This foster brother of Brianne Taylor was really something!


    Wace Liam reached a conclusion while sizing up Bruce White and the five men standing directly behind him.


    It was not hard to tell from their postures that they must have practiced some martial techniques.


    However, Wace Liam was not very sure about those people. After all, they looked too young. He did not believe they could really achieve anything good.


    While Wace Liam was sizing up Kirin and others, Bruce White walked up to him. He said to Wace, “Uncle Wace, thank you foring. If you need anything in the future, just tell me. I will surely try my best to give you whatever help you need.”


    Bruce White thought he should be grateful to Wace Liam for having intervened at such a point.


    But Wace Liam actually had no idea how the decision he made today would help the future of the Liams.


    “Not at all, Bruce. I am an old friend of your foster father’s. He helped me a lot in the old days. The thing is... s...”


    Wace Liam let out a sigh as if he had a heavy burden on his heart.


    “Uncle Wace, what is it? You can tell me.” Bruce White knew Wace Liam had something to say.


    “Just some old stories. Knowing too much won’t do you any good.”


    “But as a friend of your foster father’s, I have to tell you this. The Stuarts are not as simple as you think. With the help you’ve got here, I am afraid...”


    Wace Liam did not say it, but what he meant to say was clear. He wanted Bruce White to step back.


    Because in his opinion, even though Bruce White was not alone, these helpers he had would not be of much help. Timothy Stuart was too powerful. More than that, he had many top-notch martial artists backing him up.


    He was so powerful that not just anyone could provoke him.


    And Wace Liam did not think Bruce White was one of those who should. He did not believe that thetter was able to deal with Timothy Stuart.


    Bruce White only gave Wace Liam a small smile. Well, the Stuarts were not simple, but was he simple?


    However, he understood why Wace Liam thought this way.


    After all, people like Wace Liam never had any contact with experts such as the Kings of War.


    The Kings of War were even greater than top-notch martial artists. People who reached this level had gone back to nature and were able to withhold their auras.


    They looked just likemon people. Only real experts could detect the subtle differences in them.


    Wace Liam could not tell those differences. Neither could the top-notch martial artists behind him.


    Therefore, Bruce White did not exin anything to him. He only replied in a in voice, “The Stuarts are a small case. They are not powerful enough to cause me any big troubles.”


    “Well... s...”


    It was good to be confident, but arrogance would only be detrimental. Bruce White knew nothing about the power of the Stuarts.


    Wace Liam let out a helpless sigh. He seemed very disappointed.


    While Wace Liam was feeling disappointed with Bruce White, a deafening shout came from outside the vi. “Bruce White! Get out of there! We’re going to kill you here!”