The Heiress’ Return: Six Brothers at Her Beck and Call (Wynter Quinnell) novel Chapter 1734

Cleo sensed a commanding air around Wynter, one that he had only ever felt with Gordon. He gazed at her approvingly, as though applauding her resemblance to Gordon's past bearing.

In his letter, Gordon mentioned Colifernia's volatility. Initially, he had no intention of expanding the chamber of commerce there. However, he was a loyal man. Knowing that Eric was a Colifernian, he decided to visit the city at Eric's request.

In the final lines, Gordon warned that the waters in Colifernia were treacherous. He knew he could face death there, but it wouldn't be by chance. He cautioned his descendants to stay vigilant against the dangers lurking beneath Colifernia's peaceful surface.

Wynter clutched the yellowed letter tightly, never anticipating Gordon had foreseen his demise in Colifernia. She turned to Cleo and asked, "What are your plans now, Mr. Cleo?"

"I'll do everything within my power to help you reclaim the chamber of commerce—it only belongs to the Quinnells. At the same time, I'll figure out a way to get rid of Eric, though that will require further planning. He has a firm grip on Colifernia and influence in every corner of it," Cleo replied.

Wynter gave a nod of acknowledgment. "I'll make sure Eric is dealt with. The best way to defeat an enemy is to strike where they're most confident."

Hearing that, Cleo instructed Alaric to hand her an item. "This ring was left by Mr. Gordon. He gave it to me, but I now believe you're more worthy of it. I'm sure Mr. Gordon would approve of it, too. The Quinnells are truly fortunate to have such an accomplished daughter."

Wynter accepted the ring from Alaric and made up her mind. She had planned to reclaim the chamber of commerce slowly, but now she knew that Gordon's death had been no accident.

She could still remember his gentle demeanor when they first met. Yet, she never imagined such a patriotic man would be stabbed in the back.

"I'll reach out to the elders who once served the Colifernia Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Wynter. They may be able to help us reclaim the organization," Cleo suggested as he prepared to leave.

Before departing, he added, "I've rented a residence in the eastern town. If you're unable to contact me, you can find me there."

Wynter nodded as she watched Cleo leave, then sat back in her chair to organize her thoughts. In any case, she had to settle the threat at the farmers' market first. If the formation had been activated, the public would be in grave danger.

Just as Wynter was about to leave, the restaurant owner reminded her that she had yet to pay. Surprised, she pulled out her phone to pay the bill.

Once the payment had been confirmed, the owner bid her farewell. Yet, his expression changed the moment she disappeared out of sight on her superbike. He took out his phone and dialed a number. "Mr. Sinclair's in Colifernia and has just met Ms. Quinnell."

He swiftly ended the call and returned to serving the guests, as though the call never happened.

However, Wynter was unaware of that as she made her way to the farmers' market.

Since the Quinnell Group's acquisition, the environment of the farmers' market had noticeably improved. What had once been a chaotic space was now neatly organized, and the stalls that used to sell wild animals had been repurposed into a bustling street food alley.

The stall owners worked cheerfully as they prepared fresh ingredients and set up the tables.

Instead of greeting the stall owners, Wynter headed straight to the staircase at the side, which led to an abandoned basement.

Barely anyone ever ventured there, and there was no light to guide the way. If a formation had truly been set up, the basement would be the perfect location for the arrangement.

Switching on the torchlight, Wynter slowly descended the stairs. A cold gust suddenly swept past her, sending shivers down her spine. Despite it being the warm season, the basement felt as cold as winter.

The moment Wynter reached the flat ground, the world around her shifted. The biting cold air vanished, replaced by a serene landscape. The scent of flowers filled her nose, while the melodies of chirping birds and flowing rivers reached her ears.

As Wynter walked on, she found no signs of humans. Upon passing through the forest, she found an old man plowing in the distance. She ran toward him and inquired, "Where is this place, mister?"

"It's the world within your heart, my child," the old man replied.

Wynter continued walking, but no matter how far she went, she couldn't seem to leave. Suddenly, a voice called out, "Don't linger here, child."

It was Gordon's voice, echoing from every corner of the landscape. Wynter slowly closed her eyes.

Everyone had their own ideal world in their hearts, a place where they wished to remain. However, she knew she couldn't give in to those thoughts, or else she would be trapped in her inner world forever.

At that moment, the old man stopped plowing and shouted at her, "Isn't it better to stay here? Why would you want to leave?"

He rushed toward Wynter, desperate to make her stay. He lifted his hoe and was about to strike her head when Wynter snapped open her eyes and murmured a spell. The next instant, the whole world faltered around her, bringing her back to the basement.

