FLASH MARRIAGE; CHARMED BY THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE CEO
Chapter 369 - 369: Poison

Senator Gregory's jaws clenched so tightly at the mention of his late wife's name. His nostrils flared with every shallow breath, and a visible tremor ran through his clenched fists. He was tempted to rain hail and brimstone on Desmond, but not after hearing what the latter had to say.

"I'm listening." He said drily, containing his fury under a suppressed breath.

"Please, brother. Not over the phone." Desmond pleaded. "Someone might be listening, and Matt would kill me if he finds out that I am about to betray him."

Senator Gregory took in a deep breath to calm the raging storm swirling inside of him as he asked.

"Where are you?"

"I'm currently at a payphone, close to Central Park."

"Come down to the mansion. I'll be waiting for you in my study." Senator Gregory ended the call, his countenance explosive as he rose to his feet and stormed out of his drawing room barking Rufus's name.

-

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Thirty minutes later, Desmond arrived at his elder brother's mansion, sweating profusely like a man about to take the witness stand for a murder trial.

He was escorted by some uniformed armed security guards into the mansion and to the senator's study, where the latter was patiently waiting.

As Desmond stepped into the office, it felt as though he had crossed into a lion's den. His breath hitched the moment the door clicked shut behind him.

The air inside the well-furnished study felt thick as though charged with fury, and the sight of his elder brother seated behind the mahogany desk like a coiled viper waiting to strike drained the colour from his face.

Desmond froze for a second, caught in the glare of those furious eyes, then shuffled forward with hesitant, jerky steps when the guard behind barked out an order.

"Sit." Senator Gregory commanded in a low, spine-chilling voice.

Desmond hesitated slightly before perching on the edge of his seat, lowering his gaze.

"Thank you for agreeing to see me, bro..."

"I do not need your stinky gratitude." Senator Gregory's steely voice cut Desmond off. "You said you had something to tell me in person. So go straight to the point and do not waste my time."

Desmond swallowed the lump that formed in his throat. He lifted his trembling gaze to meet his brother's steely glares and said.

"I'm very sorry for what I'm about to say and I pray you find the heart to forgive me someday."

Senator Gregory gritted his teeth in fury. But he didn't utter one word in response as his cold glare pinned Desmond in place.

"Like Matt earlier confessed, he was infatuated with Fiona from the very first day he laid eyes on her. However, when she chose you over him, he became very mad and did some of the things he had already confessed to."

Desmond gulped down another lump that had formed in his throat as he watched his brother's hands ball into fists. He shifted slightly in his chair and continued his tale.

"When Matt saw that Fiona wasn't going to leave you no matter what he did to blackmail her, he decided to set you up with a prostitute named Raquel Torres."

"Are you by any chance referring to Regina?" Senator Gregory's narrowed eyes darkened like a looming storm as he recalled that fateful day Regina stepped into his peaceful world with a pregnancy test result, claiming he was responsible.

"Yes. Regina's real name is Raquel Torres. She was a stripper Matt picked from the slum and polished to become his accomplice in ruining your marriage. He got her pregnant and planted the child on you as you already know, hoping Fiona would get mad and leave you."

Sweat beaded at Desmond's temple and trickled down the sides of his face as he struggled to keep his voice steady.

"However, when Fiona chose to forgive you and even adopt Gwen as her own second child, thereby foiling Matt's plan, he became very upset. Also when he discovered that she had willed her entire property to Amelia, he became even more furious and vengeful. That was when he came to me with a plan to eliminate Fiona and claim Amelia's inheritance at the right time."

Senator Gregory's jaw clenched tight, and his lips pressed into a flat, unforgiving line. His eyes didn't burn anymore–they froze, sharp and cutting, like shards of glass that warned of the storm brewing beneath.

"How did he kill my wife?"

"Poison," Desmond replied, his hands trembling as he clutched the hem of his shirt, twisting the fabric mindlessly.

"Poison!" Senator Gregory echoed in shock, rage flowing through his veins like molten lava.

"Yes."

"How did he poison her?"

"Through her chemotherapy medication," Desmond replied, his nervousness intensifying with every slight movement of his elder brother. "Matt blackmailed the doctor administering her drugs into increasing her dosage of arsenic trioxide, leading to the complications that caused her death."

"What!" Senator Gregory boomed, rising to his feet, his gaze murderous.

Desmond almost shit in his pants, shrinking ten time deeper into his chair, as his elder brother slowly made his way around the table, his eyes burning with fury and betrayal.

"So you watched Matt kill my wife, bring in a prostitute and a bastard into my home, almost killed my daughter and you said NOTHING?"

"I'm so..." Desmond didn't complete his words when Senator Gregory grabbed him by the collar, yanking him out of the seat with the force of a man who'd snapped.

The chair clattered to the floor as Senator Gregory slammed Desmond against the nearest wall. His grip closed around his throat like a vice, his face twisted in fury, as he snarled through clenched teeth,

"You repulsive snake... I should just kill you right now with my bare hands."

"Brother please..." Desmond clawed at Senator Gregory's wrists, gasping, his legs kicking weakly as he tried to speak—but the hold tightened. His eyes bulged, his face reddened, and his hands flailed for mercy.

But there was none in the older man's gaze—only heartbreak, hatred, and a thirst for justice that teetered on the edge of murder.

For a terrifying moment, it seemed Senator Gregory would squeeze the life out of his evil younger brother right there—but then something in his eyes shifted.

With a bitter shove, he released him, letting Desmond crumple to the floor, choking and coughing.

"You're not worth the blood on my hands," Senator Gregory growled, his voice cold and shaking. "But don't think this is over. You and the rest of those wretched traitors will pay for everything you've done to this family,"

Senator Gregory tilted his vicious gaze to his head of security.

"Throw this animal out of my house."

"Brother, please... I have just betrayed Matt. He is going to kill me now. I have no place to go to. My wife and children have left me. You are my only hope. Please have mercy." Desmond crawled and kicked as he was being dragged out of the study.

"The only mercy you'll get is from the dead." Senator Gregory spat out, his mind hardened like stone.