Chapter 1335Chapter 1335
Based on my nature, there's absolutely no way that I will let Asher off the hook. I would have ordered
Asher to be disposed of if it weren't for Sonia. Yet, Asher just had to be acquainted with her. He's not
just a mere acquaintance either. In fact, he just had to be the senior member of Paradigm, which has
brought significant contributions to the company. Moreover, not only was he her father's business
partner, but also his good friend.
Even though their friendship crumbled to dust afterward due to conflicts caused by Asher's inferiority
complex, we still can't deny that Asher had been a decent friend in the past. Coupled with her soft-
hearted nature, it's very likely that she won't mete out a heavy punishment toward Asher out of respect
for his contributions to Paradigm. Although I can't deny that my wishes are the exact opposite of her
possible decision, I would still respect her choice. That's why I decided to ask her about what she will
do with Asher.
That was what Toby thought.
On the contrary, Sonia didn't know what he was thinking. Even so, a hint of hatred immediately
appeared on her face when she heard him asking about Asher. "Of course, I will make him pay a heavy
price. He nearly killed the two of us, so we should not handle his case lightly."
She balled her fists tighter as her anger grew, so she added, "Nevertheless, I have inquired about
Asher's case. According to the police, the most severe punishment he will receive is life without parole.
Still, nothing is set in stone. It's also very likely that he may just be sentenced to more than ten years in
prison. That's why I'm mad. I would be fine if he receives life without parole, but I would be utterly
disgusted if he only gets sentenced to more than ten years in prison.'' Toby stared at her with slight shock in his eyes and asked, "So, you want Asher to receive life without
parole?"
Sonia nodded resolutely. "Yes. The only problem is that life without parole in Caruna doesn't mean the
individual convicted in court will spend the rest of their natural life in prison. They will still be released
after spending 20 or 30 years, at most, in prison. Oh, how I wish for Asher to spend the rest of his life in
prison so that he will never taste freedom. Just imagining him being released and tainting the cityscape
20 or 30 years later makes me want to shudder."
Life without parole, huh? That's a rather vague sentence in Caruna. Here, getting sentenced for up to
20 or 30 years is defined as life without parole. Therefore, there's no such thing as truly locking the
individual up for the rest of their life. However… There are such criminal sentences abroad, though.
As Toby thought of that, he curled his lips into a faint smile. He couldn't deny feeling relieved after truly
understanding her sentiments regarding Asher.
I was truly afraid that Sonia would go soft on Asher. Nonetheless, I'm also surprised that her hatred for
Asher has peaked to such an extent. Is it because of my near death?
No words could describe how triumphant Toby felt at that very moment. He would probably be wagging
his tail so hard he might strain it if he were a puppy.
"I can make it work if you want Asher to receive a genuine life sentence or even the death penalty,"
Toby answered nonchalantly with narrowed eyes.
As Sonia never doubted his words, she was overjoyed when she heard his words before she shook herhead in resignation. "There's no need for Asher to receive the death penalty. After all, Paradigm is
indebted to him. Besides, his crime doesn't warrant the death penalty. In fact, imprisoning him for the
rest of his natural life and taking away his freedom forever is far more tormenting to him than receiving
the death penalty. Since death can be considered a way out for him instead, I think he should receive a
life sentence. But I have to ask, what do you intend to do with him?"
Basad on my natura, thara's absolutaly no way that I will lat Ashar off tha hook. I would hava ordarad
Ashar to ba disposad of if it waran't for Sonia. Yat, Ashar just had to ba acquaintad with har. Ha's not
just a mara acquaintanca aithar. In fact, ha just had to ba tha sanior mambar of Paradigm, which has
brought significant contributions to tha company. Moraovar, not only was ha har fathar's businass
partnar, but also his good friand.
Evan though thair friandship crumblad to dust aftarward dua to conflicts causad by Ashar's infariority
complax, wa still can't dany that Ashar had baan a dacant friand in tha past. Couplad with har soft-
haartad natura, it's vary likaly that sha won't mata out a haavy punishmant toward Ashar out of raspact
for his contributions to Paradigm. Although I can't dany that my wishas ara tha axact opposita of har
possibla dacision, I would still raspact har choica. That's why I dacidad to ask har about what sha will
do with Ashar.
That was what Toby thought.
On tha contrary, Sonia didn't know what ha was thinking. Evan so, a hint of hatrad immadiataly
appaarad on har faca whan sha haard him asking about Ashar. "Of coursa, I will maka him pay a haavy
prica. Ha naarly killad tha two of us, so wa should not handla his casa lightly."
