Chapter 9: Aunt Blake Moves In

Words : 2042 Updated : Nov 27th, 2025

"Aaaaah!" With a scream, the security guard at the funeral home entrance was sent flying into the booth. Miller Cutmore had kicked him straight through the doorway; the man gasped for breath, but couldn't get up. Even if you were down and out, you couldn't just sell your soul for pocket change. For ten or twenty bucks, acting like someone's snitch-feeding them intel and not caring about the fallout-someone like that deserved a beating. A red sedan pulled up behind them. Seeing the two women in the car, Miller shook his head, resigned. Megan Scurr grumbled, "What's with the attitude? Han was worried about you and insisted on hanging back out of sight. You think I want to stay here and stare at your sour face?" "Alright, enough. Zip it," Blake Cutmore shot back, shooting her a look. "Who was the one freaking out a minute ago? You were itching to call the cops. If I hadn't held you back, you'd have stormed in." Megan flushed. "Who was freaking out? I just couldn't stand watching you worry yourself sick." Miller ignored their bickering and said to Blake, "Aunt Blake, I want to see the old place." "Alright. Get in first." Blake opened the door for him. Once he slid into the seat, she said, "I already renovated it. It's livable now, but it's a far cry from our old villa." "Still beats Belton Prison," Miller said flatly. Blake's eyes stung. She glanced at the black bag in his hand and asked, "What's in there?" Miller tucked the bag under his feet. "Don't ask, Aunt-you really don't want to see." Cinville Bay Community on Gilton Road, Building 12, Apartment 301. He unlocked the door and stepped into the hall, taking in the space, silent for a long moment. Blake hurried in with Megan and called out, "Miller, why did you suddenly get so much money? Who wired it?" "The Juggins family," Miller said, a small smile flickering. "Ransom money for Cairo Juggins. It's just the down payment; more will follow. I told them I'd make them cough up every cent they took from the Cutmore family." Megan curled her lip. "You think Cooper Juggins keeps his promises? You don't have a hostage anymore; what's he afraid of now? Be glad you got this much. Do you really think he'll pay the rest?" "How do you know," Miller said evenly, "whether I want him to keep his promise or break it?" "You-" Megan blinked, then it clicked. If Cooper paid in full, all he bought was Cairo's life; Miller would still go after the rest of the Juggins. If Cooper reneged, that would suit Miller even better-he'd have a sharper blade and stronger pretext to hit the Juggins family hard. Megan huffed. "I'm just warning you, the Juggins have been entrenched in Xavon for years. They're not easy prey. Cooper is on guard now. Next time you face off, he'll be ready." "I couldn't ask for more," Miller said, the corner of his mouth lifting, utterly unfazed. Blake shut the door and said to Miller, "The place is old. Some of the furniture is too worn out. Keep what's worth keeping; toss the rest. Everything we moved out of the villa is in that little storage room. I'm moving back tonight. From now on, I'm living here with you." Miller nodded and headed for the small storage room. He hardly remembered this place. It had been their address before his so-called dad struck it rich-two bedrooms, one living room, a tiny utility cubby, a little over ninety square meters. Megan frowned. "You're living here with her? You're his older relative, sure, but by only six years. A single man and a single woman under one roof-people talk. It's not exactly appropriate. My place is more comfortable." Blake flicked her forehead and snapped, "What are you thinking? Miller is my blood nephew. Your place might be comfy, but it isn't my home. This is. You were afraid I'd be in danger living here alone; now that Miller's back, you can stop worrying." "You said Miller might not be your blood nephew," Megan blurted. "He's your sister-in-law's-" "Stop," Blake said, covering Megan's mouth. "It was only my suspicion. My sister-in-law mentioned it once, and before she could explain, she-" She turned and looked toward the storage room where Miller had disappeared. "Whatever the truth is, Miller is the only family I have left in this world." "What about your brother?" Megan said, brow furrowing. "He vanished over ten years ago, but he should be alive, right? And your niece, Lingyun-I went downstream with you to look for her. People really did see that she didn't drown. She climbed ashore and just hid." "So where are they?" Blake's eyes reddened. "After all these years with no word, it's no different from being dead." Seeing her friend crumble, Megan hurriedly pulled out tissues and dabbed away her tears. She sighed. "Forget it. Come back if you want. I have to spend a couple of days at the company anyway." "What happened? Is Chairman Su in trouble? I cleaned up his financial issues last time, didn't I?" Blake asked, puzzled. Megan waved it off. "It's something else this time-nothing you can help. The taller the tree, the more wind it catches. He might 'only' be the chairman of the Zerton Business Alliance, but plenty of people are eyeing that seat. My mother's in poor health; I need to go help him. Don't worry about me. Settle your own family mess with Miller first." Blake sighed and nodded. Miller came out with a photo album, tore out two photos, crumpled them up and tossed them in the trash. Face dark, he walked into the adjoining bedroom. "What's with him?" Megan asked Blake, baffled, her gaze drifting to the trash bin. She bent down and fished out the two discarded photos. One showed two men with arms around each other's shoulders. The other showed two couples, each cradling a child. "Who are they?" Megan asked. "Why did Miller get so mad?" Blake took the photos and pointed. "That's Miller's father, my older brother, Alan Cutmore." "And the man beside him?" Megan said, puzzled. "Cooper Juggins." "What?" Megan startled. Blake went on, "This is my sister-in-law, Caroline Smut, holding my older nephew, Dax. The other woman is Cooper Juggins's ex-wife, Aurora Lidyard, holding their daughter, Adele Juggins." Megan stared, floored. Blake asked quietly, "Strange, isn't it? The Cutmore and Juggins families were once close. How did it turn into this?" Megan nodded slowly. "It's simple," Blake said with a crooked smile. "Soar Group was funded and founded by my brother, built step by step. Cooper didn't put in a dime, but he did offer a lot of strategy. He helped Soar Group rise to glory and became the No. 2 on Soar Group's board. After my brother disappeared, he kept trying to seize control. Once Dax took the helm, his mask finally slipped-his true colors showed." Megan nodded, understanding at last. Miller emerged from the bedroom and said, "Let's go. Let's go out for dinner. I need clothes and some essentials." "Then let's head to Diga City," Megan said, thinking it through. "Eat, play, shop, all in one place. I'll treat you to a nice dinner." Miller smiled, pulled out a fat stack of bills, and said, "No need. I have money. Dinner's on me."

Chapter 9: Aunt Blake Moves In

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