Chapter 371


    Chapter 371 Keep Moving Forward


    "We managed to find out where Serena was actually being held by eavesdropping on Anna. We''ve


    rescued her now. It''s lucky Han and the others weren''t able to stop us." Shawn had prepared his


    exnation in advance and nced at Leah, his gaze pregnant with meaning.


    The face-altering technology used on the surveince video was perfect and seamless. By right, Leah


    should not sense anything off or suspicious. What had happened, though, after hisst conversation


    with her…?


    "I see…" Leah''s eyes darkened slightly, and her heart felt like a stone. If Hendrik had not told her what


    was really going on, she was sure Shawn would have kept her in the dark.


    Têxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Between Shawn and Hendrik, somehow she felt that Hendrik was more trustworthy. Perhaps the man


    had his own agenda as well, but he had said himself that he meant her no harm. If it hadn''t been for


    him, she would have been unable to leave Qustraebar, nor would she have been able to forge a long-


    term coboration with the HJ Corporation.


    "Thank you." She pulled herself together and thanked Shawn, not letting on that she knew about his


    deception. The most important thing was that deep in her heart, she did not believe Han would use


    such despicable means to get even with her. Ever since Alfred''s death, she could sense his deep grief.


    He knew the pain of losing a friend, so he would never harm Serena to achieve his goal of revenge.


    When Shawn saw that Leah was no longer uneasy, his own suspicions vanished as well. "Why don''t


    you stay and look after her, Sarah? I''ll send some security personnel over for your protection. I need to


    get back to work now."


    "Okay."


    Leah''s tense nerves rxed only after Shawn''s departure. Her gaze was bleak. If this continued, all her


    close friends would end up like Alfred…


    She did not think she could shoulder the weight of such a heavy responsibility.


    The magnificent sunset was now hidden by dark clouds. It looked as if it would rain soon.


    Leah closed the windows in the hospital room so that any rain would not pelt in. Seeing that Serena


    was still unconscious, she picked up her phone and deliberated for a long time before she sent a short


    message to Hendrik. It read, "Hendrik, have you ever lost anyone important to you, like friends or


    family?"


    "Yes." His reply came back secondster.


    Leah gripped her phone tightly, and she pressed her lips together. She texted back, "How did you


    ovee the sadness?"


    Alfred''s death was like a sharp thorn embedded deep in her heart; every time she thought about him, it


    hurt her beyond measure. A young, vibrant life had been lost, all because of someone like her. His


    sacrifice was truly not worth it.


    Hendrik answered her in just a short while. "You must look ahead. Don''t stop moving."


    This brief reply pierced through the confusion in Leah''s heart, bringing rity to her thoughts. She


    stared dumbly at the message, andrge tears began rolling down her cheeks.


    She had to look ahead now…


    She had been so bound up in her grief and sorrow that she had been unable to move on, going about


    her everyday life like a zombie. Even though she had signed an agreement with the HJ Corporation to


    coborate long-term, she had not really entertained any grand ambitions or big dreams. She had only


    thought about making more money so she could pay off her debt to Han, trying to get through each day


    as best as she could.


    She had not realized until now that after Alfred''s death, she hadpletely stopped moving forward


    and was merely stagnating in ce.


    After this conversation with Hendrik, Leah felt as if she had somehow be much closer to him. It


    was as if she were reborn; now she needed to find herself again. Even if the memories were bitter and


    painful, she would always remember the gant man who sacrificed his life for her. From there, she


    would rebuild her life.


    Night was fast approaching; it had started to drizzle, and the air was much chillier now. Leah smoothed


    down Serena''s nket and decided to go down to buy some food. She had not had her dinner yet. In


    truth, it had been a long, long time since she had eaten a good meal or slept well.


    "Leah."


    As soon as she came out of Serena''s room, a familiar voice drifted through the dim corridor, startling


    her so much that she let out a muffled shriek. Unsettled and in a state of panic, she stared at Han,


    having no idea when he had arrived. "Why are you here?"


    "I wanted to see if you were idiotic enough to torture yourself by not eating dinner," Han retorted


    condescendingly, his gaze frosty with disapproval. His eyes were mesmerizing under the dim lights and


    somehow utterly irresistible. Leah found she could not tear her gaze away.


    Her mind was torn by conflicting emotions. "Why are you genuinely trying to help me…?" It did not


    matter whether it wasst night''s affair or trying to rescue Serena today; Han might not have been able


    to rescue her friend after all, but he had tried his best to do so.


    Han''s lips curled in a faintly mocking smile. "What, this time, you don''t think I engineered the entire


    scheme for my own ends?"


    His pointed jibe made Leah''s cheeks pale very slightly. Twisting her fingers together, she replied, "If


    there''s nothing more, I''ll be on my way." She was afraid he might take it into his head to argue with her


    again, and she did not want to disturb Serena.


    "Onest warning. Break off your rtionship with Shawn as soon as possible." Han grasped her arm,


    his voice cold.


    "I know…" Somehow, his overbearing demand did not fill Leah with fury and dissatisfaction. She merely


    nodded.


    Han was slightly thrown by her tame acquiescence. However, he merely frowned and escorted her to


    his car. "You''reing with me. I''ll have someone guard Serena."


    When they arrived home, the family doctor had already been waiting for some time. He changed Leah''s


    bandages and smiled at her in aforting manner. "There''s no need to worry, Mrs. Howard. You can


    take the bandages off tonight, and by tomorrow you can use your hand like normal. However, try to


    avoid getting it wet."


    Leah blinked, startled at how the doctor addressed her. "I''m not his wife, you''re mis…"


    "Mrs. Howard, you can''t hide it from me, you know. Mr. Howard had these special medications sent


    back here via expedited delivery. At great effort and expense as well, I have to add…"


    Han, who had been quietly enjoying the sight of Leah''s embarrassment, suddenly looked ck as


    thunder. "That''s enough!"


    After the doctor had gone, Leah looked at her hands, her mind a whirl of conflicted emotions. "Why did


    you do all this?" She was truly shocked; she had never expected Han to be so concerned about her.


    "Don''t get the wrong idea. I''m disgusted by your little ruse; using your injuries to try and worm your way


    into my confidence." Han turned and left without a second nce.


    This time, however, his cutting words did not upset Leah. Instead, she stood there for a long time,


    staring dumbly in the direction he had gone.


    His actions did not reflect his cold, abominable attitude toward her; she had escaped from harm so


    many times because of his help, whether covert or overt. Even when he had forcibly taken Carlotta


    away and made her keep her distance from Anna, these things had, in fact, helped her.


    …


    Shawn sat at his office desk facing Jackson. When he thought about what Leah had asked earlier, he


    felt somewhat disturbed, as well as a vague sense of unease. This situation had not altered his


    rtionship with Sarah in the least; in fact, it seemed to push them even further apart.


    "How are preparations going?" He nced at his assistant, who hastily reported, "We''ve med


    Serena''s kidnapping entirely on Anna. Ms. White won''t suspect us."


    Shawn''s expression rxed slightly. Turning to Jackson, he inquired, "Have you been able to find out


    anything about Hendrik''s actual appearance yet?"


    Jackson spat on the floor in annoyance. "No, I haven''t been able to find a thing. Even if he''s been


    captured on surveince cameras, he wears a mask, so no one has any idea what he looks like.


    However, I did manage to dig up something interesting…"


    Shawn frowned. "What is it?"


    Jackson''s smile held a hint of malicious teasing. "Hendrik seems to have some sort of connection to


    your Sarah White. In Qustraebar, he repeatedly helped her. My thought is that he may also have given


    Sarah the White Group…"