The price of betrayal (Jack and Ashley) novel Chapter 601

Geoffrey was truly bold. This wasn't just asking about their relationship or pleading for mercy—this was pure wishful thinking.

Yet, at this moment, not a single person from the Norberg family stood up to refute him. Even Vernon himself was staring at Harper with hope-filled eyes. It was as if they were desperate to hear the answer they wanted from her lips.

After all, no one could defeat Pierce, which meant no one could break this death trap they were caught in. But if Pierce switched sides and if he stood with them instead, then everything could change.

Unfortunately, it was nothing but a pipe dream.

Harper frowned deeply as she swept her gaze across the crowd.

"There's no relationship between me and Pierce. If anything, we're opponents in battle. Just now, he blocked my way, and we fought. The result was obvious—I lost. So, don't expect me to beg Pierce to spare you, and don't even think about him switching sides. Are you all insane? How else could you come up with something this ridiculous?"

As soon as these words fell, the expressions of the Norberg family members darkened one by one.

In their eyes, even if Pierce wouldn't switch sides, having some kind of relationship—enough to speak on their behalf—would still be something. But Harper had just made it clear—they had fought, so they were enemies.

That was as good as ripping away the last lifeline the Norbergs had left. Thus, despair spread like a shadow over the entire family. Their final hope was gone.

Geoffrey refused to give up. He fixed his gaze on Harper and pleaded, "Harper, you are an extraordinary genius. You must know many people—isn't there some way to establish a connection with Pierce or Nolan?

"This is a life-or-death situation for our entire family. You shouldn't act on personal feelings now. I know there are many things about this family that you've never liked and many people you've disapproved of, but can you really stand by and watch them all die?

"Harper, please save us. I swear, from this moment on, we will change. Everything you hated about the family won't exist anymore. You just have to help us this once, and from now on, your word will be law."

This was his last resort. Their only hope now lay in Harper.

Her dejection was understandable.

As a proud genius, it wasn't that she had never lost before, but she had never lost this badly.

But at this moment, Vernon seemed to have discovered a whole new possibility.

He stared intently at Harper as he said, "Harper, you saw the battle just now. When faced with the combined assault of the Duo of Doom, Pierce still took them down within just a few moves. They couldn't even fight back.

"If he had faced just one of them individually, the outcome wouldn't even be worth discussing. Yet, your ranking is below theirs, and you still managed to exchange several moves with Pierce without even getting injured. Harper, tell me the truth—what really happened? Why did Pierce hold back against you?"

Vernon's eyes lit up instantly, as did the other members of the Norberg family, upon hearing what he had said.