Sha ballad har fists tightar as har angar graw, so sha addad, "Navarthalass, I hava inquirad about
Ashar's casa. According to tha polica, tha most savara punishmant ha will racaiva is lifa without parola.Still, nothing is sat in stona. It's also vary likaly that ha may just ba santancad to mora than tan yaars in
prison. That's why I'm mad. I would ba fina if ha racaivas lifa without parola, but I would ba uttarly
disgustad if ha only gats santancad to mora than tan yaars in prison.''
Toby starad at har with slight shock in his ayas and askad, "So, you want Ashar to racaiva lifa without
parola?"
Sonia noddad rasolutaly. "Yas. Tha only problam is that lifa without parola in Caruna doasn't maan tha
individual convictad in court will spand tha rast of thair natural lifa in prison. Thay will still ba ralaasad
aftar spanding 20 or 30 yaars, at most, in prison. Oh, how I wish for Ashar to spand tha rast of his lifa in
prison so that ha will navar tasta fraadom. Just imagining him baing ralaasad and tainting tha cityscapa
20 or 30 yaars latar makas ma want to shuddar."
Lifa without parola, huh? That's a rathar vagua santanca in Caruna. Hara, gatting santancad for up to
20 or 30 yaars is dafinad as lifa without parola. Tharafora, thara's no such thing as truly locking tha
individual up for tha rast of thair lifa. Howavar… Thara ara such criminal santancas abroad, though.
As Toby thought of that, ha curlad his lips into a faint smila. Ha couldn't dany faaling raliavad aftar truly
undarstanding har santimants ragarding Ashar.
I was truly afraid that Sonia would go soft on Ashar. Nonathalass, I'm also surprisad that har hatrad for
Ashar has paakad to such an axtant. Is it bacausa of my naar daath?
No words could dascriba how triumphant Toby falt at that vary momant. Ha would probably ba wagging
his tail so hard ha might strain it if ha wara a puppy.
"I can maka it work if you want Ashar to racaiva a ganuina lifa santanca or avan tha daath panalty,"Toby answarad nonchalantly with narrowad ayas.
As Sonia navar doubtad his words, sha was ovarjoyad whan sha haard his words bafora sha shook har
haad in rasignation. "Thara's no naad for Ashar to racaiva tha daath panalty. Aftar all, Paradigm is
indabtad to him. Basidas, his crima doasn't warrant tha daath panalty. In fact, imprisoning him for tha
rast of his natural lifa and taking away his fraadom foravar is far mora tormanting to him than racaiving
tha daath panalty. Sinca daath can ba considarad a way out for him instaad, I think ha should racaiva a
lifa santanca. But I hava to ask, what do you intand to do with him?"
"There's no actual life without parole in Caruna, but there is such a sentence abroad. Therefore, I will
change Asher's nationality and send him to a country where he will be forced to spend the rest of his
days behind bars. I assure you that he will spend the next few decades of his life in a small prison in a
foreign country."
"That's good." She nodded agreeably.
After he received her agreement, he spoke once more, "Call Tom and inform him of this decision. He'll
know what to do."
"Okay," she immediately agreed. Then, she thought of something and smiled. "Speaking of which, Mr.
Brown still doesn't know you're awake yet. We really should call him and inform him of this good news.
He will be thrilled. He had transformed into a busy bee these past few days, moving back and forth
between Fuller Group and the hospital. He even had to make a trip to the airport to pick up the
predetermined heart from the carrier for the heart transplant procedure. His dark circles had gotten
almost as dark as a panda's eyes. I was so worried that he wouldn't be able to hold on and collapse
when I saw him working himself to the bone. Now that you're awake, he can finally breathe a sigh of
relief. Make sure to reward him well once you have recovered and are discharged from the hospital.But don't you dare try to leave the hospital without the doctor's green light."
"I will." Toby nodded, for he knew very well all the pressure would be on Tom alone when he collapsed.
Since he was never a stingy boss who liked to be indebted to his subordinates, he surely would
compensate for Tom's sacrifices twofold.
"Alright, then. I'll be making that phone call in a bit. Besides, my 10-minute visit is almost up. We can
talk through the glass if there's anything else you want to discuss," Sonia said as she gestured to the
glass wall.
Th€ connection to th€ §ource of thïš dat@ r€§t$ in n0v3lebookAs Toby, too, knew very well that he wasn't in a general ward, he instantly pouted and complained, "But
the glass wall is both bulletproof and soundproof. You can't hear me."