Wynter rubbed the ring on her finger and let out a deep sigh of relief. Though she knew that Gordon had saved her, there was no time to dwell on his memory—the illusion was merely the formation's initial phase.

Glancing ahead, Wynter noticed a few souls trapped in the large formation, as if imprisoned in a cage. She needed to find the heart of the formation to dispel it. Without a second thought, she walked right into the formation.

A thick fog shrouded the space, and a few wandering souls drifted aimlessly. Thanks to her sugilite pendant, the souls never once approached Wynter.

Just then, she felt the weight of a gaze behind her and turned around to see the cloaked figure.

"This is the second surprise. It's a shame the formation didn't activate. Otherwise, I would have had the pleasure of watching Colifernia descend into chaos," the cloaked figure stated calmly.

Wynter glanced at the formation and recalled the earlier illusion. "Did you know I was coming?"

"But of course. I set up that illusion for you. Things will be easier if you have stayed there. That said, I'm impressed by your courage to step inside the Heaven's Resentment Formation.

"Did you know that this formation absorbs the souls of innocents? To break it, you need to dispel it from both within and outside. But you're rather confident, walking right into it." The cloaked figure laughed.

Wynter, too, had realized the formation's nature after entering it. "It seems like you're well aware of my movements."

"Something like that. I've known everything since your birth. This is just the beginning. Enjoy your eternity here. I'm always thrilled to see those in agony.

"I also prepared another gift for you—Blake Quinnell is coming to Colifernia, and he'll suffer the same fate soon!" The cloaked figure burst into a haughty laugh.

He was so certain that Wynter could never escape the formation that he disclosed his plans to her.

"Enjoy the rest of your life here, little girl." With that, he slowly faded into the shadows, as though he was never there to begin with.

Sebastian: "Ask yourself about it."

Blake: "What about Elliot and Tobias?"

While her brothers were bickering, Wynter had reached her superbike. Suddenly, Cleo's mention of contacting the elders who once served the Colifernia Chamber of Commerce came back to her, and she couldn't help feeling a sense of dread.

With Eric in control of the Colifernia Chamber of Commerce, it was unlikely that anyone loyal to Gordon would still be around.

Wynter hurriedly dialed Cleo's phone, but he didn't answer. She recalled he had given her an address to his residence, which happened to be on the way to Blake's place. She decided to check on Cleo first and made her way there. When she arrived, she found only Alaric.

"Where's Mr. Cleo?" Wynter inquired.

"He has left to meet with the elders. I believe they're meeting in the western part of the city," Alaric answered.

Wynter hurriedly headed in the direction Alaric pointed out. Cleo wouldn't have ignored his phone for a casual meeting. Clearly, he was in trouble.

Little did Wynter know that Cleo had arrived at a mansion. He stood facing Eric and Isaiah Rylan, one of the Colifernia Chamber of Commerce's elders.

"It looks like you've bought off the previous members," Cleo stated calmly.

Eric chuckled in response. "It's not a bribe. They came to me of their own volition. That said, you're rather bold for showing up in Colifernia alone. Don't you know this city feeds on the people?"

Cleo remained unfazed by his taunts as he retorted, "At least I stand upright and honorable. Unlike you, cowering in your comfort zone, I can go anywhere I want."

Eric was enraged and swung a fist at Cleo, who skilfully dodged the punch. Eric let out an angry chuckle and snarled. "Since you're here, I suppose I should show you some courtesy. I didn't make it this far in Colifernia to let you walk away alive."

The next instant, Cleo was surrounded. As he surveyed the crowd, he knew that his chances of escaping were slim.

He turned to Eric and said, "I've long made peace with life and death, but your nightmare has just begun. Ms. Wynter has already learned of the truth—she knows you're the one behind Mr. Gordon's death!"

Instead of responding, Eric turned to his subordinates and ordered, "Don't aim for his fatal points and give him some torture. I'll claim his last breath."

With that, the men lunged toward Cleo with knives in hand. Though he fought back fiercely at first, his strength had faded with age. Soon, his arms and body were riddled with cuts.

At that moment, Wynter was racing toward the western town. Upon arrival, she heard some noises coming from the mansion and hurried toward it.

Inside, Cleo lay on the ground, barely clinging to life. Eric slowly approached with a dagger in hand, sneering. "Enjoy the afterlife with Gordon, Cleo."

Just as Eric was about to deliver the final blow, someone urgently reported that Wynter had arrived.