Chapter 344


    The Nightshade Estate, study room


    “Knock, knock, knock.”


    “Come in.


    Ethan pushed open the door and saw Samuel buried in a pile of messy documents. “Samuel, it’s so


    late, and you’re still working?”


    “There seems to be trouble with thepany.”


    “What kind of trouble?”


    “It’s not us, it’s the Martinez Group. Rumors had it that over fifty of their shareholders have vanished


    mysteriously today, and even their families can’t reach them. It seems that they’ve vanished to the


    same ce.


    “Moreover, James just found out that the 53% of the group’s initially held by Matthew have been


    siphoned off bit by bit by his uncle under the guise of financing. Now that Matthew is in trouble, those


    shares are definitely not recoverable. I’m worried.”


    “Worried that the Martinez Group’s stock will plummet and drag ourpany down with it?”


    “We’ve had a very close partnership with the Martinez Group, especially this year, with Xan’s tying us


    together in many uninitiated projects.


    Samuel clenched his fists in frustration.


    “Now Matthew’s scandal and the internal turmoil in the Martinez Group will undoubtedly affect our


    company. But what worries me more is that someone might take advantage of the situation, tuming the


    Martinez Group into a hollowed out shellpany. Such a blow would be fatal to us!”


    He could already sense this mysterious and powerful force behind this, but who was it? And what was


    their goal?


    “Alright, don’t overthink it. I go o with you to the Martinez Group tomorrow, and well sort this out”


    “Okay”


    Samuel nodded. Ethan walked over and turned off the deskmp. “There’s been a lot going on at home


    and at thepany these past few days. Have a good rest, and don’t overwork.”


    Tknow.


    As they spoke of home matters, Samuel suddenly remembered Xan’s unusual behavior at dinner


    earlier. But his mind was preupied with the Martinez Group, so he hadn’t given it much thought.


    “Bro, did you notice Xan at dinner seemed a bit distracted?”


    “More than just a bit. Considering what’s happened, it’s natural for her to be upset. I was actually


    surprised that she’s been surprisinglyposed Just give her some time to process.


    *Upset?”


    “Yeah” Ethan frowned slightly. “Even though Matthew was a jerk, Xan genuinely loved him.”


    “I thought I heard her crying in the bathroom this noon. When she came out, she pretended to be


    indifferent and cheerful, I asked Ryan to keep an eye on her mood, but he didn’t tell anything was


    wrong.”


    “What?”


    Samuel stood up in shock.


    Xan had told him she wasn’t sad and even seemed happy in the morning, but then she turned around


    and cried alone in the bathroom!


    So, she had been lying about not being sad!


    “No, I have to check on her!”


    “She’s asleep now. Don’t disturb her.”


    “But I need to see for myself.”


    Samuel hurriedly closed his documents and rushed to the second floor, only to see the light in


    Xanthea’s room was off.


    Was she really asleep?


    He pressed his ear to the door and heard Zora’s voice, “Young master, what are you doing?”


    “Shh!” Samuel was startled and quickly shushed her. “Xan’s asleep, don’t wake her.”


    Zora chuckled, “Impossible. Miss is in the backyard right now”


    “What?” Samuel straightened up slowly. “The backyard? What is she doing there?”


    15:32


    “She said she was going to admire the flowers.


    “Admire the flowers?”


    It was nearly autumn, and the irises in the yard she loved had long withered. What flowers were there


    to admire? Not to mention in thiste hour. Was she crying secretly again?


    “Young master?”


    Zora wanted to say more, but Samuel had already rushed downstairs.


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    At Lakeside Manor, under the cascading willow branches, a couple’s embrace grew more fervent.


    “Orion, please, no more.”


    Despite Xanthea’s protests, her voice, soft and enticing, only spurred Orion on until a “crack” broke the


    moment.


    Xanthea tumed her face slightly, snapping out of her daze, realizing the railing behind her was about to


    break!


    Was she about to fall into theke?


    “Orion, Orion, the railing is about to break!”


    She desperately pounded on him, but he didn’t wake up. She resigned herself to hearing the rotting


    railing fall into the water with a ssh, and her body was about to fall as well.


    “Ah-


    At the critical moment, Orion lifted her, using his strength to press her against a nearby tree.


    Having experienced falling into the water before, Xanthea was drenched in cold sweat. She hit his


    chest with feigned irritation, but the man merely groanedfortably into her dense curls.


    “Xannie, my Xannic, so sweet, so soft, so fragrant”


    “And you’re still going on about that? You almost made me fall into the water!”


    “With your hubby here, Xannie wouldn’t never fall into the water.”


    “What did you just say?!”


    Xanthea’s eyes widened, her delicate face blushing deeply like the shy moon reflected in theke.