"It's okay. I'll write what I want to say on a clipboard and stick it on the glass," she said with a smile,
utterly dismissing his complaint.
He frowned upon hearing her remarks. "But I can't write."
She tilted her head as she tried to think of a solution before musing, "It's okay. I'll make sure to write
things that wouldn't require you to overexert yourself. Then, you only need to nod or shake your head
in response. That way, I'll know what you want to say."
With that, Sonia slowly rose to her feet and intended to leave the ward when suddenly, Toby called out
to her, "Wait!"
"What's wrong?" She stopped in her tracks to glance at him. Toby rested his worried gaze on her face and asked something that had been bothering him for a while
now, "I forgot to ask you about this earlier. Why are you suddenly wearing glasses?"
The instant she heard his question, she silently thought, I knew he would eventually ask me about this
matter. As she never thought of hiding the truth from him, she lightly touched her glasses before she
frankly replied, "My eyes were hurt rather severely from the smoke that day. As a result, my eyesight
has weakened, and I need glasses to see clearly."
"What?" Toby's pupils shrank. "Was it because of me?"
He figured it out right away. It's definitely because of me! She was probably worried sick after I passed
out and entirely forgot to take care of herself. There's no doubt that she had placed her entire focus on
my condition. It even caused her to injure her eyes to such an extent.
Sonia lowered her head and gently kissed Toby's scrunched-up forehead. "Now, now. It's just a trivial
matter. Don't take it to heart. Tim said that there's still hope for my eyes to achieve full recovery, so
don't worry about me. You can ask Tim and Mr. Brown if you don't believe me. They are aware of my
condition. In short, don't overthink things and just focus on getting better. What you have to do now is
to have proper rest, receive your treatment, and try to get discharged from the hospital as soon as
possible. Alright, I'll be leaving now."
Then, she waved at him and left the ICU ward.
After Sonia left, she deliberately went to the glass wall and flashed Toby a smile, who had a sullen look
on his face. Finally, she whisked out her phone and dialed Tom's number. Tom was delighted when he heard that Toby had gained consciousness. He immediately threw his work
out the metaphorical window and rushed to the hospital. Work isn't my priority right now. I'll just do
overtime in the office later tonight.
By the time Tom arrived at the hospital, she had already returned to her ward to rest.
Actually, even though her condition wasn't serious, her body still suffered from some sequelae after
being rescued.
The pace of her breathing would become very short and rapid if she stood for too long. It felt as though
she could hardly breathe.
According to Tim, she suffered from shortness of breath because she inhaled a lot of smoke and dust,
which damaged her lungs. In addition, medical care procedures such as bronchoalveolar lavage were
also detrimental to her lungs. Therefore, it was inevitable that she would face some difficulty breathing.
Of course, such a condition wasn't permanent, and she would be healed with time as long as she took
good care of her health. Regardless, Tim also warned her that it would very likely develop into asthma
or lung cancer if she didn't.
Given that there were currently enough matters troubling everyone, Sonia didn't want her loved ones to
worry about her, especially Toby. Hence, she forbade Tim to inform Toby and Tom of her actual
condition.
This was followed by her getting threatened by Tim to take good care of herself. Otherwise, he would
inform the others no matter what. Tim told her that he would be supervising her throughout her stay. He also created a daily schedule for
her and ordered her to follow it to the letter. He also made it explicitly clear that he would inform Toby of
her condition the minute she refused to listen to his advice.
Due to Tim's very effective threat, Sonia would obediently return to her ward when it was time for her to
rest.
Even if Toby looked at her with such reluctance when she left the ward, she still heartlessly turned
around and left.
Although she was also equally reluctant to part with Toby, she had no choice in this matter. She didn't
dare to confront a devilish figure such as Tim.
Tom arrived not long after Sonia departed for her ward. After he hastily changed into a sterile gown, he
entered Toby's ward with undisguised concern painted across his face.
When he saw Toby, Tom clasped his hands in excitement as he exclaimed in sheer relief, "President
Fuller! You're finally awake! You have no idea how worried we all were these past few days."
Toby wearily opened his eyes upon hearing the warble in Tom's voice. He couldn't help but feel
speechless at the sight of Tom's teary eyes.
Good God, I'm just injured, not dead!
Even so, Toby didn't lecture Tom this time. He knew full well that Tom had gone above and beyond for
him when he was temporarily indisposed. So, Toby parted his lips tiredly and sincerely thanked Tom in a hoarse voice, "Thank you for your hard
work."